Cisco ASR-9001
ASR 9001 Chassis
Product Highlights
What's Included
(2) AC Power Cord
(1) ASR-9001-FAN
(1) Rackmount Kit
Service provider and large enterprise networks demand edge routers that deliver carrier-class reliability, massive throughput, and operational simplicity — all without consuming half a rack. The Cisco ASR-9001 answers that challenge head-on.
Part of the Cisco ASR 9000 Series, the ASR-9001 is a compact, high-capacity Provider Edge (PE) router that delivers 120 Gbps of nonblocking, full-duplex fabric capacity in a space-efficient 2RU form factor. It features an integrated Route Switch Processor (RSP) with 8 GB RAM capable of holding several million routes — making it equally effective as a dedicated route-reflector appliance. The base chassis includes four integrated 10 GE SFP+ ports, GPS input for stratum-1 clocking, BITS ports, and management ports, while two modular bays accept 1 GE, 10 GE, and 40 GE Modular Port Adapters (MPAs) for flexible interface expansion.
Running the same Cisco IOS XR software image as the rest of the ASR 9000 family, the ASR-9001 enables operators to standardize on a single OS across their aggregation and edge infrastructure. Carrier Ethernet services including L2VPN, L3VPN, MPLS TE-FRR, MC-LAG, IPTV, mobile backhaul, and Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) are all supported. This listing ships with dual A9K-750W-AC power supplies, a fan tray, AC power cords, and a rackmount kit — everything needed for immediate deployment.
Features & Benefits
High-Capacity Fabric in a Compact Chassis
The ASR-9001 packs 120 Gbps of nonblocking, full-duplex switching capacity into just 2 rack units. This density lets service providers and enterprises deploy carrier-grade routing at aggregation and PE sites without dedicating large amounts of rack space or power budget.
Integrated RSP with Route-Reflector Capability
The built-in Route Switch Processor includes 8 GB of RAM and can hold several million routes. This makes the ASR-9001 a strong candidate for dedicated route-reflector deployments in addition to traditional PE routing, reducing the need for separate appliances.
Modular Interface Flexibility
Beyond the four integrated 10 GE SFP+ ports, two MPA bays accept a range of Modular Port Adapters supporting 1 GE, 10 GE, and 40 GE interfaces. This modularity allows operators to tailor port density and speed to their specific deployment requirements and scale over time.
Cisco IOS XR — Unified, Resilient Operating System
Running the same Cisco IOS XR image as the broader ASR 9000 Series, the ASR-9001 benefits from a self-healing, distributed software architecture. Features like Nonstop Forwarding (NSF), Nonstop Routing (NSR), and In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) help maintain uptime during maintenance windows and software updates.
Carrier Ethernet & Timing Services
Built-in GPS input for stratum-1 clocking and BITS ports make the ASR-9001 ideal for timing-sensitive deployments such as mobile backhaul and synchronous transport networks. Full support for Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) and MPLS OAM ensures end-to-end service assurance.
Redundant Power for High Availability
This listing includes dual A9K-750W-AC power supplies for 1+1 power redundancy. Combined with field-replaceable fan trays and a robust hardware design, the ASR-9001 is built for always-on carrier-class operation.
Deployment Scenarios
Service Provider Edge (PE) Router
Deploy the ASR-9001 as a provider edge router delivering L2VPN, L3VPN, and MPLS services at aggregation and peering points. Its 120 Gbps fabric and IOS XR feature set support the full range of Carrier Ethernet business and residential services.
Mobile Backhaul Aggregation
With integrated GPS/BITS timing ports and SyncE support, the ASR-9001 is purpose-built for mobile backhaul transport networks. Its compact 2RU footprint fits easily into space-constrained central offices and cell-site aggregation hubs.
Dedicated Route Reflector
The integrated RSP with 8 GB RAM supports millions of routes, making the ASR-9001 an efficient dedicated BGP route-reflector appliance. Operators can consolidate route-reflection duties onto a compact, cost-effective platform.
Enterprise WAN Edge / Data Center Interconnect
Large enterprises requiring carrier-grade reliability at the WAN edge benefit from the ASR-9001's modular interface options, MPLS TE-FRR, and MC-LAG support. It provides a resilient, high-throughput gateway between campus, data center, and WAN segments.
General
Performance
Interfaces
Power
Physical
Environmental
Compliance
Compatibility Notes
Modular Port Adapters (MPAs) — sold separately:
- A9K-MPA-20X1GE — 20-port 1 GE MPA
- A9K-MPA-2X10GE — 2-port 10 GE MPA
- A9K-MPA-4X10GE — 4-port 10 GE MPA
- A9K-MPA-1X40GE — 1-port 40 GE MPA
Power Supply Options:
- A9K-750W-AC (included × 2 in this listing)
- A9K-750W-DC (DC variant, sold separately)
Operating System: Cisco IOS XR. Note that IOS XR 6.9 is the last 32-bit XR release supported on this hardware.
Note: Site-to-site IPsec VPN is not supported on the ASR-9001 platform.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| ASR-9001-S | Cisco ASR 9001-S Router | Lower-cost variant starting at 60 Gbps; upgradeable to 120 Gbps via license. Same physical chassis as ASR-9001. |
| ASR-9901 | Cisco ASR 9901 Router | Next-generation compact ASR 9000 platform with higher throughput and newer silicon; recommended migration path from ASR-9001. |
| ASR-9006-AC-V2 | Cisco ASR 9006 AC V2 Chassis | Larger modular chassis (6-slot) for deployments requiring greater line card density and scale beyond the 2RU ASR-9001. |
| ASR-9902 | Cisco ASR 9902 Compact Router | Newer compact high-performance ASR 9000 platform with higher capacity; suitable as a next-gen replacement for ASR-9001. |
