Cisco C7200-I/O-FE
Cisco 7200 Input/Output Controller with Fast Ethernet Port
Product Highlights
What's Included
8MB Bootflash
When your Cisco 7200 Series router needs dedicated Fast Ethernet connectivity without sacrificing a valuable port adapter slot, the C7200-I/O-FE delivers exactly that.
The Cisco C7200-I/O-FE is an Input/Output controller designed for the Cisco 7200 Series routers, providing a single Fast Ethernet port capable of 100 Mbps operation in full-duplex or half-duplex mode. The controller is equipped with both an RJ-45 receptacle and an MII receptacle — only one can be active at a time — giving network engineers flexibility in how they connect to the LAN. In addition to the Fast Ethernet interface, the I/O controller includes console and auxiliary management ports, two PCMCIA Flash card slots for Cisco IOS image storage, and built-in environmental monitoring with voltage and temperature sensing.
This unit ships with 16MB Flash (MEM-I/O-FLC16M) and 8MB Bootflash pre-installed, so it is ready for deployment. The C7200-I/O-FE is compatible with Cisco 7204 and 7206 chassis (note: it does not operate in the Cisco 7202). As an end-of-life product, the C7200-I/O-FE remains a cost-effective option for maintaining, expanding, or building lab environments around the proven Cisco 7200 platform.
Features & Benefits
Integrated Fast Ethernet Connectivity
The C7200-I/O-FE provides a dedicated 1-port Fast Ethernet interface directly on the I/O controller, delivering 100 Mbps LAN connectivity without occupying a port adapter slot. This preserves your available slots for WAN interfaces and other high-density adapters, maximizing the router's overall port density and flexibility.
Dual Interface Receptacles (RJ-45 & MII)
The controller includes both an RJ-45 and an MII receptacle for the Fast Ethernet port, with one active at a time. This gives you the flexibility to connect via standard copper twisted-pair cabling or through an MII-attached transceiver, adapting to your existing infrastructure without additional converters.
Onboard Flash & PCMCIA Storage
Ships with 16MB Flash (MEM-I/O-FLC16M) and 8MB Bootflash pre-installed. Two PCMCIA Flash card slots provide additional storage for Cisco IOS images, configuration backups, and boot-helper files — essential for disaster recovery and multi-image environments.
Environmental Monitoring
Built-in voltage monitoring and temperature sensing allow the router to proactively detect environmental anomalies. This helps prevent hardware failures and supports uptime-critical deployments by alerting administrators before conditions exceed safe operating thresholds.
Management Interfaces
Dedicated console and auxiliary ports provide out-of-band management access for initial configuration, troubleshooting, and remote dial-in management. These interfaces are critical for maintaining access to the router even when in-band network connectivity is unavailable.
Deployment Scenarios
WAN Aggregation Edge Router
Deploy the C7200-I/O-FE in a Cisco 7204 or 7206 chassis serving as a WAN aggregation point. The integrated Fast Ethernet port provides a local LAN uplink for management or low-bandwidth data traffic, while port adapter slots remain available for WAN interfaces such as serial, ATM, or additional Ethernet adapters.
Network Lab & Training Environment
The Cisco 7200 Series remains a popular platform for CCIE lab preparation and network simulation. The C7200-I/O-FE provides an affordable I/O controller with Fast Ethernet connectivity, enabling realistic routing and switching lab topologies at a fraction of the cost of current-generation hardware.
Spare / Replacement for Legacy Infrastructure
Organizations still running Cisco 7200 routers in production or as backup systems can use the C7200-I/O-FE as a direct replacement I/O controller. Keeping a spare on hand minimizes downtime risk for legacy deployments that have not yet migrated to the ASR 1000 or Catalyst 8000 series.
General
Networking
Interfaces
Memory & Storage
Features
Power
Compatibility
Compatibility Notes
Compatible Chassis:
- Cisco 7204
- Cisco 7206
- Cisco 7204VXR
- Cisco 7206VXR
Not Compatible:
- Cisco 7202 — the Fast Ethernet port on the C7200-I/O-FE does not operate in this chassis.
Notes:
- Only one receptacle (RJ-45 or MII) can be active at a time.
- The I/O controller occupies the dedicated I/O controller slot (slot 0) in the Cisco 7200 chassis.
- This is an End-of-Life product. The Cisco 7200 Series reached End-of-Sale on September 29, 2012. Cisco recommends migration to the ASR 1000 Series or Catalyst 8000 Series for new deployments.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| C7200-I/O | Cisco 7200 I/O Controller (No Ethernet) | Base I/O controller without any Ethernet port — lower cost when LAN connectivity on the I/O card is not needed. |
| C7200-I/O-FE-MII | Cisco 7200 I/O Controller with MII-only Fast Ethernet | Single MII receptacle only (no RJ-45) — legacy variant discontinued as orderable since May 1998. |
| C7200-I/O-2FE/E | Cisco 7200 I/O Controller with Dual 10/100 FE | Two autosensing 10/100 Fast Ethernet RJ-45 ports — requires Cisco 7204VXR or 7206VXR chassis. |
| C7200-I/O-GE+E | Cisco 7200 I/O Controller with Gigabit Ethernet + Ethernet | 1 Gigabit Ethernet (GBIC) port plus 1 Ethernet (10 Mbps) port — for higher-bandwidth uplink requirements on VXR chassis. |
