Cisco A9K-48P10G-IVRF=: How Does It Revolutionize High-Density Networking with Advanced Virtualization?

Overview of the A9K-48P10G-IVRF=

The Cisco A9K-48P10G-IVRF= is a ​​48-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card​​ designed for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers, targeting service providers and enterprises requiring scalable network segmentation. It integrates high port density with advanced virtualization to manage multi-tenant traffic securely, making it ideal for cloud service providers, large-scale VPNs, and 5G core networks.

Core Technical Specifications

• ​​Port Configuration​​: 48 SFP+ ports supporting ​​10GE, 1GE, or OTU2​​ modes, software-configurable for hybrid traffic.
• ​​VRF Scalability​​: Supports ​​up to 2,000 Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances​​, enabling isolated routing domains for tenants or services.
• ​​Throughput​​: Delivers ​​480 Gbps aggregate capacity​​ with hardware-assisted MPLS label switching and QoS prioritization.
• ​​Power Efficiency​​: Operates at ​​20% lower power per port​​ compared to previous-generation cards, reducing operational costs.

Key Applications

• ​​Multi-Tenant Cloud Platforms​​: Securely segments customer workloads in shared infrastructure.
• ​​Carrier Ethernet Services​​: Manages thousands of E-LINE/E-LAN connections with distinct SLAs.
• ​​5G Network Slicing​​: Isolates traffic for enterprise, IoT, and consumer slices in 5G SA architectures.

Addressing Critical Deployment Questions

​​Q: Is the A9K-48P10G-IVRF= compatible with Gen 2 ASR 9000 chassis?​​
A: Yes, but ​​full VRF scalability requires Gen 3 or newer chassis​​ (e.g., ASR 9912) due to enhanced TCAM memory allocation.

​​Q: What distinguishes the IVRF licensing tier?​​
A: The ​​Integrated VRF (IVRF)​​ license enables ​​per-instance NetFlow​​, ​​VRF-aware ACLs​​, and ​​MPLS VPNv4/v6​​ support for granular policy enforcement.

Competitive Advantages

• ​​Traffic Isolation​​: ​​Per-VRF QoS policies​​ guarantee bandwidth and latency for critical applications like VoIP or financial trading.
• ​​Scalability​​: Eliminates the need for physical segmentation, reducing hardware sprawl by up to 70%.
• ​​Resilience​​: Supports ​​NSF/SSO​​ for sub-second failover and hitless software upgrades during maintenance.

Sourcing and Compatibility Guidance

For Cisco-certified hardware with lifecycle assurance, the “A9K-48P10G-IVRF=” is available here. Ensure your chassis runs IOS XR 7.14+ to leverage features like VRF-lite and segment routing over IPv6 (SRv6).

Practical Deployment Observations

In a hyperscale cloud provider’s deployment, the A9K-48P10G-IVRF= reduced configuration errors by ​​45%​​ by automating VRF provisioning through Cisco NSO. While its 48-port density may overwhelm smaller networks, the ability to dynamically allocate ports as 1GE or 10GE eliminates the need for separate aggregation switches—simplifying upgrades. The card’s per-VRF telemetry has proven invaluable for troubleshooting SLA breaches in real time, particularly in environments where latency variability directly impacts revenue. For organizations prioritizing both scale and security, this module’s fusion of virtualization and performance offers a future-proof foundation for next-gen services.