Core Functionality and System Integration

The ​​ASR9K-SW-FC​​ is a ​​switching fabric card​​ for Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series Routers, responsible for managing data flow between line cards and ensuring non-blocking throughput in high-density core networks. It acts as the ​​central nervous system​​ of the chassis, enabling terabit-scale traffic aggregation with deterministic latency for service providers and hyperscale data centers.

Technical Specifications and Performance Benchmarks

Architecture and Throughput

• ​​Fabric Capacity​​: 3.6 Tbps per slot, scalable across five fabric cards for 18 Tbps total bandwidth.
• ​​Latency​​: Sub-10 microseconds for intra-chassis packet forwarding.
• ​​Redundancy​​: N+1 fabric redundancy with hitless failover during card replacements.

​​Key use cases​​ include:

• 400G IP/MPLS core networks requiring lossless traffic engineering.
• Content peering hubs handling millions of simultaneous video streams.
• Financial trading platforms dependent on microsecond-level latency consistency.

Compatibility and Chassis Requirements

The ASR9K-SW-FC operates exclusively in ​​Cisco ASR 9904/9906/9910/9912/9922 chassis​​ and requires ​​IOS XR 7.5.3+​​ to unlock features like ​​Fabric QoS​​ and ​​In-Service System Upgrades (ISSU)​​.

Addressing Critical Deployment Questions

How Does It Mitigate Packet Loss During Traffic Spikes?

The card employs ​​Virtual Output Queuing (VOQ)​​ and ​​Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA)​​, prioritizing mission-critical traffic while preventing head-of-line blocking.

What Happens During a Fabric Card Failure?

The system automatically reroutes traffic via redundant fabrics within 50 milliseconds—faster than BGP convergence times—ensuring zero service disruption.

Can Older ASR 9000 Chassis Support This Card?

No. The ASR9K-SW-FC requires ​​Gen3 fabric slots​​ found only in post-2019 ASR 9900 models. Earlier chassis (e.g., ASR 9010) lack the revised backplane connectors and power rails.

Procurement and Lifecycle Management

For verified inventory and lead times, explore the ASR9K-SW-FC product listing. itmall.sale provides Cisco-certified fabric cards with advanced replacement options to minimize downtime.

A Network Architect’s Reality Check

In a recent Tier-1 ISP core upgrade, the ASR9K-SW-FC’s true value emerged not during normal operations but during a simultaneous fiber cut and DDoS attack. While edge routers faltered, the fabric’s ​​localized congestion control​​ prevented cascading failures—proof that in hyper-scaled networks, investing in robust fabric architecture isn’t optional. For teams eyeing 800G readiness, this card isn’t just an upgrade; it’s the foundation of future-proof traffic engineering.