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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:
- Redundancy: Deploy active/standby pairs for hitless failover during hardware upgrades or outages.
- Cost optimization: 15–20% lower per-unit pricing compared to buying two single cards separately.
- 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.