Overview of the A9K-24X10-6RTU-SE=

The Cisco A9K-24X10-6RTU-SE= is a ​​24-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card​​ engineered for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers. Designed for high-density aggregation, it caters to service providers and enterprises requiring scalable bandwidth for evolving networks, such as 5G backhaul and cloud edge deployments.

Key Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 24 SFP+ ports supporting ​​10GE, 1GE, or OTU2​​ modes, adaptable via software.
• ​​RTU Licensing​​: The ​​6RTU​​ designation refers to its ​​Routing Table Utilization​​ capacity, enabling support for up to 6 million routes for large-scale BGP deployments.
• ​​Throughput​​: Delivers ​​240 Gbps​​ aggregate throughput with hardware-assisted forwarding for low-latency performance.
• ​​Power Efficiency​​: Operates at ​​18% reduced power consumption​​ compared to earlier models, critical for energy-conscious deployments.

Primary Use Cases

• ​​Service Provider Edge​​: Aggregates traffic from cell towers, DSLAMs, or metro Ethernet networks.
• ​​Enterprise Core Routing​​: Handles high-volume inter-VLAN routing and QoS-sensitive applications.
• ​​Content Distribution​​: Manages high-bandwidth video streaming and caching node interconnects.

Addressing Deployment Considerations

​​Q: Is the A9K-24X10-6RTU-SE= compatible with older ASR 9000 chassis?​​
A: Yes, but ​​full RTU capacity requires a Gen 3 or later chassis​​ (e.g., ASR 9906/9912). Older models may limit route table scalability.

​​Q: How does RTU licensing impact scalability?​​
A: The 6RTU license allows ​​6 million IPv4/IPv6 routes​​, making it suitable for global ISP peering or large enterprise networks. Upgrading beyond this requires a license uplift or a higher-tier line card.

Competitive Advantages

• ​​Flexible Port Reuse​​: Ports can be reconfigured from 1GE to 10GE without hardware swaps, ideal for phased network upgrades.
• ​​Traffic Optimization​​: ​​Hardware-based multicast replication​​ reduces CPU load for IPTV or live-streaming workloads.
• ​​Resilience​​: Supports ​​1:1 line card redundancy​​ and hitless software upgrades for zero-downtime maintenance.

Sourcing and Pre-Deployment Checks

For verified Cisco hardware and lifecycle support, the “A9K-24X10-6RTU-SE=” is available here. Ensure your chassis runs IOS XR 7.5+ to leverage advanced features like segment routing and EVPN integration.

Field Deployment Observations

In a European ISP’s backbone network, the A9K-24X10-6RTU-SE= reduced route convergence times by ​​50%​​ during BGP reroutes, thanks to its optimized TCAM allocation. While the 6RTU license suffices for most regional providers, global operators may find the route ceiling restrictive—planning for future scalability during initial deployment is advisable. The card’s ability to blend cost efficiency with carrier-grade performance makes it a pragmatic choice for networks balancing growth with budget constraints.