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| 5.3 |  | MLS and CEF Configuration Tasks |
| 5.3.2 |  | MLS-SE configuration |

The configuration is platform-dependent for the MLS-SE.

IP MLS is enabled by default on Catalyst 5000 family and 2926G series switches. If the MLS-RP is an RSM or RSFC installed in the Catalyst 5000 chassis, then there is no need to configure the switch for MLS. Configuration of the switch is only required in the following circumstances:

- When an external router is the MLS-RP (this is always the case with Catalyst 2926G series switches)
- In order to change the IP MLS aging time parameters or packet threshold values
- In order to enable NetFlow Data Export (NDE) to monitor all IP MLS intersubnet traffic through the NFFC

Similarly, IP MLS is enabled by default on Catalyst 6000 family switches. Recall that the Catalyst 6000 does not support an external MLS-RP. The only options for MLS-RP are the MSM and the MSFC. Configuration of the switch is only required in the following circumstances:

- In order to specify MLS aging time parameters or packet threshold values
- In order to set the minimum IP MLS flow mask

Assuming that a Catalyst 5000 or a 2926G switch is connected to an external MLS-RP, the configuration proceeds as follows.

Step 1
Enable MLS on the switch with the command set mls enable. When IP MLS is enabled on the switch, the switch (MLS-SE) starts to process MLSP messages from the MLS-RPs and starts Layer 3 switching. IP MLS is enabled by default on the MLS-SE, so this step is necessary only if MLS has been disabled with the command set mls disable.

Step 2
Specify the external router(s) participating in MLS. Before specifying a router to participate in IP MLS, enter the show mls rp command on the router to identify the MLS-RP IP address. Use the displayed address when entering the set mls include ip_addr command on the switch, the command that specifies the external router(s) participating in MLS. The MLS-SE does not process MLSP messages from external routers that have not been included as MLS-RPs. Also, the MLS-SE configured in a scenario where the MLS-RP is not an external router doesn’t need the set mls include command.