why is CEF slower than 2801 interface speed?

[tbitner]

Stupid question but bugging me.

In this link, it says a 2801 can do 46mbit CEF but the router has 100mbit interfaces.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/818817-20237/routerperformance.pdf

Does this mean a 2801 can never reach speeds faster than 46mbit even though the interfaces are 100mb?

Thanks!

 

[baddos]

Yes. The 2800 series router is not a hardware router, it uses a CPU to process the forwarding. It will not do wirespeed forwarding. Also note that adding routing protocols, filters, firewalling, policing will all add overhead to it and further degrading the forwarding performance.

 

[vipergg]

Yeah I love these wan routers that have gig ether interfaces , what a farce that is .Just a marketing game...

 

[tbitner]

Awesome, thanks for the clarification!

 

[baddos]

If your connection that you are routing is ethernet you could get a reasonably cheap layer3 switch to do your routing for you.

 

[tbitner]

We're using the router as a WAN gateway into an MPLS cloud, but the handoff is ethernet into our router. It's also running BGP and QoS.

 

[ISPKing]

a nice 3560/3750 will do you a solid.

CCNP