Cisco C3900-SPE150/K9
Cisco Services Performance Engine 150 for Cisco 3945 ISR
Product Highlights
What's Included
256MB Flash (1x MEM-CF-256MB)
As branch-office demands grow to include voice, video, security, and WAN optimization — all running concurrently — your router's processing engine becomes the critical bottleneck. The Cisco C3900-SPE150/K9 Services Performance Engine 150 is the field-replaceable modular motherboard designed specifically for the Cisco 3945 Integrated Services Router (ISR).
The SPE150 hosts the system route processor, onboard Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, EHWIC slots, and DSP slots, functioning as the core processing brain of the Cisco 3945 platform. With hardware-based encryption acceleration and support for concurrent services at up to 150 Mbps, the SPE150 enables enterprise branch offices to consolidate routing, security, unified communications, and application services onto a single platform without compromising performance.
This listing ships with 1GB DRAM (1x MEM-3900-1GB) and 256MB CompactFlash (1x MEM-CF-256MB) — the default memory configuration for the Cisco 3945. Because the SPE is field-replaceable, IT teams can swap or upgrade the engine without replacing the entire router chassis, protecting the initial infrastructure investment and reducing downtime during maintenance or performance upgrades.
Features & Benefits
Field-Replaceable Modular Architecture
The C3900-SPE150/K9 is a modular motherboard that can be swapped in the field without replacing the Cisco 3945 chassis. This unique architecture protects your capital investment and allows you to scale router performance as branch-office needs evolve — simply upgrade to a higher-tier SPE when the time comes.
Hardware-Accelerated Security
Built-in hardware encryption acceleration offloads IPsec VPN and SSL processing from the main CPU, enabling the Cisco 3945 to deliver secure connectivity without sacrificing routing throughput. This is critical for branch offices that require always-on VPN tunnels back to headquarters or the data center.
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet & SFP Connectivity
The SPE150 provides 3x onboard Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) RJ-45 ports and 2x SFP uplink ports, giving network engineers flexible options for both copper and fiber connectivity. This eliminates the need for additional interface modules in many deployment scenarios.
Rich Services Integration
Supporting 4 EHWIC slots, 4 DSP slots, 1 ISM slot, and 4 SM slots on the Cisco 3945 platform, the SPE150 enables concurrent deployment of firewall, intrusion prevention, unified communications, and WAN optimization services — all from a single router. This consolidation reduces branch-office hardware sprawl and simplifies management.
Default Memory Included
This unit ships with 1GB DRAM and 256MB CompactFlash, the standard default memory configuration for the Cisco 3945. Memory can be upgraded to higher densities to support larger routing tables, additional services, or more complex Cisco IOS feature sets.
Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise Branch Office Replacement or Spare
Keep a spare C3900-SPE150/K9 on hand to minimize downtime in mission-critical branch deployments. If an SPE fails, the field-replaceable design allows a quick swap without replacing the entire Cisco 3945 chassis, dramatically reducing mean time to repair (MTTR).
Branch Router Performance Restoration
Restore a Cisco 3945 ISR to full operational capability by replacing a degraded or failed SPE module. The SPE150 brings the router back to its designed performance level with hardware encryption acceleration and support for concurrent voice, security, and data services.
Lab and Test Environments
Equip lab or staging environments with cost-effective SPE150 modules to replicate production Cisco 3945 configurations. This enables accurate testing of IOS upgrades, security policies, and unified communications deployments before rolling changes into production.
General
Interfaces
Expansion (on Cisco 3945 Chassis)
Memory (Included)
Security
Performance (Cisco 3945 with SPE150)
Lifecycle
Compatibility Notes
Platform Compatibility:
- The C3900-SPE150/K9 is supported only on the Cisco 3945 platform. It is not compatible with the Cisco 3925, 3925E, or 3945E.
- The Cisco 3925 uses the C3900-SPE100/K9; the Cisco 3925E uses the C3900-SPE200/K9; the Cisco 3945E uses the C3900-SPE250/K9.
Memory:
- DRAM must be installed in matched pairs (both DIMM slots populated with symmetrical type and density). This unit ships with 1GB DRAM (2x 512MB DIMMs).
- CompactFlash: 256MB included (1x MEM-CF-256MB).
Software:
- Cisco 3945 runs Cisco IOS 15.x Universal image. IP Base license is the default; Security, UC, and Data licenses are available separately.
End-of-Life Notice:
- The Cisco 3900 Series ISRs reached End-of-Sale on December 9, 2017. Refurbished and secondary-market units remain widely available.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| C3900-SPE250/K9 | Cisco Services Performance Engine 250 | Higher-performance SPE designed for the Cisco 3945E; offers increased throughput and processing power over the SPE150. |
| C3900-SPE100/K9 | Cisco Services Performance Engine 100 | SPE designed for the Cisco 3925 platform; lower performance tier than the SPE150 and not compatible with the 3945. |
| C3900-SPE200/K9 | Cisco Services Performance Engine 200 | SPE designed for the Cisco 3925E platform; not compatible with the Cisco 3945 chassis. |
| CISCO3945/K9 | Cisco 3945 ISR Router (Complete System) | Full Cisco 3945 router chassis with SPE150 pre-installed; choose this if you need the complete router, not just the SPE module. |