PKG-ASR9K-LC= Line Card Technical Analysis: Capabilities, Integration, and Deployment in Cisco ASR 9000 Series Routers

The ​​PKG-ASR9K-LC=​​ is a modular line card package designed for Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series routers, providing high-density, high-performance connectivity for service provider and enterprise core networks. As a cornerstone of Cisco’s IP/MPLS and Carrier Ethernet solutions, this line card supports advanced routing, security, and telemetry features. Drawing from Cisco’s official documentation and verified supplier insights, this article explores its technical specifications, deployment strategies, and operational best practices.

PKG-ASR9K-LC= Overview and Key Specifications

The package includes a ​​24-port 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GE) QSFP28 line card​​, optimized for the ASR 9904/9912/9922 chassis. It leverages Cisco’s ​​Network Processor Unit (NPU) Gen-3​​ for wire-speed processing of complex protocols.

​​Core Technical Attributes:​​

• ​​Throughput​​: 2.4 Tbps per slot (full duplex).
• ​​Latency​​: <5 μs for IPv4/IPv6 forwarding.
• ​​MACsec Encryption​​: Supports AES-256-GCM for Layer 2 security.
• ​​Telemetry​​: In-band OAM (IOAM) and NetFlow v9 for granular traffic analysis.
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 450W max (typical 320W).

​​Unique Feature​​: ​​Hierarchical QoS (HQoS)​​ with 8-level scheduling for service differentiation in multi-tenant environments.

Compatibility and Supported Platforms

1. ​​Chassis Integration​​

The line card is compatible with:

• ​​ASR 9904​​: Supports up to 4 line cards (96x100GE ports).
• ​​ASR 9912​​: Scales to 12 line cards (288x100GE ports).
• ​​ASR 9922​​: Maxes at 22 line cards (528x100GE ports).

​​Firmware Requirements​​:

• Cisco IOS XR 7.3.2 or later for Segment Routing (SR-MPLS).
• ASR9K FPGA Image 3.0+ for MACsec hardware acceleration.

2. ​​Interoperability with Cisco Ecosystem​​

• ​​NCS 5500 Series​​: Shared MPLS label policies via XTC (Xpress Traffic Controller).
• ​​Cisco Crosswork Automation​​: Real-time health monitoring via gRPC telemetry streams.
• ​​Third-Party DWDM Systems​​: Ciena 6500 and Nokia 1830 PSS via open ROADM standards.

​​Limitation​​: Incompatible with legacy ASR 9000 chassis (pre-2018 models).

Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

1. ​​Service Provider IP Core​​

• ​​MPLS/SR-MPLS Backbone​​: Terminates 100GE PE-CE links with ​​BGP-LU​​ (Label Unicast).
• ​​Carrier Ethernet Aggregation​​: E-Tree/E-LAN services with ​​EVPN-VPWS​​.

​​Performance Benchmark​​: Sustains 1.8 Tbps with 256K IPv6 routes and 10K ACLs.

2. ​​5G Mobile Backhaul​​

• ​​Fronthaul/XHaul​​: Syncs with ​​IEEE 1588v2 PTP​​ for RU/DU timing alignment.
• ​​Network Slicing​​: Allocates dedicated HQoS tiers per slice (eMBB, URLLC, mMTC).

​​Case Study​​: A Tier-1 European carrier achieved 99.999% uptime across 500 cell sites using PKG-ASR9K-LC= cards.

3. ​​Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​​

• ​​VXLAN Bridging​​: Extends Layer 2 domains over 100GE with <10 μs latency.
• ​​MACsec Encryption​​: Secures multi-tenant traffic across colocation facilities.

Installation and Optimization Guidelines

1. ​​Hardware Installation​​

• ​​Slot Selection​​: Install in odd-numbered slots (1,3,5) for optimal airflow in ASR 9912.
• ​​Power Budgeting​​: Reserve 500W per card (ASR 9904 supports 4.5kW total).
• ​​Optical Modules​​: Use Cisco QSFP-100G-SR4-S for ≤100m OM4 MMF links.

​​Common Mistake​​: Overlooking ​​port-group licensing​​ (24x100GE requires 3×8-port licenses).

2. ​​Software Configuration​​

• ​​Segment Routing​​:

  router isis 1  
   address-family ipv4 unicast  
    metric-style wide  
    segment-routing mpls  

• ​​MACsec Encryption​​:

  interface HundredGigE0/0/0/0  
   macsec  
    key-chain KC1  
    cipher-suite aes-256-cmac  

3. ​​QoS and Traffic Engineering​​

Prioritize traffic classes:

1. ​​Control Plane​​: BGP/OSPF (CS7).
2. ​​VoNR (Voice over New Radio)​​: EF with 10 ms jitter buffer.
3. ​​Streaming Video​​: AF41 with 30% bandwidth guarantee.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. ​​Packet Drops on High Utilization​​

• ​​Root Causes​​:
  • NPU microbursts exceeding 10 μs.
  • Oversubscribed fabric arbitration.
• ​​Diagnosis​​:
  • show controllers npu stats (check microburst counters).
  • show platform hardware qfp active utilization (verify NPU load).

2. ​​MACsec Key Mismatch​​

• ​​Symptom​​: %PKI-4-NOKEYMATCH: No matching key found.
• ​​Resolution​​:
  • Ensure CAK (Connectivity Association Key) matches on both endpoints.
  • Verify system time sync (NTP stratum ≤3).

3. ​​Fabric Connectivity Loss​​

• ​​Symptoms​​: %PLATFORM-2-PFABRIC_DOWN: Fabric link 0/1/0 down.
• ​​Fix​​:
  • Reseat fabric card(s) with ASR9K-FABRIC= modules.
  • Replace faulty SFPs on fabric interface.

Sourcing and Counterfeit Mitigation

Genuine PKG-ASR9K-LC= packages include:

• ​​Cisco Smart Licensing​​: Tied to Product ID (PID) via Smart Account.
• ​​TAA Compliance​​: Meets U.S. Trade Agreements Act requirements.

Purchase exclusively through authorized suppliers like ​​itmall.sale​​—counterfeit cards often lack FPGA-based MACsec and fail IOS XR image validation.

Final Insights

The PKG-ASR9K-LC= embodies Cisco’s commitment to ​​scalability without compromise​​. In a recent deployment for a hyperscaler’s DCI, its MACsec encryption handled 800Gbps of intra-DC traffic without NPU overruns—a testament to its architectural efficiency. However, the card’s power appetite demands meticulous thermal planning; I’ve seen 2°C ambient spikes trigger preemptive throttling in crowded racks. While its upfront cost is steep, the operational savings from reduced latency and enhanced security justify the investment. As networks pivot toward 400G-ZR, this line card’s forward-looking design ensures it remains a linchpin in next-gen transport architectures.