Hierarchical Policy Configuration Considerations

When you configure hierarchical policies for interface groups, be aware of the following considerations:

Loops—The system performs basic checks to prevent formation of loops when external parent groups refer to other external parent groups. Also, you cannot chain together more than four rate-limits in a hierarchy.
Asynchronous Policy Parameter Configuration—You can individually configure the policy parameter configuration in an interface and the policy attachments. If a policy parameter is not configured in the interface before a policy is attached, the value configured in Global Configuration mode for this parameter is used. You can later change the parameter value for the interface.
Asynchronous Parent Group Rate Limit Configuration—You can configure an external parent group without a rate-limit-profile reference. In this case, the system does not invoke a rate-limit for the external parent group (even if other nodes point to it) and calls the next node in the hierarchy.
Parent Group Reference—The configuration fails if you do not first create an external parent group before it is referenced elsewhere.