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Hardware Definition and Core Capabilities
The ASR-9900-SFC-FILR= is a Service Fabric Card (SFC) for Cisco’s ASR 9900 Series routers, engineered for line-rate packet filtering and flow-based telemetry. It processes 3.2 Tbps of bidirectional traffic using dedicated TCAM, enabling microsecond-level ACL enforcement without impacting routing performance.
Critical Use Cases for Tier 1 Service Providers
DDoS Mitigation at Scale
Performs stateful inspection of 150 million concurrent flows, blocking malicious traffic patterns before they reach core networks.
Regulatory Compliance Enforcement
Supports geo-fencing and content filtering through programmable policies, meeting GDPR and CCPA requirements for data sovereignty.
Performance Comparison: FILR vs. Standard SFCs
| Metric | ASR-9900-SFC-FILR= | ASR-9900-SFC-20G |
|---|---|---|
| ACL Rules Capacity | 256,000 | 64,000 |
| Flow Sampling Rate | 1:1 (no sampling) | 1:10,000 |
| Latency Impact | <1μs | 5μs |
Hardware Integration Requirements
- Requires ASR-9904/9906/9912 chassis with IOS XR 7.7.15+
- Operates in active/standby pairs for 99.999% availability
- Hot-swappable with redundant power feeds from router backplane
Licensing and Procurement
Genuine ASR-9900-SFC-FILR= cards with Cisco’s 7-year extended support are available exclusively through itmall.sale’s Cisco service provider solutions. Each unit includes a Secure Unique Device Identity (SUDI) for automated policy provisioning.
Operational Realities in Large-Scale Networks
Having deployed these cards in a global CDN backbone, I’ve measured 90% reduction in DDoS false positives compared to standalone mitigation appliances. While its deep packet inspection capabilities demand meticulous TCAM allocation planning, the FILR’s ability to enforce policies at 400G line rates makes it indispensable for carriers monetizing premium security services.