We have a Cisco 7246VXR with an MC-28U card. So far, we have only been using a single downstream with multiple upstreams (based on the fiber-node it's coming from). We are now looking to implement load-balancing, primarily on the downstream side. I think I have the configuration side down, but the physical layout is something I need assistance with. Do we just drop a 2 way splitter and put US0 of each DS on the same splitter, or can we leave out current setup alone with just adding the second downstream to the mix?
The main question is, on load-balancing, are the upstream ports tied to the downstream so US7 is actually US3 on Cable x/1?
I searched high and low on this, and finally just tested it myself. The only conclusion I could come to is think of the MC28 card as two cards, even with load balancing. Downstream 0 uses the first 4 upstream ports, and downstream 1 uses the last 4 upstream ports. When you load balance, you'll need to send at least one upstream port from each group of four upstream ports that is matched to the downstream. When it locks to a downstream, it will use the upstream channel from that grouping associated with the downstream.
I am finding the same thing. Load balancing is nice but apparently you have to have an upstream port on the same card as the downstream otherwise it won't move the modems. I have cable 5/0 downstream with 5/0/0 upstream, 5/0/1 upstream, 5/1 downstream, 5/0/0 upstream, 5/0/1 upstream and they load balance fine, I wanted to add 6/0 downstream, set it up and modems will not move there. I anticipate I will have to set up an upstream from 6/0/0 in order to get them to roll there. Seems REALLY awkward when we need tons of downstream. Is there a work around? Am I incorrect?
Also according to Cisco I should have us-groups-across-ds as a load balance option on 12.3(17b)BC4 which I am running.. and it is not there. I have 7246VXR with NPEG1 and MC28U
Cisco IOS Release 12.3(17b)BC4 introduces two commands that configure or display the configuration
and status of distributed load balancing on the Cisco CMTS:
• cable load-balance group ds-lb-group-id policy {pcmm | ugs | us-groups-across-ds }
not through one line card but even across the cards in chassis. It's done by tricky way I found once in some Cisco docs regarding balancing - just query through Cisco docs.