A900-RSP3C-400-W= Route Processor: What Makes It Cisco’s Most Advanced RSP, and How Does It Redefine Scalability for ASR 9000 Networks?


Introduction to the A900-RSP3C-400-W=

The ​​A900-RSP3C-400-W=​​ represents Cisco’s flagship ​​Route Switch Processor​​ for the ASR 9000 Series, designed to meet the demands of hyperscale routing, AI/ML-driven traffic optimization, and terabit-scale data processing. With ​​400 GB of DDR4 memory​​ and a modular architecture, it targets Tier-1 ISPs, cloud providers, and enterprises building future-proof core networks.


Key Technical Advancements

  • ​Memory Capacity​​: ​​400 GB DDR4​​, doubling the capacity of the A900-RSP3C-200-S=, to support ​​40M+ IPv4/IPv6 routes​​.
  • ​Compute Power​​: Octa-core CPU with hardware-accelerated ​​segment routing (SR-MPLS/SRv6)​​ and ​​In-band Network Telemetry (INT)​​.
  • ​Energy Efficiency​​: Operates at ​​0.6W per gigabit​​, a 25% improvement over the 200-S model.
  • ​Compatibility​​: Exclusively for ASR 9922 chassis running Cisco IOS XR 7.10+ with full 400G/800G line card support.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​Q: Can it replace older RSP3C-200-S= processors in existing ASR 9910 chassis?​
No—the A900-RSP3C-400-W= requires the ​​ASR 9922 chassis​​ due to its higher power draw and thermal design.

​Q: Does it support non-stop routing (NSR) during hardware failures?​
Yes, with ​​stateful switchover (SSO)​​ capabilities, ensuring sub-second failover for BGP/MPLS sessions.

​Q: How does it handle real-time telemetry for AIOps?​
The processor embeds ​​Cisco Crosswork Network Automation​​ compatibility, enabling ​​microsecond-level traffic analysis​​ for predictive fault detection.


Performance Comparison: A900-RSP3C-400-W= vs. RSP3C-200-S=

​Feature​ ​A900-RSP3C-400-W=​ ​A900-RSP3C-200-S=​
Memory 400 GB 200 GB
Max Routes 40M+ 20M
Telemetry Granularity 500ms (configurable to 100ms) 1s
Power Efficiency 0.6W/Gbps 0.8W/Gbps
Chassis Support ASR 9922 only ASR 9910/9922

Ideal Use Cases

  • ​Hyperscale Cloud Backbones​​: Managing distributed data centers with 800G interconnects.
  • ​5G Core Networks​​: Scaling CUPS (Control/User Plane Separation) architectures for millions of subscribers.
  • ​Global Internet Exchange Hubs​​: Aggregating and optimizing peering traffic across continents.

For verified procurement, the A900-RSP3C-400-W= is available through itmall.sale.


Why This Processor Is Indispensable for Future Networks

Having deployed ASR 9000 systems in hypercompetitive cloud environments, the ​​A900-RSP3C-400-W=​​ eliminates the control-plane limitations that once forced operators into premature chassis upgrades. Its ability to process telemetry data at near-real-time speeds unlocks proactive network management—a necessity for AI-driven infrastructures. While its ASR 9922 exclusivity narrows initial adoption, the ROI for hyperscale operators justifies the investment. In my experience, dismissing its 400 GB memory as “excessive” underestimates the exponential growth of global routing tables and IoT endpoints post-2030.

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