Cisco ASR 9000 Series: A9K-RSP880-TR – High-Performance Route Switch Processor

Product Overview

The Cisco A9K-RSP880-TR is a next-generation Route Switch Processor (RSP) designed for the Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers. It serves as the central control and forwarding engine, delivering high-performance routing, deep buffering, and advanced programmability for service provider core, edge, and cloud networking deployments. With its multi-core CPU architecture and high-speed fabric connectivity, the A9K-RSP880-TR ensures scalability, reliability, and low-latency forwarding in demanding network environments.

Key Features & Specifications

Hardware & Performance

• Processing Power:

• 16-core CPU (optimized for control plane and forwarding tasks)

• 880 Gbps forwarding capacity per slot

• Up to 24 Tbps system capacity (when deployed in an ASR 9912/ASR 9922 chassis)

• Memory & Storage:

• 64 GB DRAM (for routing tables and forwarding state)

• 480 GB SSD (for logging, telemetry, and software storage)

• Fabric Connectivity:

• 200 Gbps per-slot fabric bandwidth

• Hitless fabric failover for redundancy

Software & Capabilities

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

• Segment Routing (SR-MPLS, SRv6) for scalable traffic engineering

• EVPN/VXLAN for data center and cloud interconnect

• Advanced QoS & deep buffers (up to 500ms per port for burst absorption)

• Real-time telemetry (gRPC, NETCONF/YANG, streaming telemetry)

• Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for automated deployment

Reliability & Scalability

• Non-stop routing (NSR) & stateful switchover (SSO)

• In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) for continuous operation

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

• Supports ASR 9000 chassis (ASR 9906, ASR 9912, ASR 9922)

Use Cases

✔ Service Provider Core & Edge: High-capacity IP/MPLS routing
✔ 5G Transport: Ultra-low latency for mobile backhaul
✔ Cloud Networking: Hyperscale data center interconnect
✔ Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): High-throughput video streaming
✔ Financial Networks: High-frequency trading with microsecond latency

Next-Generation Successor: A9K-RSP1.6T-TR (Projected 2026 Release)

Evolutionary Improvements

Strategic Advantages of the Next-Gen Model

1. 1.6 Tbps per Slot: Doubles forwarding capacity for 400G/800G networks

2. AI-Driven Automation: Predictive routing and self-optimizing traffic

3. Cloud-Native Architecture: Kubernetes-based microservices for control plane

4. Energy Efficiency: 30% lower power per bit

5. Flexible Programmability: Open APIs for SDN integration

Migration Recommendations

1. Current Deployments: A9K-RSP880-TR remains ideal for 100G/400G networks

2. Future-Proofing: A9K-RSP1.6T-TR for 800G and terabit-scale routing

3. Optical Considerations:

• Coherent 800G optics for long-haul deployments

• OS2 single-mode fiber for high-speed transport

4. Financial Planning:

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

• 2.5-year ROI through operational efficiency

Conclusion

The A9K-RSP880-TR is a high-performance RSP for modern core networks, while the A9K-RSP1.6T-TR represents the next leap in routing scalability, offering:

• 2x forwarding capacity

• AI-driven automation

• Cloud-native control plane

• Post-quantum security

• Industry-leading energy efficiency

Alternative Title Concepts

1. "From 880G to 1.6T: Cisco's Next-Gen Routing Engine"

2. "The AI-Optimized RSP: 1.6Tbps for Cloud & 5G"

3. "Future-Ready Core Routing: Where Programmability Meets Performance"

4. "Sustainable Terabit Routing: Powering the AI-Driven Network"