Cisco ASR 1004 Router Datasheet: In-Depth Technical Overview

Product Overview

The Cisco Aggregation Services Router (ASR) 1004 is a high-performance, modular router designed to meet the demanding requirements of service providers and large enterprises. As part of the Cisco ASR 1000 Series, the ASR 1004 delivers exceptional scalability, reliability, and advanced services integration, making it an ideal platform for edge routing, aggregation, and service provider WAN applications.

Built on Cisco’s proven QuantumFlow Processor (QFP) architecture, the ASR 1004 supports a wide range of services including advanced IP/MPLS routing, deep packet inspection, and integrated security features. Its modular chassis design allows for flexible interface configurations and high availability, ensuring continuous service delivery in mission-critical environments.

With a focus on high throughput and low latency, the ASR 1004 is engineered to handle multi-gigabit traffic loads while supporting complex service chaining and network virtualization. It is optimized for both IPv4 and IPv6 environments and supports a comprehensive suite of Cisco IOS XE software features, enabling service providers to deploy next-generation services with confidence.

Product Specifications

Chassis and Physical Dimensions

• Form Factor: 4-slot modular chassis
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 7.0 x 17.5 x 19.5 inches (17.8 x 44.5 x 49.5 cm)
• Weight: Approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) fully loaded
• Power Supply: Dual redundant AC or DC power supply options
• Cooling: Front-to-back airflow with redundant fans

Performance and Throughput

• Forwarding Capacity: Up to 120 Gbps aggregate throughput
• Packet Forwarding Rate: Up to 90 Mpps (million packets per second)
• Latency: Sub-millisecond latency for wire-speed forwarding
• QuantumFlow Processor: 40 parallel packet-processing engines

Interface Modules and Connectivity

• Supports a variety of interface modules including:
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) SFP+ and XFP
• Gigabit Ethernet (GE) SFP
• OC-3/12/48 POS (Packet over SONET/SDH)
• 10 Gigabit POS
• 1 Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet WAN PHY
• Slot capacity: Up to 4 interface modules per chassis

Memory and Storage

• DRAM: Up to 16 GB system memory
• Flash Storage: Up to 8 GB for Cisco IOS XE software and configurations

Software and Protocol Support

• Operating System: Cisco IOS XE Software
• Routing Protocols: BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIP, MPLS, Segment Routing
• Security: Integrated firewall, IPsec VPN, MACsec encryption support
• Quality of Service (QoS): Advanced traffic shaping, policing, and classification
• Network Virtualization: VRF-Lite, MPLS VPN, EVPN, and VXLAN support

Features and Benefits

High Scalability and Performance

The ASR 1004 is engineered to scale with growing network demands. Its modular chassis supports multiple interface modules, enabling flexible port density and interface types. The QuantumFlow Processor architecture provides massive parallelism, allowing the router to process millions of packets per second with minimal latency. This makes the ASR 1004 suitable for high-throughput environments such as data center interconnects, metro aggregation, and service provider edge routing.

Advanced Service Integration

One of the key differentiators of the ASR 1004 is its ability to integrate multiple services on a single platform. It supports deep packet inspection, firewalling, NAT, and IPsec VPNs natively within the router, reducing the need for additional security appliances. This integration simplifies network design and reduces operational costs while maintaining high security and service quality.

Carrier-Grade Reliability and Availability

The ASR 1004 is designed for 99.999% availability with features such as redundant power supplies, fans, and supervisor engines. It supports In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU), allowing software updates without service interruption. Hardware components are hot-swappable, enabling maintenance and upgrades without downtime. These features ensure continuous service delivery in critical network environments.

Comprehensive Protocol Support

The router supports a broad range of Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols, including MPLS and Segment Routing, which are essential for modern service provider networks. It also supports advanced QoS mechanisms to prioritize latency-sensitive traffic such as voice and video. The ASR 1004’s support for IPv6 ensures future-proofing as networks transition to the next-generation IP protocol.

Energy Efficiency and Compact Design

Despite its high performance, the ASR 1004 is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Its compact 4-slot chassis reduces rack space requirements and power consumption compared to larger routers with similar throughput. This makes it an excellent choice for data centers and central offices where space and power are at a premium.

Product Portfolio

The Cisco ASR 1000 Series includes several models tailored to different network sizes and performance requirements:

• ASR 1001-X: Compact 1 RU router with up to 20 Gbps throughput, ideal for small to medium enterprises and branch offices.
• ASR 1002-X: Mid-range 2 RU router supporting up to 40 Gbps throughput, suitable for medium-sized service provider edge deployments.
• ASR 1004: The 4-slot modular chassis model delivering up to 120 Gbps throughput, designed for high-density aggregation and edge routing.
• ASR 1006: Larger 6-slot chassis supporting up to 120 Gbps with additional interface capacity for large-scale deployments.

The ASR 1004 fits into this portfolio as the mid-to-high capacity modular router, balancing scalability, performance, and flexibility for demanding network environments.

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