The Cisco WS-X6708-10G-3C 10 Gigabit Ethernet Interface Module is a high-performance line card designed for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches and Cisco 7600 Series routers. Featuring 8 X2-based 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and an integrated Distributed Forwarding Card 3C (DFC3C), it delivers wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding for enterprise core, data center, campus backbone, and service provider networks.
Equipped with 8 high-speed X2 transceiver slots, the WS-X6708-10G-3C supports a wide range of Cisco 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 optical transceivers, including SR, LR, ER, LRM, and CX4 modules. This flexibility enables organizations to deploy high-bandwidth fiber connectivity across short-, medium-, and long-distance network links.
The integrated DFC3C forwarding engine provides Distributed Cisco Express Forwarding (dCEF), allowing packet forwarding to be processed directly on the line card rather than relying solely on the supervisor engine. This distributed architecture enhances system scalability, reduces latency, and improves overall switching performance in high-density network environments.
The module supports wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching and integrates seamlessly with compatible Cisco Catalyst 6500 and Cisco 7600 platforms. Advanced networking capabilities include IPv4, IPv6, IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, hardware-based Access Control Lists (ACLs), Quality of Service (QoS), multicast, EtherChannel, IEEE 802.3ad Link Aggregation (LACP), jumbo frames, and Distributed Cisco Express Forwarding, depending on the installed supervisor engine and Cisco IOS software.
Featuring a 40 Gbps switch fabric connection, the WS-X6708-10G-3C provides high-bandwidth communication with the host chassis while maintaining consistent low-latency performance. Its hot-swappable modular design enables installation, replacement, and maintenance with minimal impact on network availability.
Ideal for enterprise core networks, data center aggregation, campus backbone connectivity, service provider infrastructure, high-speed server connectivity, and network expansion projects, the Cisco WS-X6708-10G-3C 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 Interface Module delivers scalable performance, distributed hardware forwarding, and reliable high-speed connectivity for mission-critical networking environments.
Product Specifications – Cisco WS-X6708-10G-3C 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 Interface Module with DFC3C for Catalyst 6500 & Cisco 7600
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| Specification |
Details |
| Product Name |
Cisco WS-X6708-10G-3C 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Interface Module with DFC3C |
| Manufacturer |
Cisco Systems |
| Part Number |
WS-X6708-10G-3C |
| Product Series |
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series |
| Compatible Platforms |
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches and Cisco 7600 Series Routers |
| Product Type |
10 Gigabit Ethernet Interface Module / Line Card |
| Port Configuration |
8 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 Slots |
| Port Speed |
10 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Interface Type |
X2 Transceiver Slots |
| Supported Media |
Optical Fiber (with Compatible Cisco X2 Transceivers) |
| Supported Transceivers |
Cisco X2-10GB-SR, X2-10GB-LR, X2-10GB-ER, X2-10GB-LRM, X2-CX4 and Other Compatible Cisco X2 Modules |
| Switching Architecture |
Distributed Hardware-Based Forwarding |
| Forwarding Engine |
Integrated Distributed Forwarding Card 3C (DFC3C) |
| Forwarding Mode |
Distributed Cisco Express Forwarding (dCEF) |
| Switching Performance |
Wire-Speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 Forwarding |
| Fabric Connection |
40 Gbps Switch Fabric Connection |
| Layer Support |
Layer 2 and Layer 3 |
| VLAN Support |
IEEE 802.1Q VLANs |
| Inter-VLAN Routing |
Supported |
| IPv4 Support |
Yes |
| IPv6 Support |
Yes |
| Routing Support |
Static and Dynamic Routing (Supervisor Engine and Software Dependent) |
| Multicast Support |
Supported |
| Quality of Service (QoS) |
Hardware-Based QoS and Traffic Prioritization |
| Access Control Lists (ACLs) |
Hardware-Based ACL Processing |
| Jumbo Frame Support |
Supported |
| EtherChannel |
Supported |
| Link Aggregation |
IEEE 802.3ad LACP |
| Cisco Express Forwarding |
Distributed Cisco Express Forwarding (dCEF) |
| Supervisor Compatibility |
Supervisor Engine 720 and Other Compatible Cisco Catalyst 6500/7600 Supervisor Engines |
| Chassis Compatibility |
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series and Cisco 7600 Series Chassis |
| Hot-Swappable |
Yes |
| Installation Type |
Modular Plug-in Line Card |
| Power Source |
Powered by the Host Chassis |
| Cooling |
Chassis-Based Cooling |
| Management |
Managed via Cisco IOS Software |
| Reliability |
Enterprise-Class and Service Provider Grade |
| Form Factor |
Modular Switch/Router Line Card |
| Application |
High-Speed Core, Aggregation and Data Center Networking |
| Condition |
Refurbished |
| Use Cases |
Enterprise Core Networks, Data Center Aggregation, Campus Backbone Connectivity, Service Provider Infrastructure, High-Speed Server Connectivity, Network Expansion Projects |
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FAQs
Q1. Which Cisco platforms support the WS-X6708-10G-3C?
It is compatible with supported Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches and Cisco 7600 Series routers using compatible supervisor engines.
Q2. How many ports does this module provide?
The module provides eight 10 Gigabit Ethernet X2 ports for high-speed optical network connectivity.
Q3. What is the purpose of the integrated DFC3C?
The DFC3C performs distributed hardware-based packet forwarding, improving network performance and reducing the processing load on the supervisor engine.
Q4. Does this module require X2 transceivers?
Yes. The WS-X6708-10G-3C requires compatible Cisco X2 optical transceivers for 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
Q5. What environments is this module best suited for?
It is ideal for enterprise campuses, data centers, service provider networks, and high-performance aggregation layers requiring scalable 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
