What Is the A900-RSP3C-200-S= Designed to Achieve?

The ​​A900-RSP3C-200-S=​​ is Cisco’s third-generation ​​Route Switch Processor​​ for the ASR 9000 Series, engineered to address escalating demands for ​​high-speed data processing​​ and ​​hyperscale routing​​. With ​​200 GB of DDR4 memory​​ and enhanced CPU architecture, it targets networks transitioning to 400G/800G interfaces and AI-driven traffic management.


Key Technical Innovations

  • ​Memory Capacity​​: ​​200 GB DDR4​​, a 56% increase over the A900-RSP2A-128=, enabling support for ​​20M+ IPv4/IPv6 routes​​.
  • ​Processing Cores​​: Quad-core CPU optimized for ​​real-time telemetry​​ and ​​segment routing over SRv6​​.
  • ​Energy Efficiency​​: 15% lower power consumption per gigabit compared to previous RSP2A models.
  • ​Compatibility​​: Requires ASR 9910/9922 chassis and Cisco IOS XR 7.7+ for full feature utilization.

Addressing Critical User Questions

​Q: Is the A900-RSP3C-200-S= backward-compatible with ASR 9904 chassis?​
No—it is restricted to ​​ASR 9910 and 9922​​ due to higher power and cooling requirements.

​Q: Can it coexist with older RSP2A processors in a chassis?​
No. Mixing RSP generations disrupts control-plane synchronization and is unsupported.

​Q: Does it support in-service software upgrades (ISSU)?​
Yes, with ​​zero packet loss​​ during upgrades when configured in redundant pairs.


Performance Comparison: A900-RSP3C-200-S= vs. A900-RSP2A-128=

​Feature​ ​A900-RSP3C-200-S=​ ​A900-RSP2A-128=​
Memory 200 GB 128 GB
Max Routes 20M+ 10M
Telemetry Support Real-time streaming (1s granularity) 5s+ sampling intervals
Chassis Compatibility ASR 9910/9922 ASR 9904/9910/9922
Power per Gbps 0.8W 0.95W

Optimal Deployment Scenarios

  • ​AI/ML-Driven Networks​​: Processing massive telemetry datasets for predictive analytics.
  • ​Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)​​: Managing terabits of video/cloud traffic with microsecond latency.
  • ​Tier-1 ISP Core Routers​​: Scaling BGP tables for global internet peering.

For verified procurement, the A900-RSP3C-200-S= is available via itmall.sale.


Why This Processor Is a Game-Changer

Having deployed ASR 9000 systems in hyperscale environments, the ​​A900-RSP3C-200-S=​​ resolves a critical pain point: ​​future-proofing control-plane capacity without chassis replacements​​. While its upfront cost is steep, the ability to handle 400G line cards at full tilt justifies the investment for operators eyeing 800G transitions. Older RSPs struggle with telemetry granularity—a non-negotiable for AIOps-driven networks—making this module a cornerstone for next-gen automation. In my experience, dismissing its memory and CPU leaps risks costly midlife upgrades down the line.

Related Post

What Is \”CSF1210CP-TD-K9\” in Ci

​​Core Functionality of CSF1210CP-TD-K9​​ The �...

Cisco UCS-S3260-HD8TRWD= Hyperscale Storage A

Core Hardware Architecture & Storage Optimization T...

Cisco NCS4016-STRT-KIT2: Technical Architectu

​​Platform Overview and Core Components​​ The C...