ASR 9922 with RP2 et SFC3 Capacity

[Siham]

Hi All,

We have an ASRR9922 with A99-RP2-TR, and we would like to know its capacity to support 100G and 400G port cards. For example, how many terabits can it support in order to propose the appropriate cards? Does the A99-SFC3 determine the capacity? Note that on the ASR9922, we have 5 * A99-SFC3.

Thank you for your support.

[AshSe]

Hello @Siham 

The Cisco ASR 9922 is a high-performance router designed for service provider and large enterprise networks, and its capacity to support 100G and 400G port cards is determined by several factors, including the Route Processor (RP), the Switch Fabric Cards (SFCs), and the line cards themselves.

Key Components Affecting Capacity:

1. Route Processor (RP):

   1. The A99-RP2-TR is the Route Processor installed in your ASR 9922. It provides control plane functionality and supports high-performance routing. However, the RP itself does not directly determine the forwarding capacity of the chassis; that is primarily determined by the switch fabric and line cards.

2. Switch Fabric Cards (SFCs):

   1. The A99-SFC3 is the third-generation switch fabric card for the ASR 9922. It provides the backplane switching capacity for the chassis. The ASR 9922 supports up to 6 SFCs, but you currently have 5 SFCs installed.
   2. Each A99-SFC3 provides 2.4 Tbps of switching capacity. With 5 SFCs, your total switch fabric capacity is: 5×2.4 Tbps=12 Tbps5×2.4Tbps=12Tbps
   3. If you add a 6th SFC, the total capacity would increase to 14.4 Tbps.

3. Line Cards:

   1. The line cards you choose will determine the number and type of ports (e.g., 100G or 400G) that can be supported. The total capacity of the line cards must not exceed the switching capacity provided by the SFCs.

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Capacity for 100G and 400G Ports:

The ASR 9922 with 5 A99-SFC3 cards (12 Tbps total capacity) can support a mix of 100G and 400G ports, depending on the line cards you install. Here are some examples of line cards and their capacities:

1. A9K-8x100GE-SE:

   1. This line card provides 8 x 100GE ports.
   2. Each card consumes 800 Gbps of switching capacity.
   3. With 12 Tbps of total capacity, you could theoretically support up to 15 such line cards(15 x 800 Gbps = 12 Tbps).

2. A9K-2x400GE-SE:

   1. This line card provides 2 x 400GE ports.
   2. Each card consumes 800 Gbps of switching capacity.
   3. With 12 Tbps of total capacity, you could also support up to 15 such line cards.

3. Mix of 100G and 400G Ports:

   1. You can mix and match line cards as long as the total capacity does not exceed 12 Tbps.
   2. For example, you could install:
      1. 10 x A9K-8x100GE-SE (10 x 800 Gbps = 8 Tbps)
      2. 5 x A9K-2x400GE-SE (5 x 800 Gbps = 4 Tbps)
      3. Total: 12 Tbps.

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Considerations:

1. Switch Fabric Redundancy:

   1. The ASR 9922 supports up to 6 SFCs, but only 5 are required for full capacity. The 6th SFC provides redundancy. If you add a 6th SFC, the system can tolerate the failure of one SFC without reducing the total capacity.

2. Power and Cooling:

   • High-density line cards (e.g., 400G cards) consume more power and generate more heat. Ensure your chassis has sufficient power supplies and cooling to support the desired configuration.

3. Future Expansion:

   • If you plan to expand in the future, consider adding the 6th SFC to maximize the chassis capacity to 14.4 Tbps.

4. Software Licensing:

   • Some features and port speeds may require additional software licenses. Ensure you have the appropriate licenses for the desired configuration.

---

Summary:

• With 5 A99-SFC3 cards, your ASR 9922 has a total switching capacity of 12 Tbps.
• You can support a mix of 100G and 400G ports, depending on the line cards you choose.
• For example:
  • Up to 15 x A9K-8x100GE-SE line cards (120 x 100GE ports).
  • Up to 15 x A9K-2x400GE-SE line cards (30 x 400GE ports).
  • Or a mix of 100G and 400G line cards, as long as the total capacity does not exceed 12 Tbps.
• Adding a 6th SFC would increase the total capacity to 14.4 Tbps.

Hope This Helps!!!

AshSe

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[Siham]

Hi AshSE,

Many thanks for all the details .but please do you have any doc that confirm this informations specially the capacity of the SFC3 ( 2.4 Tbps of switching capacity) and if the 2.4 Tbps is the capacity /slot?

Thanks again!

Best Regards.

Siham

[AshSe]

Hello @Siham Check below links:

Cisco ASR 9900 Series Third Generation Switch Fabric Card 3 Data Sheet

Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Router Hardware Installation Guide

Cisco ASR 9000 Series Line Card Data Sheets

Hope This Helps!!!

AshSe

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[Siham]

@AshSe 

Hi Ashse,

Thanks again for your feedback! In fact, the datasheet mentions that each SFC supports 600G, and I received information that in our case, since we have 5 SFCs, we will have 3 TB of capacity per slot, not the total capacity. Is there any other document that can confirm whether we are talking about capacity per slot or the total capacity of the chassis?

Thanks!

[filopeter]

This might be helpful. It is a slide from Cisco Live BRKARC-2003 presentation, you can find more details about the ASR9000 architecture and capacity there

[Siham]

Ok many Thanks !