Cisco ASR 9001 Datasheet: Expert Technical Overview

1. Product Overview

The Cisco Aggregation Services Router (ASR) 9001 is a high-performance, modular edge router designed to meet the demanding requirements of service providers and large enterprises. As part of the Cisco ASR 9000 Series, the ASR 9001 is engineered to deliver exceptional scalability, reliability, and flexibility for aggregation and edge routing applications. It supports a broad range of services including IP/MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, and advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPNs, making it an ideal platform for next-generation network architectures.

Architected with a compact 1 rack unit (1RU) form factor, the ASR 9001 is optimized for space-constrained environments while maintaining the high throughput and port density expected from the ASR 9000 family. It leverages Cisco’s QuantumFlow Processor (QFP) technology, which provides massive parallel processing capabilities to handle complex packet forwarding and service functions at line rate.

The ASR 9001 is designed to support multi-terabit per second throughput when deployed in conjunction with other ASR 9000 Series platforms, enabling service providers to scale their networks efficiently. Its modular design allows for flexible interface configurations, supporting a variety of physical media and speeds, including 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE), 40GE, and 100GE interfaces.

2. Product Specifications

Hardware Architecture

The ASR 9001 chassis is a 1RU platform that supports up to two line cards and a single route processor (RP). The RP integrates the control plane and management functions, while the line cards handle data plane forwarding. The platform supports Cisco’s QuantumFlow Processor (QFP) ASICs, which enable high-performance packet processing with advanced features such as deep packet inspection, QoS, and traffic engineering.

Performance and Scalability

– Forwarding capacity: Up to 120 Gbps per line card, with aggregate throughput scaling based on the number of line cards installed.
– Packet forwarding rate: Up to 90 million packets per second (Mpps) per line card.
– Routing table size: Supports up to 1 million routes in the Forwarding Information Base (FIB), enabling large-scale IP/MPLS deployments.
– MPLS label entries: Supports up to 1 million labels, facilitating extensive MPLS VPN and traffic engineering use cases.

Interface Support

The ASR 9001 supports a variety of line cards, including:
– 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GE) interfaces using SFP+ modules.
– 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GE) interfaces using QSFP+ modules.
– 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GE) interfaces using CFP2 modules.
– Support for both fiber and copper media types depending on the transceiver modules.
– Flexible port density options, with up to 2 line cards per chassis.

Power and Environmental Specifications

– Power supply: Redundant, hot-swappable AC or DC power supplies with high efficiency.
– Power consumption: Approximately 300W under typical load conditions.
– Operating temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F).
– Dimensions: 1.75 in (4.45 cm) height x 17.5 in (44.45 cm) width x 18.5 in (47 cm) depth.
– Weight: Approximately 15 kg (33 lbs) fully loaded.

Software and Protocol Support

The ASR 9001 runs Cisco IOS XR software, a carrier-grade operating system designed for high availability and modularity. Key protocol support includes:
– IPv4 and IPv6 routing protocols: OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, RIP.
– MPLS protocols: LDP, RSVP-TE, Segment Routing (SR).
– Carrier Ethernet features: E-Line, E-LAN, E-Tree services.
– VPN technologies: Layer 2 VPN (VPLS), Layer 3 VPN (MPLS VPN).
– Advanced QoS and traffic engineering capabilities.
– High availability features: Graceful Restart, Nonstop Forwarding (NSF), and In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU).

3. Features and Benefits

High Performance and Scalability

The ASR 9001’s QuantumFlow Processor architecture enables massive parallelism in packet processing, allowing the router to handle complex forwarding and service functions at line rate. This ensures that service providers can scale their networks without compromising performance, even as traffic volumes and service complexity increase.

Compact Form Factor with Carrier-Grade Reliability

The 1RU chassis design is ideal for space-constrained environments such as central offices or aggregation points. Despite its compact size, the ASR 9001 delivers carrier-grade reliability with redundant power supplies, field-replaceable components, and robust hardware design to minimize downtime.

Flexible Interface Options

Supporting a wide range of interface types and speeds, the ASR 9001 can be tailored to diverse network requirements. Whether aggregating 10GE access links or providing high-capacity 100GE uplinks, the platform’s modular line cards and transceiver options provide maximum deployment flexibility.

Advanced Software Capabilities

Running Cisco IOS XR, the ASR 9001 benefits from a modular, distributed software architecture that enhances system stability and uptime. Features such as In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) allow operators to perform software updates without service interruption, critical for maintaining SLAs in carrier environments.

Comprehensive MPLS and VPN Support

The ASR 9001 supports