Overview of the A9K-48P10G-AIP-SE=

The Cisco A9K-48P10G-AIP-SE= is a ​​48-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card​​ engineered for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers. Designed for service providers and large enterprises, it addresses the need for ultra-high port density and advanced traffic management in environments like 5G core networks, hyperscale data centers, and internet exchange points.

Core Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 48 SFP+ ports supporting ​​10GE, 1GE, or OTU2​​ modes, configurable via software for mixed-rate deployments.
• ​​AIP Technology​​: Integrates Cisco’s ​​Advanced Interface Processor​​ for hardware-accelerated QoS, MACsec encryption, and microburst absorption.
• ​​Throughput​​: Delivers ​​480 Gbps aggregate capacity​​ with line-rate performance for unicast, multicast, and broadcast traffic.
• ​​Licensing​​: The ​​SE (Service Edge)​​ license enables features like EVPN, segment routing, and deep buffer utilization for congestion management.

Key Applications

• ​​5G Mobile Backhaul​​: Aggregates traffic from thousands of small cells with strict latency SLAs.
• ​​Cloud Gateway​​: Connects hybrid cloud environments with secure, high-throughput links.
• ​​Content Aggregation​​: Manages traffic for live streaming, gaming, and CDN edge nodes.

Addressing Deployment Challenges

​​Q: Is the A9K-48P10G-AIP-SE= compatible with Gen 2 ASR 9000 chassis?​​
A: Yes, but ​​full 48-port utilization requires Gen 3 or newer chassis​​ (e.g., ASR 9912) due to power and cooling requirements. Older chassis may limit active ports.

​​Q: How does the SE license enhance functionality?​​
A: Unlocks ​​per-flow telemetry​​, ​​Flexible Algorithm (Flex-Algo) for segment routing​​, and ​​BGP Flowspec​​ for dynamic DDoS mitigation.

Competitive Advantages

• ​​Traffic Prioritization​​: ​​Hierarchical QoS​​ policies ensure sub-2ms latency for financial trading or VoIP traffic.
• ​​Security​​: ​​MACsec AES-256 encryption​​ on all ports, compliant with FIPS 140-2 standards.
• ​​Resilience​​: Supports ​​1:1 redundancy​​ and hitless in-service software upgrades (ISSU) for zero downtime.

Sourcing and Pre-Installation Guidance

For Cisco-validated hardware with full lifecycle support, the “A9K-48P10G-AIP-SE=” is available here. Verify chassis power shelf capacity (minimum 300W per slot) and ensure IOS XR 7.13+ is installed for Flex-Algo and model-driven telemetry.

Real-World Deployment Insights

In a recent deployment for a global ISP, the A9K-48P10G-AIP-SE= consolidated three legacy 16-port cards into a single slot, reducing operational complexity by ​​50%​​. While its 48-port density may seem excessive for smaller networks, the ability to incrementally activate ports as demand grows future-proofs infrastructure investments. The AIP’s microburst absorption capability proved critical during live sports streaming events, preventing packet loss despite sudden 300% traffic spikes. For organizations balancing scalability with security, this card’s blend of encryption and programmability offers a compelling upgrade path from rigid, legacy architectures.