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ISR4000 | Boost License

ZK916
Level 1
Level 1

Hello,

We are trying to upgrade our Internet speed from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. We were offered a fantastic deal through AT&T ADI fiber option. We currently have 2 x ISR4331 routers with the default license. We are advised by a consultant to get the Boost License to be able to enable the router to support throughput at 1Gbps.

I reviewed the below document from Cisco and I got confused. Under the Table 4; it shows that the ISR4331 can support Over 2Gbps Aggregate CEF Only Throughput with the Boost License provided that the Onboard Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces are used. So, my question is, what does this mean?

Does it mean that the router would be able to support 2Gbps on a 1Gbps Ethernet Interface? How is that possible?

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/4000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/data_sheet-c78-732542.pdf

Thanks in advance.

Best, ~zK

3 Accepted Solutions

Accepted Solutions

It does not matter. 

With Boost License enabled, the router will only process a maximum of 2 Gbps of traffic regardless of how many WAN/LAN ports are enabled.  

View solution in original post

This makes perfect sense.

TY!

View solution in original post

"Did you read the footnote?"

Oops.  My prior response was on my phone, so I wasn't actually able to read that footnote.  Incorrectly recall it being an "up to" bandwidth note, not a note about on-board gig interfaces.

The reason, though, for the on-board gig interface footnote, module slots, for additional interfaces, often have bandwidth limitations that don't support the full bandwidth of the ports the module might provide.

As your 4331 should have 3 on-board gig interfaces, in theory, depending on the hardware architecture, over 2 Gbps could be passed between them.  (Technically, for wire rate, you need a PPS to forward 3 Gbps, and a "fabric" to forward 6 Gbps.  BTW, for wire rate for you gig link, you'll need forwarding PPS for 2 Gbps and "fabric" for 4 Gbps.")  Whether the CPU can support that, is a different issue.

In my prior reference, I mentioned the Miercom benchmarks.  Page 12 of the report, shows the performance analysis of the 4331.  What you want to note, is how the impact of the same bandwidth, using different configs, impacts CPU usage.  For the "complex" services features, the 4331 struggles at 300 Mbps.  I.e. the boost license probably won't help.

However, for simple service usage, there's a lot of untapped CPU available, enough, perhaps, for about 2 Gbps.

So, again, whether a boost license will allow you to take full advantage of a gig link, is unknown with only the information you've provided.

What you might do, is note current CPU usage for various traffic loads, and assume (because isn't always true) you can linearly "scale".

 

View solution in original post

8 Replies 8

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

@ZK916 wrote:
Does it mean that the router would be able to support 2Gbps on a 1Gbps Ethernet Interface? How is that possible?

1 Gbps is the WAN link. 

1 Gbps is the LAN link.

I do understand that; however, I was hoping someone would be to clarify to me the following:

ZK916_0-1699488444861.png

 

Did you read the footnote?

Basically, the boost license removes the enforced performance restriction, you will now obtain whatever the hardware can provide (the same as prior ISR gens).

To obtain your over 2 Gbps, usually means all max size packets with the simplest config (best case).  Anything else, throughput drops, sometimes by a whole lot.  If fact, Miercom benchmarks will often show the 4k routers being unable to always meet their performance license level throughput (for worst case).

Does the foregoing mean the boost license won't be sufficient?  Insufficient information to say.

"Did you read the footnote?"

Oops.  My prior response was on my phone, so I wasn't actually able to read that footnote.  Incorrectly recall it being an "up to" bandwidth note, not a note about on-board gig interfaces.

The reason, though, for the on-board gig interface footnote, module slots, for additional interfaces, often have bandwidth limitations that don't support the full bandwidth of the ports the module might provide.

As your 4331 should have 3 on-board gig interfaces, in theory, depending on the hardware architecture, over 2 Gbps could be passed between them.  (Technically, for wire rate, you need a PPS to forward 3 Gbps, and a "fabric" to forward 6 Gbps.  BTW, for wire rate for you gig link, you'll need forwarding PPS for 2 Gbps and "fabric" for 4 Gbps.")  Whether the CPU can support that, is a different issue.

In my prior reference, I mentioned the Miercom benchmarks.  Page 12 of the report, shows the performance analysis of the 4331.  What you want to note, is how the impact of the same bandwidth, using different configs, impacts CPU usage.  For the "complex" services features, the 4331 struggles at 300 Mbps.  I.e. the boost license probably won't help.

However, for simple service usage, there's a lot of untapped CPU available, enough, perhaps, for about 2 Gbps.

So, again, whether a boost license will allow you to take full advantage of a gig link, is unknown with only the information you've provided.

What you might do, is note current CPU usage for various traffic loads, and assume (because isn't always true) you can linearly "scale".

 

ZK916
Level 1
Level 1

I am trying to understand this specification: 

ISR4331:  "Aggregate CEF Only5 Throughput (Boost License)" = Over 2 Gbps 

If this router (ISR4331) comes with 1 Gbps WAN and 1 Gbps LAN and the boost license is installed, how would the router be able to pass traffic over the physical interface's bandwidth rate of 1 Gbps? 

What am I missing? 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/4000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/data_sheet-c78-732542.pdf

It does not matter. 

With Boost License enabled, the router will only process a maximum of 2 Gbps of traffic regardless of how many WAN/LAN ports are enabled.  

This makes perfect sense.

TY!


@Leo Laohoo wrote:

With Boost License enabled, the router will only process a maximum of 2 Gbps of traffic regardless of how many WAN/LAN ports are enabled.  


Why or how so?