Chapter 13. Cisco IDS Module (IDSM)

This chapter covers the following subjects:

• Cisco IDS Module

• IDSM-2 Configuration

• IDSM-2 Ports

• Catalyst 6500 Switch Configuration

• IDSM-2 Administrative Tasks

• Troubleshooting the IDSM-2

One of the advantages of Cisco IPS is the multiple locations at which you can deploy sensors throughout your network. The Cisco IDS Module (IDSM) enables you to deploy your sensor directly into your Catalyst 6500 switch via a switch-line card.

Besides tuning Cisco IPS to match your unique network requirements, you must also thoroughly understand the various locations throughout your network at which you can deploy IPS sensors. A key traffic- crossing point is your Catalyst 6500 family switches. Deploying an Intrusion Detection System Module 2 (IDSM-2) in your Catalyst 6500 switch enables you to efficiently and effectively monitor traffic traversing your network. Understanding the benefits and limitations of the IDSM-2 is crucial to monitoring a key location in your network infrastructure.

"Do I Know This Already?" Quiz

The purpose of the "Do I Know This Already?" quiz is to help you decide if you really need to read the entire chapter. If you already intend to read the entire chapter, you do not necessarily need to answer these questions now.

The 10-question quiz, derived from the major sections in the "Foundation and Supplemental Topics" portion of the chapter, helps you determine how to spend your limited study time.

Table 13-1 outlines the major topics discussed in this chapter and the "Do I Know This Already?" quiz questions that correspond to those topics.

Table 13-1. "Do I Know This Already?" Foundation and Supplemental Topics Mapping

Caution

The goal of self-assessment is to gauge your mastery of the topics in this chapter. If you do not know the answer to a question or are only partially sure of the answer, you should mark this question wrong for purposes of the self-assessment. Giving yourself credit for an answer you correctly guess skews your self-assessment results and might provide you with a false sense of security.

The answers to the "Do I Know This Already?" quiz are found in the appendix. The suggested choices for your next step are as follows :

• 8 or less overall score —Read the entire chapter. This includes the "Foundation and Supplemental Topics" and "Foundation Summary" sections and the Q&A section.

• 9 or 10 overall score —If you want more review on these topics, skip to the "Foundation Summary" section and then go to the Q&A section. Otherwise, move to the next chapter.