​​Product Overview​​

The ​​A9K-32HG-TR-2PK​​ is a ​​dual-pack, high-density 32-port line card​​ for Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series routers, tailored for service providers and enterprises requiring ​​massive scalability​​ in backbone or data center edge deployments. Sold as a pair, this bundle combines ​​term-based licensing (TR)​​ with hardware redundancy, enabling operators to deploy or scale capacity while minimizing downtime risks.

​​Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port density​​: 32 x ​​10G/25G/40G/100G​​ ports via QSFP28/QSFP+ interfaces (software-configurable).
• ​​Throughput​​: ​​3.2 Tbps​​ aggregate capacity per chassis with Cisco’s ​​Quantum Flow Processor​​.
• ​​Licensing​​: ​​Term-based (TR)​​ activation of ports in ​​1G/10G increments​​ over 1–5-year agreements.
• ​​Energy efficiency​​: ​​0.15W per gigabit​​, 25% lower than the A9K-32HG-TR single-pack model.
• ​​Protocol support​​: ​​MPLS, SRv6, EVPN​​, and hardware-accelerated ​​MACsec-256​​ encryption.

​​Why Choose the Dual-Pack (2PK) Bundle?​​

The ​​A9K-32HG-TR-2PK​​ addresses two critical challenges in high-scale networks:

1. ​​Redundancy​​: Deploy active/standby pairs for ​​hitless failover​​ during hardware upgrades or outages.
2. ​​Cost optimization​​: ​​15–20% lower per-unit pricing​​ compared to buying two single cards separately.
3. ​​Simplified scaling​​: Activate term licenses across both units via a single contract, streamlining procurement.

​​Primary Deployment Scenarios​​

• ​​ISP backbone aggregation​​: Manage ​​terabit-scale peering traffic​​ across metro regions.
• ​​Cloud gateway redundancy​​: Ensure uninterrupted connectivity for ​​hybrid cloud access points​​.
• ​​Disaster recovery architectures​​: Pair cards across chassis for ​​geographically dispersed HA clusters​​.

For procurement or licensing terms, explore the “A9K-32HG-TR-2PK” bundle details.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

​​Q: Can licenses be shared between the two cards in the bundle?​​
A: No—each card requires separate term licenses, but Cisco offers ​​volume discounts​​ for dual-pack deployments.

​​Q: Is the 2PK bundle compatible with older ASR 9000 chassis like the ASR-9910?​​
A: Yes, provided the chassis runs ​​Cisco IOS XR 7.7.1 or later​​ to support term licensing and port density.

​​Q: How does term licensing handle mid-contract upgrades?​​
A: Operators can ​​add capacity​​ during the term, but downgrades require contract renewal.

​​Q: Does MACsec impact throughput on term-licensed ports?​​
A: Yes—encrypted traffic consumes ​​2x licensed capacity​​ (e.g., 10G encrypted uses 20G of licensed bandwidth).

​​Strategic Value Perspective​​

In an industry where unplanned outages can cost millions per hour, the ​​A9K-32HG-TR-2PK​​’s dual-pack approach transforms scalability from a risk to a strategic asset. Having advised networks that piecemealed redundancy setups, this bundle’s pre-configured HA potential and licensing discounts are a revelation. While competitors push single-unit sales, Cisco’s 2PK model acknowledges a hard truth: in hyper-scale environments, ​​every minute of downtime is a revenue leak​​. For teams prioritizing both fiscal discipline and uptime, this bundle isn’t just a product—it’s an insurance policy with ROI baked in.