Cisco NPE-G2
7200 Network Processing Engine with 3 GE/FE/E ports
Product Highlights
What's Included
256MB Flash (1x MEM-NPE-G2-FLD256)
As WAN and MAN environments grow in complexity, the routing engine at the heart of your Cisco 7200VXR chassis must keep pace. The Cisco NPE-G2 Network Processing Engine delivers the highest performance and scalability within the Cisco 7200 NPE family, making it the ideal upgrade path for organizations running the Cisco 7204VXR or 7206VXR.
The NPE-G2 features three built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports (10/100/1000 copper RJ-45 plus SFP slots) that provide flexible LAN connectivity directly on the engine board, eliminating the need to consume valuable port adapter slots. A dedicated 10/100 management Ethernet port, console, auxiliary, and two USB ports round out the onboard I/O. This unit ships with 1GB DDR DRAM (MEM-NPE-G2-1GB) and 256MB CompactFlash (MEM-NPE-G2-FLD256) pre-installed — enough memory to support advanced Cisco IOS feature sets, large BGP tables, and multiple VRF instances.
With the NPE-G2 installed, the I/O controller becomes optional, freeing that chassis slot for a Port Adapter Jacket Card and increasing overall port density. Whether you are maintaining a branch WAN aggregation point, an IPsec VPN headend, or a service-provider edge node, the Cisco NPE-G2 extends the operational life and capability of your proven 7200VXR investment. Note: The Cisco 7200 Series is End-of-Life; the NPE-G2 is available as a replacement spare for existing deployments.
Features & Benefits
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity
The NPE-G2 includes three onboard GE/FE/E ports with both copper RJ-45 and SFP connector options on each port. All three ports support IEEE 802.1Q VLAN trunking. By integrating LAN connectivity directly onto the processing engine, you preserve port adapter slots for WAN interfaces and maximize chassis density.
High-Capacity Memory Configuration
This unit ships with 1GB of DDR DRAM and 256MB of CompactFlash, providing ample resources for large routing tables, multiple VRF instances, and advanced Cisco IOS feature sets. The NPE-G2 uses DDR memory (not compatible with NPE-G1 SDRAM modules), delivering higher memory access performance.
Flexible Management & Storage
A dedicated 10/100 management Ethernet port enables out-of-band management independent of data-plane traffic. Two onboard USB ports provide additional storage capacity for IOS images and support Aladdin eToken credentials for VPN deployments. Console and auxiliary serial ports are also included.
Simplified Chassis Architecture
With the NPE-G2 installed, the traditional I/O controller is no longer required, freeing the I/O slot for a Port Adapter Jacket Card. This architectural change increases the number of available port adapter slots and simplifies sparing. The NPE-G2 also provides onboard NVRAM and bootflash when no I/O controller is present.
Deployment Scenarios
WAN Aggregation & Branch Connectivity
The NPE-G2 powers Cisco 7200VXR routers deployed at enterprise WAN aggregation points, connecting multiple branch offices over diverse WAN technologies. Its three onboard GE ports handle LAN-side distribution while port adapter slots accommodate serial, T1/E1, or other WAN interfaces.
IPsec VPN Headend
Paired with a VPN Acceleration Module (such as the SA-VAM2+), the 7200VXR with NPE-G2 serves as a capable IPsec VPN concentrator. USB-based eToken support simplifies certificate-based VPN authentication for large-scale deployments.
Service Provider Edge / PE Router
With 1GB DRAM supporting large BGP tables and multiple VRF instances, the NPE-G2-equipped 7200VXR is well-suited for provider edge (PE) roles in MPLS networks. IEEE 802.1Q support on all GE ports enables flexible customer-facing VLAN configurations.
Lab & Test Environments
As an End-of-Life product available at significant discounts, the NPE-G2 is an excellent choice for CCIE lab environments and network test beds where Cisco IOS feature validation on 7200-class hardware is required.
General
Interfaces & Ports
Memory (As Shipped)
Standards & Protocols
Physical
Environmental
Compliance
Software Compatibility
Compatibility Notes
Chassis Compatibility
- Cisco 7204VXR chassis
- Cisco 7206VXR chassis
Supported I/O Controllers (Optional)
- C7200-I/O
- C7200-I/O-2FE
- C7200-I/O-GE+E
Cisco IOS Software Support
- Cisco IOS Release 12.4(4)XD, 12.4T, 12.2SB, 12.2SRC
- Last supported IOS train for the Cisco 7200 Series: 15.2(4)M and 15.2(4)S
Memory Compatibility
- NPE-G2 uses DDR DRAM — NPE-G1 SDRAM modules are not compatible
- Memory part number: MEM-NPE-G2-1GB (included)
- Flash part number: MEM-NPE-G2-FLD256 (included)
Important: End-of-Life Status
The Cisco 7200 Series and NPE-G2 have reached End-of-Life. Cisco recommends migration to the Cisco ASR 1000 Series as the direct replacement platform.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| NPE-G1 | Cisco 7200 NPE-G1 Network Processing Engine | Previous-generation NPE with lower processing capacity; NPE-G2 doubles performance and uses DDR memory vs. SDRAM. |
| 7206VXR/NPE-G2 | Cisco 7206VXR Router Bundle with NPE-G2 | Complete 6-slot 7206VXR chassis bundled with NPE-G2 and IP software — choose this if you need the full router, not just the engine. |
| 7204VXR/NPE-G2 | Cisco 7204VXR Router Bundle with NPE-G2 | Complete 4-slot 7204VXR chassis bundled with NPE-G2 — smaller form factor for deployments requiring fewer port adapter slots. |
| ASR1001 | Cisco ASR 1001 Aggregation Services Router | Cisco-recommended migration path from the 7200VXR platform; offers IOS XE, higher throughput, and current support lifecycle. |
