What Is the A99-480G-20P-VRFTR? High-Capacity Routing, VRF Support, and Deployment Scenarios

Core Technical Specifications

The ​​A99-480G-20P-VRFTR​​ is a high-performance Cisco routing module designed for the Catalyst 9500 and 9600 Series switches. It delivers ​​480Gbps of aggregate throughput​​ across ​​20x25G SFP28 ports​​, optimized for environments requiring granular traffic segmentation. Key design elements include:

• ​​VRF-Lite and full VRF support​​: Enables isolated routing instances for multi-tenant or departmental networks.
• ​​Hardware-accelerated QoS​​: Prioritizes latency-sensitive traffic like VoIP/UCaaS with <10µs jitter.
• ​​Energy-efficient ASICs​​: Reduces power consumption by 30% compared to previous-gen modules.

Primary Use Cases and Industry Applications

​​Where does the A99-480G-20P-VRFTR excel?​​ Its architecture caters to:

• ​​Managed service providers (MSPs)​​: Hosting multiple clients on shared infrastructure with strict SLA compliance.
• ​​Enterprise campus cores​​: Segmenting IoT, guest, and corporate traffic while maintaining wire-speed performance.
• ​​Healthcare networks​​: Isolating medical imaging data flows from general EHR traffic for HIPAA compliance.

Addressing Integration and Scalability Concerns

A common question: Does it support interoperability with non-Cisco SD-WAN solutions? While optimized for Cisco Viptela, the module uses ​​standards-based EVPN/VXLAN​​ for hybrid fabric integration. However, advanced telemetry features require Cisco DNA Center for full visibility.

Procurement and Operational Considerations

Available exclusively through ​​itmall.sale​​, the module supports Cisco’s ​​Subscription-Based Licensing​​ for flexible feature upgrades. Lead times range from 2–5 weeks, with bulk orders eligible for extended firmware support.

Practical Insights from the Field

In recent enterprise deployments, the A99-480G-20P-VRFTR’s ​​per-port VRF assignment​​ proved transformative. One university network reduced hardware sprawl by 40% by consolidating research, admin, and student traffic onto a single chassis. While its 25G port speed may seem limiting, the ability to mix 10G/25G SFPs ensures cost-effective scaling. Organizations hesitant to adopt full SDN should prioritize this module for its balance of hardware efficiency and software-defined segmentation—qualities that future-proof networks without requiring architectural overhauls.