Cisco ASR 901 Series Aggregation Services Routers Data Sheet

The Cisco^® ASR 901 Series Aggregation Services Routers are hardened, high-speed, low-power-consumption routers optimized for any-generation cell-site Radio Access Network (RAN) backhaul and Ethernet access. By using Cisco ASR 901 routers, operators can reduce backhaul operating costs, simplify and converge their RAN and Ethernet access networks, and enhance their profit opportunities with mobile and premium Ethernet services.

RAN cell sites are places of transformation between mobile radio and mobile transport networks. Cost-effective RAN backhaul requires the ability to securely aggregate the transport of traffic from both traditional and next‑generation radios across multiple transport options available at the cell site, be they macro, pico, or enterprise small cells. The Cisco ASR 901 routers are designed to minimize operating costs and optimize this radio-to-transport transformation through scalable time-division multiplexing (TDM) and IP/Ethernet interfaces for any combination of multivendor, multigeneration radios and transport networks.

Product Overview

The Cisco ASR 901 Series Aggregation Services Routers are compact cell-site and Ethernet access routers specifically designed to clock, aggregate, and backhaul mixed-generation RAN traffic. Cisco ASR 901 routers prioritize and process cell-site voice, data, and signaling traffic as part of the Cisco Unified RAN Backhaul solution for reliable transport across any available backhaul networks, including T1/E1, ATM, Carrier Ethernet, microwave, WiMAX, and service provider Wi-Fi networks.

Designed for cell sites and Carrier Ethernet access, the Cisco ASR 901 differentiating features include:

●   Low power consumption

●   Line rate performance for all Layer 2 and Layer 3 interfaces

●   Flexible clocking options: TDM, Building Integrated Timing Supply (BITS), GPS (10Mhz, 1PPS/ToD),1588v2, and Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE)

●   Secure Mobile Transport: with IPSec and Network Address Port Translation (NAPT)

●   Extended operating temperatures

●   Small form factor: 1 rack unit (RU) with 8.3 - 9.1 in. depth

●   Redundant power and cooling

●   Pay-as-you-grow investment model

Figures 1 and 2 show the two basic 1-Gigabit Ethernet models of the Cisco ASR 901 Series routers.

Figures 3 through 6 show the six basic 10-Gigabit Ethernet models of the Cisco ASR 901 Series routers.

Major Applications

Cell-Site Backhaul for Mobile Applications

Deployed as cell-site routers for mobile backhaul, the Cisco ASR 901 routers can aggregate multiple base stations through multiple TDM, Ethernet, and IP interfaces, and can use Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Resilient Ethernet Protocol (REP), Multilink Point-to-Point Protocol (MLPPP), Layer 2 VPN (L2VPN), Layer 3 VPN (L3VPN), and other common transport protocols for RAN backhaul. Essentially, the routers prioritize, differentiate, and segment any combination of 2G, 3G, or 4G traffic for backhaul over any combination of IP/Ethernet and TDM (E1/T1) infrastructures (copper, microwave, or optical).

Enterprise Small Cell Backhaul

Mobile traffic will now traverse from enterprise networks across public networks, so it is essential to protect the integrity of both enterprise and carrier data. To provide secure transport across any enterprise network, a high-performance IPSec acceleration engine is required. At the same time, it is important to be able to manage both public and private networks through support for NAPT. The Cisco ASR 901 provides secure mobile transport to satisfy the evolving backhaul requirements of deploying enterprise small cells.

Metro Ethernet Access

Cisco ASR 901 routers allow service providers to simultaneously manage and operate Pseudowire Emulation Edge to Edge (PWE3) and Carrier Ethernet environments by supporting line-rate Layer 2 Ethernet operations, administration, and maintenance (EOAM), including Connectivity Fault Management (CFM), Ethernet Local Management Interface (E-LMI), REP, QinQ, and link aggregation.

Business Access Device

Cisco ASR 901 routers are optimized for remote-access and small aggregation sites where a fully featured, compact access platform is needed. The routers offer business service flexibility using an Ethernet virtual circuit (EVC) infrastructure and deliver Layer 2, IP, and MPLS transport for advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services.

Benefits

Cisco ASR 901 routers help service providers deliver advanced services and reduce operating costs for mobile backhaul and Carrier Ethernet access solutions. Highlights include the following.

Network Simplification

Cisco network virtualization technology can simplify network operations by reducing the number of components that must be managed, supporting easier configuration. The Cisco ASR 901 supports Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and autonomic networking and service activation to accelerate network deployment and service turn-up. The result is increased network scalability, improved service velocity, and lower operating costs. Capable of network virtualization, Cisco ASR 901 routers can be deployed as satellites of a Cisco ASR 9000 Series system to reduce the complexity of today’s mobile Internet networks.

Service Scalability

Cisco ASR 901 routers deliver line-rate performance and flexible service scalability in a compact form factor. With support for up to 32,000 MAC addresses, up to 4000 bridge domains, and multiple hierarchical queues, the routers deliver high performance and scale for all mobile and Carrier Ethernet services.

Comprehensive Services

With Cisco ASR 901 routers, services can be prioritized and differentiated through hierarchical quality of service (HQoS) and security attributes. The routers offer advanced traffic analytics and performance monitoring and control, including per-traffic-class metering, bidirectional packets, and byte statistics. The service offering is enhanced with comprehensive OAM functionality, including Layer 2 CFM, IP service-level agreements (SLAs) for Layer 3, IPSec and NAPT for enterprise small cell backhaul, and MPLS OAM and TDM advanced timing and synchronization.

Advanced Timing

Cisco ASR 901 routers provide the timing services required in today’s converged access networks by offering integrated support for the BITS, 10-MHz, 1 pulse-per-second (PPS), and time-of-day (ToD) interfaces. The routers support SyncE on copper and optical ports and IEEE1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock recovery from T1 and E1 ports.

Reliable Deployment

A Cisco end-to-end mobile backhaul solution offers the carrier greater confidence in the delivery of a truly carrier-class mobile backhaul network. Through transport and service redundancy, the Cisco architecture helps assure network availability, resiliency, and best-in-class performance.

Pay-as-You-Grow Investment Model

The use of licensing to activate features and ports on the Cisco ASR 901 Series allows service providers to customize and schedule investments in their networks for a time when network growth and customer demand justify the investment. Unlike investments in the core and edge, where the physical location of network assets has minimal impact on their accessibility and usage, the ROI on an access element is heavily influenced by its location in the network and proximity to customers. With little or any need for service calls, the Cisco ASR 901 Series can be deployed, and later, features and ports can be activated as demand, growth, or service activation dictate. This delivers significant investment protection and allows flexible timing for migrating from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps, deploying MPLS, TDM, clocking, security services, and boosting service capacity.

“Green” Hardware

Cisco ASR 901 routers help service providers reduce operating costs by optimizing energy efficiency, allowing cost-effective and responsible resource management. The routers are designed for low power consumption with Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliant, lead-free components. An indirect benefit is a significant reduction of carbon emissions.

Components and Options

Table 1 lists the hardware parts available for the Cisco ASR 901 Series.

Table 1.       Hardware Components for the Cisco ASR 901 Series

The Cisco ASR 901 Series supports a wide range of Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) and enhanced SFP (SFP+) optics modules. Table 2 lists their part numbers. The operational temperatures supported for the optics are defined by individual SFP or SFP+ modules.

Table 2.       SFP and SFP+ Modules Supported with the Cisco ASR 901 Series

Flexible Software Options

The Cisco ASR 901 Series is supported in Cisco IOS^® Software. Table 3 describes the Cisco IOS Software feature licenses that are supported, allowing service providers the flexibility to invest in software resources only when their businesses need it. The Cisco ASR 901 Series offers five different Cisco IOS Software feature licenses. Each license enables features on a per-chassis basis.

●   The Base license includes support for Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, Sync-E, and 1588 Ordinary Clock.

●   The Advanced IP Metro license adds the following capabilities to the Base license: TDM, MPLS, CESoPSN pseudowires, MPLS VPN support, Ethernet pseudowires, and pseudowire redundancy.

●   The Advanced Timing license adds support for IEEE IEEE 1588v2 Boundary Clock.

●   The IP Security License adds Secure Mobile Transport for IPSec/NAPT.

●   The Network Virtualization License support adds support for nV Satellite.

Table 3.       Descriptions of Cisco IOS Software Feature Licenses for Cisco ASR 901 Series

Table 4 provides brief descriptions of the Cisco ASR 901 port upgrade options for the 1-Gigabit Ethernet models.

Table 4.       Cisco ASR 901 Series Port Upgrade Options

Table 5 provides brief descriptions of the Cisco ASR 901 port upgrade options for the 10-Gigabit Ethernet models.

Table 5.       Cisco ASR 901 Series Port Upgrade Options for the 10-Gigabit Ethernet Models

Major Features

Table 6 lists the features of the Cisco ASR 901 routers.

Table 6.       Cisco ASR 901 Routers Features

Product Specifications

Tables 7, 8, and 9 list product, power, and environmental specifications for the Cisco ASR 901 routers. Table 12 provides safety and compliance information.

Table 7.       Cisco ASR 901 Series System Specifications

Table 8.       Power Specifications

●   AC power: AC voltage = 220V, Temp = 65C, Traffic -> 8 copper (1 GE) port + 4 SFP (GE) +2 SFP+ (10 GE) + 8 TDM ports

●   DC power: DC voltage = 48V, Temp = 65C, Traffic -> 8 copper (1 GE) port + 4 SFP (GE) +2 SFP+ (10 GE) + 8 TDM ports

●   Traffic conditions are the same for the AC and DC chassis. In the case of Ethernet-only chassis, TDM, traffic is not present

Table 9.       Environmental Specifications

Table 10.     Safety and Compliance

Warranty Information

Warranty information is available on Cisco.com at the Product Warranties page.

Service and Support

Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco Services help you protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare your network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business. For more information about Cisco Services, refer to Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services.

Cisco is committed to minimizing your total cost of ownership. Cisco offers a portfolio of technical support services to help ensure that Cisco products operate efficiently, remain highly available, and benefit from the most up-to-date system software. The services and support programs described in Table 13 are available as part of the Cisco Carrier Ethernet Switching Service and Support solution and are available directly from Cisco and through resellers.

Table 11.     Service and Support

For More Information

For more information about the Cisco Unified RAN Backhaul solution, visit Unified RAN Backhaul. For more information about the Cisco Small Cell Solution, visit cisco.com/go/smallcell or contact your local account representative.