The IP base is for the Standard Multilayer Software Image (SMI) switches, and the IP services image is for the Enhanced Standard Multilayer Software Image (EMI) switches in Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(25)SEB and later.
The inter VLAN routing feature is supported on both IP base or SMI and IP services or EMI image Layer 3 switches.
IP Base feature set includes advanced quality of service (QoS), rate limiting, access control lists (ACLs), and basic static and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) functions. Dynamic IP routing protocols (Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), BGPv4, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)) are available only on the IP services image.
IP Services image provides a richer set of enterprise-class features, which includes advanced hardware-based IP unicast and IP Multicast routing. Support for IPv6 Layer 3 switching in hardware is also available with the addition of the Advanced IP Services license to either the IP Base or the IP Services images. Both the IP base Image and the IP services image allow for Layer 3 and Layer 4 lookups for QoS and security.
Advanced IP Services license, which includes IPv6 routing and IPv6 ACL support, is now included in the IP Services license. Upgrade licenses are available to upgrade a switch from the IP Base license to the IP Services license.
Cisco IOS Software Feature Set Differences
| Functions | LAN Base | IP Base | IP Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer 2+ | Enterprise access Layer 2 Wide range of Layer 2 access features for enterprise deployments supports Cisco StackPower technology | Complete Access Layer 2 Supports all Cisco Catalyst 2000 and Cisco Catalyst 3000 Layer 2 features, including hot standby protocols | |
| Static IP routing support Support for SVI | Enterprise access Layer 3 RIP, EIGRP stub, OSPF for routed access, PBR, IPv4 & IPv6 EIGRP stub routing, WCCP, IPv6 uRPF, IPv6 PBR, VRRPv3, Policy Classification Engine, HSRP v6 | Complete access Layer 3 OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS VRF-lite | |
| Multicast | IGMP | IPv4 & IPv6 PIM routing | |
| Mobility | Supports Cisco Unified Wireless Networking mobility architecture | Supports Cisco Converged Access mobility architecture with CAPWAP termination at the access | |
| Manageability | Basic manageability Support for a wide range of MIBs, IPSLA Responder, and RSPAN, PnP, Autoconf, Interface Templates, Secure CDP | Enterprise access Layer 3, Flexible NetFlow for wired and wireless traffic EEM, GOLD-Lite, and Smart Install Director | |
| Security | Enterprise access security DHCP Snooping, IPSG, DAI, PACLs, Cisco Identity 4.0, NAC and 802.1x features | Complete access security Router and VLAN ACLs, private VLANs, complete identity and security; TrustSec SXP and IEEE 802.1AE capable in hardware, Device Sensor | |
| QoS | Enterprise access QoS Ingress policing, Trust Boundary, AutoQoS, and DSCP mapping | Complete access QoS Support for all Cisco Catalyst 2000 and Cisco Catalyst 3000 QoS features, including per-VLAN policies | |
| Application Experience | Medianet (Perf Mon, Mediatrace, Metadata), mDNS | ||
| Interoperability | Cisco Prime™ Infrastructure 2.1 | Identity Services Engine (ISE 1.2/1.3), Mobility Services Engine (MSE 8.0), Improved WebUI | |
All Catalyst 3560/3750 switches have hardware support for IPv6 forwarding, and starting in IOS version 12.2(50)SE, all IOS versions for these switches now supports IPv6, including IPBASE.
In the Cat4500 line, IPv6 forwarding in hardware is found on the WS-X45-Sup6-E and WS-X45-SUP6L-E supervisors, and like Cisco’s other current L3 switching platforms, IPv6 features are found in IPBASE. Beware, though, as older supervisors do not provide hardware forwarding of IPv6 data, resulting in very poor IPv6 performance.
The Catalyst 4900M and Catalyst 4948E switches are the IPv6-capable platforms in the 4900 series. Both of these switches support IPv6 in all IOS images, so there is no need for an additional IOS license, either. Like the Cat4500, though, the older WS-C4948 and WS-C4948-10GE switches do not provide IPv6 forwarding in hardware.
The Catalyst 6500 line starting in IOS version 12.2(33)SXI, Cisco added IPv6 features to all IOS versions, including IPBASE and IP Services. The Catalyst 6500, with its large amount of hardware forwarding resources, is very well suited for demanding IPv4 + IPv6 environments, especially when deployed with a Sup720-3BXL or VS-S720-10G-3CXL. However, the still-popular Sup2 does not support IPv6 in hardware, making it completely unsuitable for an IPv6 deployment.
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