Difference between NIM and SPA in Cisco ASR series routers

[redfox_tech]

I was wondering where I could find a list of what can be supported in a NIM which can't be supported in a SPA, as it relates to expansion slots in Cisco ASR series routers? The ASR1001-X has 1 NIM slots and a SPA slot. The ASR 1002-HX has 2 NIM slots.

I found this link to be useful for seeing what SPAs are available, but I can't seem to get a consistent answer as to what NIMs are available for the ASR? Now, backplane bandwidth aside, I would think that you could plug any NIM into any NIM slot. Am I wrong?

[Joseph W. Doherty]

". . . I would think that you could plug any NIM into any NIM slot. Am I wrong?"

Cannot say for sure in this instance, but in general, modules, even if hardware compatible, often require a certain IOS version and/or feature set to operate.

[jbekk · Accepted solution]

I'm literally doing the same thing right now.

From ASR Ordering Guide:

Chassis Part Number	Maximum SPA Slots	Maximum NIM Slots	Maximum EPA Slots	Maximum SIP40 slots	Maximum MIP100 slots	Built-in GE/SFP	Built-in 10GE/SFP+
ASR1001-X	1	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	2*
ASR1002-X	3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	6	0
ASR1001-HX	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	up to 12	Up to 8
ASR1002-HX	N/A	1	1	N/A	N/A	8	8
ASR1004	8	N/A	N/A	2	N/A	N/A	N/A
ASR1006	12	N/A	N/A	3	N/A	N/A	N/A
ASR1006-X	8	N/A	4	2	2	N/A	N/A
ASR1009-X	12	N/A	6	3	3	N/A	N/A
ASR1013	24	N/A	12	6	6	N/A	N/A

Basically... as near as I can tell on the ASRs the NIM slot is only for SSD and/or T1/E1 line cards. Nothing else is listed on any ASR documents that I've found. If you look at the ASR1001-X installation guide (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr1000/install/guide/1001-x/asr1hig-book/suportd_hw_component.html#con_1307887) it lists NIM supported modules. There seems to be no equivalent installation guide document for ASR1002-X though. You should look at supported SPAs on the 1001-X installation guide.

The 1001-HX/1002-HX installation guide (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/asr1000/install/guide/1001HX_1002HX/b_ASR1001HX-1002HX_HIG/b_ASR1001HX-1002HX_HIG_chapter_010.html) basically states that the NIM slot is "not supported in this software release" so just ignore it. The installation guide does list supported EPAs though... which is probably what you need to use as your reference point here (i.e. not NIMs, not SPAs).

Another way you can validate supported modules/etc is with the "Cisco Commerce Workspace" tool. I think it's a public tool but it may only be a cisco partner tool. Basically you add a router and then can add supported modules/etc. I can't add NIMs to 1002/1001-HX/1002-HX but I can add SSD/T1/E1 cards on the 1001-X... maybe that's what you needed to hear?

Look at the installation guides I linked in the above for the most reliable guidance is my advice... the documentation is pretty lacklustre though.

The final typical place I'd  normally look is the ordering guide (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/asr-1000-series-aggregation-services-routers/guide-c07-731639.html) but it appears to be pretty useless so far as modules go. For ISRs they have a "supported hardware and modules" document but the ASR one is pretty useless.

Hope this helps... sorry?

[Redtech]

Thanks JBekk,

That's an awesome response. No need to say sorry, why would I flame you? That's what I thought by examining the documents but gee there's alot of inconsistency from document to document around what's available and what you can install.

Would be interesting to find out if you could use other NIMs like serial NIMs in a NIM slot on the ASR1000 series, but yeah it only mentions support for ISDN and SSD.