Scope and Platform Positioning
The supplied document covers the Cisco ASR 9000 Series Route Switch Processor 5 (RSP5), not the complete ASR 9000 router portfolio. This guide uses the July 2025 datasheet, document C78-741128-05, including its processor ordering information, supported line-card list, and chassis-specific fabric capacities.
RSP5 supports high-density 100 and 400 Gigabit Ethernet line cards and backward compatibility with third-generation ASR 9000 line cards. Its stated applications include wireline aggregation, Data Center Interconnect (DCI), mobile aggregation, and converged Layer 2 and Layer 3 services.
Two processor models are available:
- A9K-RSP5-TR: Packet-transport-optimized processor.
- A9K-RSP5-SE: Service-edge-optimized processor with additional memory.
Both support service-optimized and transport-optimized line cards. Different line-card types can coexist in one chassis.
The datasheet identifies Cisco IOS XR Software Release 6.5.15 and later for RSP5 ordering and specification tables. That baseline should not be treated as proof that every subsequently listed line card or feature is supported in every release from 6.5.15 onward. Release-specific compatibility remains a design-verification item.
Processor Selection and Control-Plane Sizing
| Specification | RSP5-TR | RSP5-SE |
|---|---|---|
| Intended role | Packet transport | Service edge |
| ECC-protected DRAM | 16GB or 24GB configurations listed | 40GB |
| Memory upgrade statement | 16GB configuration field-upgradable to 24GB | No upgrade option stated |
| Processor | 8 cores, 1.9 GHz | 8 cores, 1.9 GHz |
| SSD storage | Two 128GB SSDs | Two 128GB SSDs |
| Embedded USB | 8GB | 8GB |
| External USB | USB 2.0 Type A receptacle | USB 2.0 Type A receptacle |
The source lists both 16GB and 24GB under the same A9K-RSP5-TR product number. It provides no separate memory-upgrade SKU.
Presales rule: Confirm the delivered TR memory configuration explicitly in the quotation. The product number alone does not distinguish the two memory capacities in this datasheet.
Service-edge sizing depends on simultaneous control-plane demands, not only port bandwidth. The document specifically identifies VRF interfaces, IPv4 and IPv6 routes, BFD sessions, and BGP NSR interfaces as scaling dimensions.
Selection rule: A configuration requiring high scale across multiple service dimensions requires the SE model according to the datasheet. No numerical route, VRF, subscriber, BFD, or BGP scale ceilings are supplied; those limits cannot be inferred from DRAM capacity.
The two SSDs support core-dump storage and reduced repair time. Their presence does not establish a documented RAID arrangement, usable aggregate capacity, or storage redundancy policy.
Fabric Architecture and Bandwidth Planning
RSP5 uses integrated switch fabrics and, in applicable configurations, dedicated fabric cards. The source describes a distributed, multistage, low-latency, non-blocking architecture with control of up to seven fabrics: two on RSPs and five on dedicated fabric cards.
Traffic can be load-balanced across up to seven fabrics. Independent line-card forwarding separates forwarding-plane work from centralized processor functions. Virtual output queuing and arbitration prioritize unicast and multicast traffic and address head-of-line blocking.
Published switching capacities
Values below preserve the datasheet’s units and categories. T denotes Tbps; G denotes Gbps.
| Capacity category | ASR 9910 | ASR 9906 | ASR 9010 | ASR 9006 | ASR 9904 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonredundant per router | 33.6T | 16.8T | 17.6T | 8.8T | 8.4T |
| N+1 per router | 28.8T | 14.4T | 8.8T | 4.4T | 3.6T |
| Nonredundant per line-card slot | 4.2T | 4.2T | 2.2T | 2.2T | 4.2T |
| N+1 per line-card slot | 3.6T | 3.6T | 1.1T | 1.1T | 1.8T |
| Bidirectional per RSP5 to each line-card slot | 600G | 600G | 1.1T | 1.1T | 1.8T |
Presales sizing rules:
- Use N+1 values when the requirement includes the corresponding fabric redundancy. Do not quote nonredundant capacity as protected capacity.
- Check both per-router and per-slot limits. Aggregate chassis capacity does not remove a slot-level constraint.
- Keep the bidirectional RSP-to-slot figure separate from total slot switching capacity.
- Do not translate fabric capacity directly into guaranteed application throughput or packet rate; neither is quantified here.
- Validate the required fabric-card population separately. The extract does not provide a complete chassis-by-chassis fabric bill of materials.
For example, the ASR 9006 lists 8.8T nonredundant capacity but 4.4T at N+1. Its corresponding per-slot values are 2.2T and 1.1T. A resilient design must use the latter figures for its protected-capacity comparison.
ASR 9912 and ASR 9922 appear as architectural scalability and availability comparisons. The supplied capacity table does not specify RSP5 capacities for those chassis.
Complete Processor and Supported-Card SKU Matrix
The following tables reproduce every processor and line-card part number supplied. Multiple entries in one cell are distinct SKUs; no suffixes have been expanded into unlisted products.
The document does not provide a fixed-router or compact-router ordering catalog. Chassis model references are not complete chassis ordering SKUs. It also does not consistently classify cards as modular or fixed. MOD200 and MOD400 identifiers are therefore retained without inventing associated adapter or module compatibility.
Processor ordering
| Part number | Description | Stated software support |
|---|---|---|
| A9K-RSP5-TR | Packet Transport RSP5 | IOS XR 6.5.15 and later |
| A9K-RSP5-TR= | Packet Transport RSP5 spare | IOS XR 6.5.15 and later |
| A9K-RSP5-SE | Service Edge RSP5 | IOS XR 6.5.15 and later |
| A9K-RSP5-SE= | Service Edge RSP5 spare | IOS XR 6.5.15 and later |
Fifth-generation supported cards
| Identifier group | Exact listed SKUs |
|---|---|
| A99 4T | A99-4T-FC |
| A99 10X400GE-X | A99-10X400GE-X-SE; A99-10X400GE-X-TR |
| A99 32HG | A99-32HG-FC |
| A99 32X100GE-X | A99-32X100GE-X-SE; A99-32X100GE-X-TR |
| A9K 20HG-FLEX | A9K-20HG-FLEX-FC; A9K-20HG-FLEX-SE; A9K-20HG-FLEX-TR |
| A9K 8HG-FLEX | A9K-8HG-FLEX-FC; A9K-8HG-FLEX-SE; A9K-8HG-FLEX-TR |
| A99 4HG-FLEX | A99-4HG-FLEX-FC; A99-4HG-FLEX-SE; A99-4HG-FLEX-TR |
| A9K 4HG-FLEX | A9K-4HG-FLEX-FC; A9K-4HG-FLEX-SE; A9K-4HG-FLEX-TR |
| A99 4HG-FLEX-X | A99-4HG-FLEX-X-FC; A99-4HG-FLEX-X-SE |
| A9K 4HG-FLEX-X | A9K-4HG-FLEX-X-FC; A9K-4HG-FLEX-X-SE |
Fourth-generation cards and associated page continuation
| Identifier group | Exact listed SKUs |
|---|---|
| A99 32X100GE | A99-32X100GE-FC; A99-32X100GE-TR; A99-32X100GE-CM |
| A9K 16X100GE | A9K-16X100GE-FC; A9K-16X100GE-TR; A9K-16X100GE-CM |
| A99 16X100GE-X | A99-16X100GE-X-FC; A99-16X100GE-X-SE |
Third-generation cards and associated page continuation
| Identifier group | Exact listed SKUs |
|---|---|
| A99 12X100GE | A99-12X100GE-FC; A99-12X100GE; A99-12X100GE-CM |
| A99 8X100GE | A99-8X100GE-FC; A99-8X100GE-SE; A99-8X100GE-TR; A99-8X100GE-CM |
| A9K 8X100GE | A9K-8X100GE-FC; A9K-8X100GE-SE; A9K-8X100GE-TR; A9K-8X100GE-CM |
| A9K 8X100G-LB | A9K-8X100G-LB-SE; A9K-8X100G-LB-TR |
| A9K 4X100GE | A9K-4X100GE-FC; A9K-4X100GE-SE; A9K-4X100GE-TR; A9K-4X100GE |
| A9K 400GE-LAN | A9K-400GE-LAN-FC |
| A99 48X10GE-1G | A99-48X10GE-1G-FC; A99-48X10GE-1G-TR; A99-48X10GE-1G-SE |
| A9K 48X10GE-1G | A9K-48X10GE-1G-FC; A9K-48X10GE-1G-TR; A9K-48X10GE-1G-SE; A9K-48X10GE-1G-CM |
| A9K 24X10GE-1G | A9K-24X10GE-1G-FC; A9K-24X10GE-1G-TR; A9K-24X10GE-1G-SE; A9K-24X10GE-1G-CM |
| A9K MOD400 | A9K-MOD400-FC; A9K-MOD400-SE; A9K-MOD400-TR; A9K-MOD400-CM |
| A9K MOD200 | A9K-MOD200-FC; A9K-MOD200-SE; A9K-MOD200-TR |
| A9K 400G-DWDM | A9K-400G-DWDM-TR |
The page 9 extraction interleaves table continuations. A9K-16X100GE-CM and the A99-16X100GE-X entries are grouped with the fourth-generation continuation above; their generation placement should be checked against the original table if contractually significant. The exact SKU strings are preserved.
The July 10, 2025 revision notes new fifth-generation SKUs offering native 1G support, but does not individually map that capability to every listed card.
Availability, Software, and Service Design
The redundancy specification states 1+1 RSP redundancy, software redundancy, and no single point of failure. Both processors in a redundant pair must be of the same kind.
Presales rule: Specify a matched TR pair or matched SE pair, not a mixed TR/SE pair. Treat processor redundancy and fabric-capacity redundancy as separate design checks.
IOS XR provides process modularity, protected process memory, and distributed route processing. The source describes Software Maintenance Updates for bug fixes or small feature releases without interrupting existing services, plus Field-Programmable Device upgrades while systems are running. These statements are not a universal guarantee that every maintenance action is nondisruptive.
The documented service set includes:
- Ethernet services, L2VPN, IPv4, IPv6, L3VPN, EVPN, IRB, and MC-LAG.
- Layer 2 and Layer 3 multicast, IPTV, CDN applications, P2MP-TE, and mLDP.
- MPLS OAM, Ethernet OAM, Layer 2 and Layer 3 ACLs, and hierarchical QoS.
- Segment Routing, SRv6, RSVP-TE, SR-TE, TI-LFA, and RSVP-based fast reroute.
- NSF, NSR, IPoDWDM, Lawful Intercept, and Smart Call Home.
- SyncE and PTP.
These are platform capabilities, not quantified concurrent-scale commitments. Service qualification should cover the intended feature combination and failure conditions.
Timing, Management, and Operations
RSP5 supplies centralized timing distribution and recovery to and from line cards. The source identifies GPS, DTI, and BITS connections on the processor, with native SyncE and PTP support on line cards.
| Interface or function | Supplied specification |
|---|---|
| Clock sources | Two independent clock-source connections |
| GPS ToD | RS-422 and RS-232 |
| 1-PPS | RS-422 or 1.0/2.3 50-ohm RF connector |
| 10-MHz input/output | 1.0/2.3 50-ohm RF connector |
| Management Ethernet | Two 100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 ports |
| Local access | One console port; one auxiliary port |
| Alarm outputs | Critical, major, and minor |
| Indicators | Active/standby, power management, SSD, synchronization, GPS, fabric fault, and alarm-cutoff/lamp-test functions |
Engineering rule: Confirm timing-source interfaces and cabling before procurement. The datasheet does not specify timing accuracy, holdover duration, or supported PTP profiles.
Physical, Environmental, and Reliability Specifications
These dimensions apply to the processor, including its ejector bracket/lever, not to the chassis.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Slot occupancy | One slot per RSP; two for a redundant pair |
| Height | 1.63 in. / 4.10 cm |
| Width | 15.86 in. / 40.28 cm |
| Depth | 24.62 in. / 62.53 cm |
| Weight | 20.39 lb / 9.25 kg |
| Nominal operating temperature | 32 to 104 degrees F / 0 to 40 degrees C |
| Short-term operating temperature | 23 to 131 degrees F / -5 to 55 degrees C |
| Nominal operating relative humidity | 5 to 90% |
| Storage temperature | -40 to 158 degrees F / -40 to 70 degrees C |
| Storage relative humidity | 5 to 93% |
| Operating altitude | -60 to 4000 m |
| Stated altitude conformity condition | Up to 2000 m for IEC/EN/UL/CSA 60950 requirements |
| MTBF | Not provided |
| Acoustic noise | Not provided |
| Power draw, heat output, and PoE budget | Not provided |
Short-term temperature exposure is limited to 96 consecutive hours, 360 total hours or 15 days per year, and no more than 15 occurrences annually.
Facilities rule: Use the nominal temperature range for continuous operation. The short-term range is not a continuous-service rating. Missing MTBF and acoustic figures prevent quantified reliability or noise assessment from this document alone.
Chassis dimensions, airflow clearances, fan noise, power-supply sizing, and total thermal load require separate chassis-level documentation.
Compliance and Site Qualification
The ASR 9000 Series is described as designed to meet the listed standards. This wording should not be replaced with an unconditional certification claim.
The list includes NEBS Level 3 criteria under SR-3580, GR-1089-CORE, GR-63-CORE, and Verizon VZ.TPR.9205. ETSI references cover network-equipment EMC and storage, transportation, and stationary-use classes.
Emissions references include FCC, ICES, AS/NZS, CISPR, VCCI, and BSMI Class A, plus power-line harmonics, voltage fluctuations, and railway EMC. Immunity figures include 8kV contact/15kV air electrostatic discharge and 10V/m radiated immunity. Safety references include UL/CSA/IEC/EN 60950-1 and laser-safety requirements.
Site acceptance should verify the applicable regional evidence and complete configured-system requirements.
Warranty, Services, and Procurement Closeout
The datasheet provides no warranty duration, hardware replacement SLA, advance-replacement entitlement, software-support term, or support-contract SKU. No limited-lifetime or other warranty should be assumed.
It describes lifecycle services for deployment, operation, optimization, and post-implementation support, using ASR 9000-specific practices, tools, processes, and lab environments. Service information is available through an account representative or https://www.cisco.com/go/spservices.
Before order placement, the proposal should separately document:
- Warranty terms and commencement conditions.
- Support coverage hours, escalation paths, and response commitments.
- Replacement logistics and locally stocked spares.
- Software maintenance and upgrade entitlements.
- Installation, migration, acceptance testing, and operational handover scope.
Sustainability references cover materials, WEEE compliance, and takeback/reuse programs. Inquiries are directed to [email protected]; packaging weight and material questions go to [email protected].
A procurement-ready design therefore needs more than processor selection: it requires confirmed memory, matched redundancy, release-specific card compatibility, protected fabric capacity, chassis power and cooling data, and explicit service terms.