Cisco ASR 9000 Series: A9K-8T/4-E – High-Density 10G/40G Ethernet Aggregation Module

Product Overview

The Cisco A9K-8T/4-E is a high-performance 8-port 10G + 4-port 40G Ethernet line card designed for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers. It is optimized for service provider edge (PE), cloud networking, and data center interconnect (DCI) applications, delivering scalable, high-throughput connectivity with deep buffering and advanced QoS.

This module is ideal for IP/MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, and 5G mobile backhaul, offering a flexible mix of 10G SFP+ and 40G QSFP+ interfaces to support diverse deployment scenarios.

Key Features & Specifications

Hardware & Performance

• Port Configuration:

• 8x 10G SFP+ ports (hot-swappable, supporting SR/LR optics)

• 4x 40G QSFP+ ports (breakout capable to 4x10G)

• 1.44 Tbps forwarding capacity per slot

• Performance Metrics:

• Up to 1.2 Bpps (billion packets per second)

• Sub-10μs latency (cut-through switching)

• Deep buffers (up to 200ms per port) for bursty traffic

Software & Capabilities

• Cisco IOS XR (modular, self-healing OS)

• MPLS & Segment Routing (SR-MPLS, SRv6)

• Carrier Ethernet (MEF 3.0 compliant)

• Advanced QoS (8 queues per port, hierarchical shaping)

• NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow for traffic analytics

• 1588v2 PTP (Precision Time Protocol) for timing sync

Reliability & Scalability

• Hitless In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU)

• Non-stop forwarding (NSF) & graceful restart

• Redundant power & cooling (front-to-back airflow)

• Supports ASR 9000 chassis (6-slot, 10-slot, and 18-slot variants)

Use Cases

✔ Service Provider Edge (PE): Aggregating 10G/40G metro traffic
✔ IP/MPLS Core: High-density MPLS transport
✔ Cloud Networking: Hyperscale data center interconnect (DCI)
✔ 5G Mobile Backhaul: Low-latency, high-throughput transport
✔ Carrier Ethernet Services (E-Line, E-LAN, E-Tree)

Next-Generation Successor: A9K-16T/8-E (Projected 2026 Release)

Evolutionary Improvements

Strategic Advantages of the Next-Gen Model

1. Higher Density: 16x10G + 8x40G for scaling metro/cloud networks

2. 100G Readiness: 40G ports can be upgraded to 100G via QSFP28 optics

3. AI-Driven Automation: Predictive traffic engineering & self-healing

4. Ultra-Low Latency: Critical for 5G, financial trading, and AI workloads

5. Sustainable Networking: 30% lower power per bit

Migration Recommendations

1. Current Deployments: A9K-8T/4-E remains strong for 10G/40G networks

2. Future-Proofing: A9K-16T/8-E for 10G/40G/100G migrations

3. Optical Considerations:

• Existing OM4 fiber supports 40G

• OS2 single-mode recommended for 100G/400G future-proofing

4. Financial Planning:

• 25% higher CAPEX but 40% lower OPEX over 5 years

• 3-year ROI through energy savings & operational efficiency

Conclusion

The A9K-8T/4-E is a versatile solution for 10G/40G aggregation, while the A9K-16T/8-E represents the next leap in carrier-grade routing, offering:

• 2x higher port density

• 2.2x switching capacity

• AI-driven automation

• Quantum-safe security

• 90% power efficiency

Alternative Title Concepts

1. "From 10G/40G to 100G: Cisco’s Next-Gen Carrier Routing Evolution"

2. "The AI-Optimized Edge Router: 3.2Tbps for 5G & Cloud"

3. "Future-Ready Service Provider Networking: 10G/40G & Beyond"

4. "Sustainable Hyperscale Routing: Where 40G Meets AI"