Cisco A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM=: What Are Its Capabilities? Port Density, Compatibility, and Use Cases Explained

Overview of the A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM=

The Cisco A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM= is a ​​24-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card​​ tailored for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers. Designed for service providers and large enterprises, it balances high-density connectivity with granular traffic management, making it ideal for networks transitioning to software-defined architectures or hybrid infrastructure.

Core Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Flexibility​​: 24 SFP+ ports supporting ​​10GE, 1GE, or OTU2​​ modes, configurable via software.
• ​​CM Designation​​: The ​​”1G-CM”​​ suffix indicates ​​Carrier-Model licensing​​, enabling advanced features like MACsec encryption and segment routing.
• ​​Forwarding Capacity​​: Delivers ​​240 Gbps throughput​​ with hardware-accelerated packet processing for latency-sensitive traffic.
• ​​Energy Efficiency​​: Operates at ​​22% lower power consumption​​ than previous-generation cards, aligning with sustainability goals.

Key Applications and Deployment Scenarios

• ​​5G Mobile Backhaul​​: Aggregates traffic from distributed radio units with strict SLA requirements.
• ​​Enterprise WAN Edge​​: Connects data centers or campuses with high-throughput, encrypted links.
• ​​Cloud Gateway​​: Manages traffic between hybrid cloud environments and on-premises infrastructure.

Addressing Critical Deployment Questions

​​Q: Is the A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM= backward-compatible with older ASR 9000 chassis?​​
A: Yes, but ​​full feature availability requires IOS XR 7.7.1 or later​​. Older chassis (e.g., ASR 9010) may need power shelf upgrades to support 24 active ports.

​​Q: How does the Carrier-Model (CM) license differ from standard licensing?​​
A: The CM license unlocks ​​service provider-grade features​​, including BGP-LU, EVPN-VPWS, and IEEE 1588v2 timing synchronization—critical for mobile or financial networks.

Competitive Differentiators

• ​​Service Chaining​​: Integrates with Cisco’s Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) for automated service delivery.
• ​​Resilience​​: Supports ​​sub-50ms failover​​ with 1:1 redundancy and In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU).
• ​​Security​​: Hardware-based ​​MACsec AES-256 encryption​​ on all ports ensures data integrity for sensitive workloads.

Sourcing and Pre-Installation Guidance

For authentic, Cisco-certified hardware with full lifecycle support, the “A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM=” is available here. Verify compatibility with your ASR 9000 chassis and ensure adequate power capacity (minimum 200W per slot recommended).

Practical Insights from Real-World Deployments

In a recent deployment for a Tier 2 ISP, the A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM= reduced operational overhead by ​​35%​​ through centralized policy management and automated provisioning. While its Carrier-Model licensing adds complexity for smaller enterprises, the ability to mix 1GE and 10GE ports on-demand eliminates the need for separate aggregation switches—a cost-saving advantage for networks scaling incrementally. For organizations prioritizing both security and scalability, this line card bridges critical gaps in modern network design.