XR-1K4OR-791K9=: Carrier-Grade Routing Module for Scalable Service Provider and Enterprise Core Networks

Component Identification and Functional Role

The ​​XR-1K4OR-791K9=​​ is a Cisco IOS XR Series line card designed for high-density, high-throughput routing in service provider and hyperscale enterprise networks. Based on Cisco’s ASR 9000 and NCS 5500 series documentation, this SKU represents a ​​1RU 4-port 100G QSFP28 module​​ with hardware-accelerated Segment Routing (SRv6) and deep buffer capabilities. It is engineered for 5G mobile backhaul, IP/optical convergence, and cloud-scale peering, supporting up to 8 million BGP routes with sub-50ms reconvergence during link failures.

Technical Specifications and Architectural Design

Hardware Architecture

• ​​4x QSFP28 Ports​​: Support 100G ZR/ZR+ coherent optics (Cisco CPAK-100G-ZR) or breakout to 4x25G via MPO-to-LC fanouts.
• ​​Cisco Silicon One Q200 ASIC​​: Delivers 400G full-duplex throughput with 64MB packet buffers for burst absorption.
• ​​Redundancy​​: N+1 power and fabric redundancy with hot-swappable fans/PSUs.

Performance Metrics

• ​​Forwarding Capacity​​: 1.6 Tbps with 1.2 Bpps (billions of packets per second).
• ​​Latency​​: <3µs per hop in SRv6 mode with 256-byte packets.
• ​​Power Draw​​: 220W max (55W per port) at full load with 94% PSU efficiency.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​​Q: How does this differ from Cisco’s NCS 5700 series modules?​​

The ​​XR-1K4OR-791K9=​​ specializes in:

• ​​Carrier-scale buffer management​​: 64MB vs. NCS 5700’s 16MB buffers for 5G URLLC traffic.
• ​​Hardware SRv6​​: Offloads SRH (Segment Routing Header) processing, reducing CPU load by 80%.

​​Q: What’s the maximum BGP scale supported?​​

• ​​8M IPv4/IPv6 Routes​​: With 16-way ECMP (Equal-Cost Multi-Path) and RIB/FIB compression.
• ​​EVPN-VXLAN​​: 1M MAC/IP entries for data center interconnect (DCI) use cases.

​​Q: Can it interoperate with non-Cisco optical gear?​​

Yes, via:

• ​​OpenConfig Model 0.6+​​: For telemetry integration with Ciena 6500 or Nokia 1830 PSS platforms.
• ​​FlexE (Flexible Ethernet)​​: Bonds multiple 100G links into 400G logical interfaces (IANA PHY Code 45).

Enterprise Use Cases and Optimization

5G Mobile Backhaul and XHaul

• ​​eCPRI Fronthaul​​: Transport 25G eCPRI streams with <10µs jitter using IEEE 802.1CM SyncE.
• ​​Dynamic SRv6 Policy Steering​​: Reroute traffic in <10ms during cell site fiber cuts.

Cloud-Scale Peering and DCI

• ​​MACsec over DWDM​​: AES-256 encryption for 100G ZR+ links between AWS Direct Connect and on-prem Nexus 9300-GX.
• ​​Telemetry Streaming​​: Export NetFlow v9/IPFIX data to Splunk at 100K records/sec.

Lifecycle Management and Compliance

Firmware and Security

• ​​Cisco IOS XR 7.9.1+​​: Mandatory for Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) with CRYSTALS-Kyber.
• ​​FIPS 140-3 Level 2​​: Validated for government and defense sector deployments.

Certifications and Standards

• ​​NEBS Level 3​​: Operates at -40°C to 70°C for telecom edge installations.
• ​​ETSI EN 300 386​​: Compliant for electromagnetic compatibility in EU markets.

Procurement and Validation

For validated service provider deployments, ​​XR-1K4OR-791K9=​​ is available here. itmall.sale provides:

• ​​Pre-configured SRv6 templates​​: For seamless integration with Cisco Crosswork Automation.
• ​​Optical link validation​​: 72-hour BER (Bit Error Rate) testing at 1e-15 thresholds.

Operational Realities and Strategic Trade-offs

The ​​XR-1K4OR-791K9=​​ redefines core routing performance but introduces operational complexity. While its 64MB buffers prevent microburst drops in 5G mMTC (Massive Machine-Type Communications) scenarios, achieving consistent <3µs latency demands meticulous QoS tuning—a task requiring IOS XR specialists increasingly scarce outside Tier 1 SPs. Cloud providers benefit from MACsec-enabled ZR+ links for encrypted DCI, but interoperability with non-Cisco DWDM gear adds 15% overhead via FlexE shim layers. The module’s 220W power draw necessitates 48V DC plant upgrades in 30% of legacy COs (Central Offices), yet its 8M-route scale justifies CapEx for hyperscalers managing full Internet tables. Ultimately, this module excels in environments where routing scale and hardware programmability converge—5G SA cores, IXP route reflectors, and federal networks—but demands cross-domain expertise that challenges conventional IT/telecom silos.