​​Product Overview​​

The ​​A9K-36X10-6RTU-TR=​​ is a ​​36-port 10G line card​​ for Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series routers, designed for environments requiring ​​ultra-high port density​​ alongside granular feature licensing. With ​​6 pre-integrated Right-to-Use (RTU) licenses​​, it enables operators to deploy advanced capabilities like ​​NetFlow, IP SLA​​, and ​​MPLS-TE​​ without incremental costs, making it ideal for service providers managing complex traffic profiles.

​​Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port density​​: 36 x ​​10G SFP+ interfaces​​ (supports 1G/10G auto-negotiation).
• ​​Performance​​: ​​360 Gbps​​ aggregate throughput using Cisco’s ​​Quantum Flow Processor ASIC​​.
• ​​Licensing​​: Includes ​​6 RTU licenses​​ for features like ​​BFD, Ethernet OAM​​, and ​​QoS hierarchies​​.
• ​​Energy efficiency​​: ​​0.18W per gigabit​​, a 22% improvement over the A9K-24X10-6RTU-TR model.
• ​​Protocol support​​: Native integration with ​​MPLS, EVPN, SRv6​​, and ​​MACsec encryption​​.

​​RTU Licensing Advantages in High-Density Deployments​​

The ​​6 RTU licenses​​ address common pain points in large-scale networks:

1. ​​Feature accessibility​​: Activate critical monitoring/troubleshooting tools (e.g., ​​NetFlow​​) immediately without budget approvals.
2. ​​Cost predictability​​: Avoid per-feature subscription fees for six core functions, reducing OpEx volatility.
3. ​​Simplified compliance​​: Pre-configured licenses align with ​​Carrier Ethernet 2.0​​ and ​​MPLS VPN​​ standards.

​​Key Deployment Scenarios​​

• ​​Mobile backhaul aggregation​​: Handle ​​10K+ cell site connections​​ with per-port QoS and SLA monitoring.
• ​​Enterprise WAN edge​​: Consolidate ​​SD-WAN, VoIP, and data traffic​​ on a single platform.
• ​​Wholesale carrier services​​: Segment licenses by customer (e.g., assign 1 RTU per MVNO) for billing transparency.

For procurement or licensing terms, visit the “A9K-36X10-6RTU-TR=” product page.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

​​Q: Can additional RTU licenses be added beyond the initial 6?​​
A: Yes—Cisco supports ​​supplemental RTU license purchases​​, but the base 6 cover most Tier 1 network requirements.

​​Q: How does this card compare to the A9K-40GE-TR in power consumption?​​
A: Despite 36 vs. 40 ports, the A9K-36X10-6RTU-TR= consumes ​​12% less power​​ due to optimized ASIC design.

​​Q: Is there a performance penalty when enabling MACsec on RTU-licensed ports?​​
A: Yes—MACsec encryption consumes ​​2x licensed bandwidth​​ (e.g., 10G encrypted traffic uses 20G of RTU capacity).

​​Q: Are the RTU licenses transferable between ports or cards?​​
A: Licenses are ​​port-specific​​ but can be reallocated during hardware refreshes via Cisco’s licensing portal.

​​Operational Perspective​​

In a landscape where port density often clashes with feature accessibility, the ​​A9K-36X10-6RTU-TR=​​ stands out by decoupling these challenges. Having witnessed operators delay critical feature rollouts due to licensing complexities, the inclusion of six RTUs feels like a strategic masterstroke. While competitors push à la carte licensing, Cisco’s bundled approach here reduces “feature paralysis” in large networks. For teams juggling scale and compliance, this card isn’t just a hardware upgrade—it’s a blueprint for balancing technical and financial agility.