Cisco 2911 support NM1 -E3/T3 ?

[wilson_1234_2]

From all of the documentation I am seeing, the 2911 does not support the NM-E3/T3 serial card.

Does anyone know anything different than this?

[paolo bevilacqua]

Documentation is correct until proven wrong, in which case can be corrected.

[SunilKhanna]

You may like to check

Module Support on Cisco’s Integrated Services Routers Generation 2

[kyle woodhouse · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

I actually had a customer using a CISCO2921 with an NM-1T3/E3 and it was working fine.  I was a bit perplexed as Cisco's documentation says that only the 2951 will support the NM-1T3/E3 so i decided to try it. 

I was able to use the NM-1T3/E3 just fine in the CISCO2921 router.  I will paste output below.  This brings up some interesting questions. 

1. This is probably not a Cisco supported configuration and Cisco TAC will not help you if you run into issues.  Would you agree?

2. Its possible Cisco will catch onto this issue and disable the NM-1T3/E3 in a future software update.  Sound about right?

3. Does anyone know why Cisco would choose to allow the NM-1T3/E3 to work in a 2651XM, 2691, 2811, 2821 and 2851 router but not a 2911 or 2921?  The card fits using the SM-NM-ADPTR.  The performance on the 2911 and 2921 far exceed that of even the 2851.  So why not allow the T3 be supported in those chassis.  Ideas?

Refrences:

NM-1T3/E3 Data sheet: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps2797/ps4909/product_data_sheet09186a008010fba2.html

My output from testing.  CISCO2921 + NM-1T3/E3

Full output attached as text file with port testing results and show commands

Cisco CISCO2921/K9 (revision 1.0) with 475136K/49152K bytes of memory.

1 Subrate T3/E3 port

[paolo bevilacqua]

You are right on all the accounts.

The only thing I can think, is that some Cisco marketing wants people to buy a more expensive router to support what is admittedly an expensive circuits. Even if that totally contradicts logic and technical bases. Hopefully things will quietly remains as they are for "those that know".

[Alessio Andreoli]

No it does not support it.

With the ISR G2 there is a different idea os hardware support. It is not only computational power or memory but also licensing. However, with a so particular module would not make sense to install a 2911 chassis. Go for 2921+

HTH

Alessio

[kyle woodhouse]

The CISCO2911 supports 180Mbps of throughput.  Thats 4 times what an NM-1T3/E3 requires (45Mbps).  I think it makes perfect sense to use a 2911 and still think its Cisco trying to sell more expensive hardware that leads them to drop 'official' support for the combo. 

my 2 cents.

[Alessio Andreoli]

It is not question of proclaming Cisco Systems expensive or forcing us to buy new hardware, it is a question of best practices. Our job is to ensure we use the "officially" approved hardware for a determined scenario, the rest can be only an interesting lab.

As per this case,

you should not consider the thoughput as the main value. the complexity of a circuit like a T3/E3 requires special attention in many aspects.

Having said this,

few days ago i have upgraded a cisco 2600 to 12.4T rather than to buy a C2911 for enabling SSHv2

Good night

Alessio

[netimp101]

Hello All,

I know this has been beaten to death and my problem is not unique. I have bought 2951 and I already had NM1-E3/T3 card for DS3 link. I order 2951 router  and physically I tried toput the card in slot and found that is completely differenly. I think I still need to read CIsco.com properly. Meanwhlle can somebdoy help me if I need touse specified card with 2951-k9 router what else do I need?

Any inputs appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[paolo bevilacqua]

You need SM-NM-ADPTR.

[netimp101]

oh Thanks a lot for quick response Paolo. How did you find that?

[paolo bevilacqua]

By reading Cisco product literature.      

[netimp101]

Thank for response Paolo.

[kyle woodhouse]

He is right.  All NM's for the new 2900 and 3900 routers need the SM-NM-ADPTR.  The new routers dont have NM slots, technically they are called SM slots (service module) and are a bit wider and have a different backplane connector type.  So you need that adapter to make the NM work. 

There is something about it on the NM-1T3/E3 data sheet but its still incorrect.  Someone should email Cisco and get them to update it.  They left out 2951 from the note by accident even though the 2951 is listed right there in table 1.  Opps 

"Note:

Support for the NM-1T3/E3 network  module in the 3925, 3925E and 3945, and 3945E will be via the network  module adapter card (SM-NM-ADPTR)."

Data sheet:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps2797/ps4909/product_data_sheet09186a008010fba2.html

[Philip Kish]

Can anyone confirm that the NM-1T3/E3 will still work within the 2921 even though Cisco's documentation says different.  I have a customer requesting a 2821 (which we know is EoS) with the NM-1T3/E3, and the 2821 DID support it.  The customer will not go for the price jump from a 2921 to a 2951 and is looking to go Brocade or Juniper if the 2921 will not support the NM-1T3/E3 card.

Thanks

Phil