Cisco A9K-8X100GE-SE
ASR 9000 8-port 100GE SE card -OTN
Product Highlights
As service provider and enterprise networks face relentless bandwidth growth driven by video-on-demand, cloud services, and 5G backhaul, the need for high-density 100 Gigabit Ethernet capacity at the network edge has never been greater. The Cisco A9K-8X100GE-SE answers that challenge head-on.
This 8-port 100GE Service Edge Optimized line card slots into any Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Router, delivering line-rate 100 Gigabit Ethernet across all eight ports for an aggregate 800 Gbps of forwarding capacity. As the SE variant, it provides enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) resources and greater Ethernet Flowpoint (EFP) scale compared to the Packet Transport (-TR) alternative — making it the right choice for customer-facing deployments that demand granular traffic management and hierarchical QoS.
Built on Cisco CPAK technology, the A9K-8X100GE-SE supports LAN, WAN, and OTN interface modes, giving operators the flexibility to mix and match 100GE, 40GE, and 10GE interfaces on a single card — all configurable via CLI without a card reset. A green-design power-saving mode lets you shut down unused slices to reduce energy consumption. Compatible with the full range of ASR 9000 modular chassis and powered by Cisco IOS XR, this line card provides the scalable, carrier-class infrastructure needed for profitable Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, and Data Center Interconnect services.
Features & Benefits
Service Edge Optimized QoS
The SE variant is purpose-built for subscriber-facing deployments requiring enhanced Quality of Service. Compared to the Packet Transport (-TR) model, the SE line card offers greater Network Processor resources for QoS queues and Ethernet Flowpoints (EFPs), enabling granular traffic management, hierarchical policing, and shaping at scale.
Flexible Multi-Rate Interfaces
Based on Cisco CPAK technology, each port supports 100GE, 40GE, and 10GE modes. Using CPAK 10x10G-LR optics, a single 100GE port can be broken out into 10 x 10GE channels via breakout cables — delivering up to 80 x 10GE ports per card. Interface mode changes are made through the CLI without resetting the line card.
LAN/WAN/OTN Unified PHY
Unlike the LAN-only (-LB) variants, the A9K-8X100GE-SE supports LAN, WAN, and OTN PHY modes on every port. This unified approach lets operators deploy a single line card across diverse network segments — from metro Ethernet to long-haul DWDM transport — reducing sparing costs and simplifying inventory management.
Energy-Efficient Green Design
Unused line card slices can be placed into a power-saving mode, reducing overall chassis power consumption. This green design helps operators lower OpEx and meet sustainability targets without sacrificing the ability to scale capacity on demand.
Broad Chassis Compatibility
The A9K-8X100GE-SE is fully compatible with the Cisco ASR 9006, 9010, 9904, 9906, 9910, 9912, and 9922 routers. Different line card types (SE, TR, CM) can coexist in the same chassis, giving operators maximum deployment flexibility.
Deployment Scenarios
Service Provider Edge Aggregation
Deploy at the service edge to aggregate high-bandwidth residential and business subscriber traffic. The SE-optimized QoS and EFP scale enable granular per-subscriber traffic management, hierarchical shaping, and multi-service delivery across a single line card.
Data Center Interconnect (DCI)
Provide high-speed, secure connectivity between data centers using 100GE links. OTN support enables integration with DWDM transport networks for long-haul DCI, while the 10x10G breakout option supports dense 10GE server-facing connections.
IP/MPLS Core & Metro Ethernet
Use as a high-density 100GE interface card in ASR 9000 core or metro aggregation routers. The unified LAN/WAN/OTN PHY and carrier-class IOS XR feature set support scalable L2VPN, L3VPN, and Segment Routing deployments.
Large-Scale 10GE Aggregation via Breakout
Leverage CPAK 10x10G-LR breakout optics to deliver up to 80 x 10GE ports from a single 8-port line card. This is ideal for nV Satellite deployments and high-density access aggregation where 10GE port count is the primary requirement.
General
Interfaces
Performance
Compatibility
Physical
Software & Licensing
Compatibility Notes
Chassis Compatibility
- Cisco ASR 9006, ASR 9010, ASR 9904, ASR 9906, ASR 9910, ASR 9912, ASR 9922
- Chassis may require cooling and power system upgrades to support high-density 100GE throughput
Software Requirement
- Minimum Cisco IOS XR Release 5.3.1
Optics
- Requires Cisco CPAK pluggable optics (sold separately)
- Supported CPAK modules include: CPAK-100G-LR4, CPAK-10X10G-LR, CPAK-100G-SR10, and others
- Refer to the Cisco ASR 9000 Transceiver Modules data sheet and the TMG Compatibility Matrix (tmgmatrix.cisco.com) for the full list
Licensing (Optional)
- Infrastructure VRF License — supports up to 8 VRF instances per line card
- Advanced IP License — enables full-scale VRF instances per line card
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| A9K-8X100GE-TR | ASR 9000 8-Port 100GE Packet Transport Line Card | TR variant — optimized for core/transport with basic QoS; lower cost but fewer QoS queues and EFP resources than the SE |
| A9K-4X100GE-SE | ASR 9000 4-Port 100GE SE Line Card | Same SE optimization in a 4-port form factor (400 Gbps) — ideal when fewer 100GE ports are needed |
| A9K-8X100G-LB-SE | ASR 9000 8-Port 100GE LAN-Only SE Line Card | LAN PHY only — no WAN/OTN support; suitable for LAN-only deployments at a potentially lower price point |
| A99-8X100GE-SE | ASR 9900 8-Port 100GE SE Line Card | Tomahawk-based variant for ASR 9904/9906/9910/9912/9922 only — not compatible with ASR 9006/9010 chassis |