Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router

The Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router is a compact, carrier-grade aggregation router designed to deliver exceptional scale, service flexibility, and high availability for modern Metro Ethernet and IP/MPLS networks. Built on Cisco IOS XR 64-bit software, this unit brings a distributed, self-healing operating system to the edge, enabling rapid service deployment, robust reliability, and simplified management for service providers and large enterprises alike. With its 120 Gbps aggregate throughput, the ASR 9901 is engineered to support growing traffic, dense VPNs, and demanding business applications with consistent performance and carrier-grade resiliency.

• Scale and reliability for carrier networks: The ASR 9901 is purpose-built for service providers and large enterprises, delivering high-throughput, deterministic forwarding, and robust fault tolerance to keep critical services online even during faults or maintenance windows.
• Advanced IOS XR 64-bit software: Powered by Cisco’s widely deployed 64-bit IOS XR, the router offers a distributed, self-healing architecture with Stateful Switchover (SSO), non-stop forwarding (NSF), and rapid route convergence to minimize service disruption during upgrades or failures.
• Flexible service delivery: This model supports diverse transport services including Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, VPNs, and QoS-enabled traffic engineering, enabling operators to monetize new services and simplify peak-time scalability.
• High availability and redundancy: Expect redundant power and cooling options, hot-swappable components, and built-in mechanisms for rapid failover, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery in mission-critical environments.
• Compact, modular design for the edge: The 1U form factor and modular interface options provide an efficient footprint for data centers, central offices, and edge deployments, reducing rack space while keeping performance at the forefront.

Technical Details of Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router

• Series and purpose: Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers family, designed for scalable edge aggregation and carrier-grade transport networks.
• Throughput: Up to 120 Gbps aggregate throughput, delivering solid headroom for growth, bursty traffic, and multiple service chains without compromising latency or packet loss.
• Operating system: Cisco IOS XR 64-bit, a proven, highly available operating system with distributed architecture, continuous process health monitoring, and automated recovery features.
• Architecture and reliability: Self-healing distributed OS enhances fault containment, NSF/SSO-capable control planes, and rapid convergence to maintain service continuity during failures or maintenance.
• Redundancy and hot-swappability: Redundant power supplies and fans are supported, enabling non-disruptive maintenance and improved uptime in carrier environments.
• Interface flexibility: Flexible line-card options to support high-density 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, enabling dense aggregation and scalable service deployment at the network edge.
• Features for service providers: Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, VPN capabilities, quality of service (QoS), traffic engineering, and security features designed for scalable, multi-tenant networks.
• Security and resilience: Enterprise-grade security features and resilient routing capabilities help protect data and ensure reliable service delivery under load and during adverse conditions.

How to Install Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router

Step 1 — Plan the deployment: Define the network topology, determine the required interface types (10G/40G/100G), and map out the services to be delivered (VPNs, Ethernet VPNs, IP/MPLS, QoS policies). Verify power, cooling, and rack space availability in the deployment site.

Step 2 — Racking and cabling: Mount the ASR 9901 in a properly rated rack. Connect the power cords to the approved power supplies and ensure redundant power configuration if available. Route and label all network cables for clarity and future maintenance.

Step 3 — Initial hardware checks: Before powering up, perform visual inspections for proper seating of line cards (if applicable), confirm module presence, and verify that all fans and power supplies are properly engaged. Connect a console or management interface for out-of-band access.

Step 4 — Boot and initial software setup: Power up the device and access the IOS XR console. Perform the initial configuration, including management IP, access controls, and administrative credentials. Apply baseline security policies and enable essential services to support monitoring and management.

Step 5 — Configure interfaces and services: Define interface bindings (Ethernet, sub-interfaces if needed), configure routing protocols (OSPF, IS-IS, BGP as required), and implement QoS templates for prioritized traffic. Create MPLS VPNs or Carrier Ethernet services according to the service design.

Step 6 — Enable high availability and monitoring: Set up NSF and SSO settings, verify redundancy of power supplies, and configure health checks for modules and line cards. Implement monitoring with SNMP, NetFlow/IPFIX, and syslog to maintain visibility into performance and faults.

Step 7 — Validation and optimization: Validate forwarding paths with real traffic simulators or pilot traffic, verify latency budgets, jitter, and packet loss under peak load. Fine-tune QoS, traffic engineering, and security policies to meet service-level objectives.

Step 8 — Documentation and ongoing management: Record configuration baselines, asset details, and change control notes. Establish routine software updates and hardware maintenance windows, and set up automated backups for configurations and logs to ensure rapid recovery in case of incidents.

In practice, the Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router integrates seamlessly with existing Cisco IOS XR-based networks, enabling consistent management, monitoring, and policy enforcement across distributed edge, metro, and backbone environments. The combination of high throughput, service flexibility, and strong reliability makes this router a compelling choice for operators seeking to scale Ethernet and IP/MPLS services while maintaining strict service-level guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Cisco ASR 9901 120G Router best suited for? It is designed for edge aggregation, metro Ethernet transport, and IP/MPLS service delivery, offering a compact footprint with high throughput and robust availability for service providers and large enterprises.
• What operating system does it use? The router runs Cisco IOS XR 64-bit, a distributed, self-healing OS known for carrier-grade reliability and scalable management across large deployments.
• How does redundancy work on this model? The ASR 9901 supports redundant power supplies and fans, along with non-stop forwarding and stateful switchover features to minimize service disruption during maintenance or failures.
• Can it handle Carrier Ethernet and VPN services? Yes. The platform is designed to deliver Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, VPNs, QoS, and advanced traffic engineering, enabling flexible and scalable service delivery.
• Is it suitable for a cloud-enabled network edge? Absolutely. Its high throughput, modular interface options, and IOS XR capabilities make it well-suited for cloud interconnect, data center interconnect, and edge routing in modern networks.
• How do I upgrade or maintain the device? Follow Cisco best practices for IOS XR updates, perform backups of configurations, and schedule maintenance windows to apply updates, replace hardware components, and verify service continuity post-upgrade.