I have two ASR1002 with the same exact configuration. One is able to issue ICMP traffic just fine while the other cannot even ping its own assigned IP addresses. The only difference here is that one has an ESP installed while the other does not. Does the ASR need the ESP in order to perform its functions? I came across this (see below) which lead me to believe that it does but I want to double check.  The Cisco ASR 1000 Series embedded service processors: Provide the centralized embedded forwarding services responsible for the bulk of the data plane processing tasks. All network traffic through the Cisco ASR 1000 Series system flows through the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Embedded Services Processors. Are responsible for the data-plane processing tasks and all network traffic flows through them. Support Forwarding Engine Control Processor which provide hardware abstraction layer between the QFP-based forwarding engine and other system components, allowing datapath and management functions to be independent. Support Cisco QuantumFlow Processor (QFP) forwarding engines. Support QFP provisioned with two TCAM4 devices for ACL lookup and other software features. Perform all baseline packet routing operations, including MAC classification, Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding, quality-of-service (QoS) classification, policing and shaping, security access control lists (ACLs), VPNs, load balancing, NetFlow. Are responsible for features such as firewalls, intrusion prevention, Network Based Application Recognition (NBAR), Network Address Translation (NAT), and flexible pattern matching. Incorporates a security encryption coprocessor to assist encryption processing common to all embedded services processors. The security processor operates in coprocessor mode and only processes packets sent to it by the Cisco QFP. Provide hardware abstraction layer between the packet processing-based forwarding engine and other system components. ... View more

Does anyone what is the latency on the 6509 from the time a packet enter a switch to when it is delivered assuming all layer 2? Attached are the modules: i am currently reading http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps708/product_data_sheet0900aecd8017376e_ps2797_Products_Data_Sheet.html but don't see anything re latency. ... View more