The current generation of routers typically include Layer 2 switches, and many modern switches have some Layer 3 routing functionality. Routers offered by Cisco, the supplier of the vast majority of the industry's routers, have advanced dramatically in function and speed and Cisco now offers a comprehensive portfolio that features routers engineered to meet the requirements of users from individual telecommuters to the world's largest service providers.
The latest Integrated Services Routers released by Cisco have the performance and built-in functionality to manage data voice and video as well as virtual environments while also offering fault tolerance, web-based management, seamless expandability, and advanced security and compliance. These routers allow your business to build a firm foundation for an information environment that can grow seamlessly as you hire more employees, establish extra sites, configure additional functions, give access to your network to customers and vendors, and build an an increasingly mobile user base. Progent's Cisco qualified CCIE network consultants can provide immediate and affordable remote expertise to help your company to select, deploy, administer, update, and troubleshoot Cisco's most advanced routers and can help you to support your legacy routers or migrate efficiently to Cisco's current router products.
Cisco Routers for Home and Small Offices and Branches
Cisco's routers for small organizations and remote offices provide affordable and reliable entry-level solutions that allow limited groups of workers to share secure connectivity to the Internet. These single-configuration desktop routers include at least four switched Ethernet with Wi-Fi options plus built-in firewall to provide enhanced protection. Built for simple setup, management, and troubleshooting, Cisco's small business and home routers reduce TCO by lowering equipment and maintenance investments. Progent's remote troubleshooting specialists have extensive backgrounds delivering immediate and affordable technical assistance for small organizations to set up and support these routers, and Progent's CCIE-certified network consultants can assist you to determine ways Cisco's entry-level routers can add to the strategic value of your IT system.
ISR 900 Series Routers
The Cisco ISR 900 Series routers are compact, fanless, set-configuration devices designed for SMBs, branch offices, and home offices. These value-priced routers have four GE LAN ports and can support Metro Ethernet, LTE, and DSL WAN connectivity. Cisco's ISR 900 router product line provides triple the IPsec throughput of Cisco's ISR 800 Series family of routers. All ISR 900 Series routers offer Group Encrypted TransportVPN (GETVPN), dynamic multipoint virtual private network VPN (DMVPN), FlexVPN, and firewall. VPN performance is as high as 250 Mbps. All router versions allow up to 50 VLANs. Supported automatic failover protocols for business continuity include Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol, Hot Standby Router Protocol, and Multigroup HSRP. Provisioning and management can be done with Cisco CP Express, Cisco DNA Center, and Cisco IOS Software. ISR 900 Series routers do not work with Cisco SD-WAN.
The Cisco ISR 921 router features dual GE WAN, LTE Cat 4, and an internal power supply. GE WAN VPN performance is 150 Mbps. Cisco's ISR 926 and ISR 927 routers include external power and support one GE WAN port, Category 4 LTE, VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ high-speed broadband. GE WAN VPN performance for both routers is 150 Mbps. The top-of-the-line Cisco ISR 931 features dual GE WAN and has an internal power supply. VPN performance is 250 Mbps.
Cisco Meraki MX Series SD-WAN Security Appliances
The Cisco Meraki MX line of desktop routers provide SD-WAN and cloud-hosted unified threat management (UTM) in a single small-footprint appliance able to handle 50 to 200 users. Every MX series appliance needs to be licensed for the Meraki cloud. For venues with multiple WAN network connections (e.g., MPLS, fiber optic, cellular), SD-WAN technology permits administrators to assign the WAN connection an app uses or to create performance-based rules to determine the preferred connection. Cisco Meraki MX fixed-configuration desktop security appliances share important capabilities including:
Cisco 1000 and 1100 Family ISR Branch Routers
Cisco 1000 family Integrated Services Routers using Cisco IOS XE internetworking operating system are a line of fanless routers designed to provide high-performance network connectivity, wireless access, and advanced security for SMBs, enterprise branches, retail outlets, kiosks, and M2M venues. Parallel processing cores and compatibly with Cisco IOS XE software allow these routers to offer capabilities consistent with Cisco's entire family of modern Enterprise routers. 1000 and 1100 family ISR models are offered with 4 or 8 LAN switch ports and offer Gigabit Ethernet packet forwarding. Available features include Power over Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+, auto provisioning, plus a range of built-in or pluggable options such as LAN, WAN, wireless LAN, SHDSL, 4G LTE Advanced wireless, 802.11 Wi-Fi, and SFP Fiber. Cisco 1000 family ISR routers can be used with Cisco's SD-WAN subscription services for transparent multi-cloud connectivity, multilayer security, and centralized monitoring and management across hybrid network models of any complexity.
Cisco's 1RU or desktop ISR 1100-4G router includes four built-in GE ports, integrated 3G/4G LTE wireless with two LTE antenna connectors, and one micro-SIM plug-in slot. Encryption performance is 200 Mbps. The Cisco ISR 1100-6G router adds two 1G SFP ports and delivers encryption throughput of 520 Mbps. Cisco's desktop 1101-4P ISR router comes with four built-in GE interfaces, supports 802.11ac as well as 3G/4G LTE, and features encryption rates of 280 Mbps. The ISR 1109-2P/4p desktop routers have two or four built-in GE ports and two pluggable 3G/4G LTE wireless ports. Encryption packet processing throughput is 200 Mbps.
Cisco's rackmount or desktop ISR 111x-4P/8P routers include four or eight built-in switched GE connections (two or four with Power over Ethernet) and support VDSL2/ADSL2+, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 3G/4G LTE wireless, and SFP. Encryption packet processing rate is 280 Mbps. Cisco's 1RU or desktop ISR 1111X-8P router comes with eight built-in switched GE ports (four with Power over Ethernet) and supports SFP. Encryption packet processing throughput is 340 Mbps. The ISR 112x-8P router features eight built-in GE connections with PoE and features SHDSL, VDSL2/ADSL2+, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 3G/4G LTE, and SFP. Encryption packet processing speed is 340 Mbps. The 1161X-8P ISR router features eight built-in GE connections with Power over Ethernet and provides 3G/4G LTE wireless and SFP Fiber. Encryption throughput is 450 Mbps.
Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Branch and WAN Edge Platforms for SD-WAN and Routing
Cisco's Catalyst 8000 Series routers are modular appliances designed to work at the enterprise branche and the WAN edge in support of hybrid networks that can incorporate multiple public and private clouds and SaaS applications. Catalyst 8000 devices use Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software and offer expandability, advanced cloud security, and 5G connectivity. Performance is enhanced via purpose-built hardware, a multicore design, high port density, and line-rate encryption. Cisco's subscription software services provide ongoing access to the latest SD-WAN technology and allow unified management with enhanced security, application-based policies, network segmentation, and cloud integration.
Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Enterprise Edge Routers
Catalyst 8200 routers are successors to Cisco's 4300 Series ISRs, offering higher IPsec performance and expandability, hardware-accelerated crypto, plus greater built-in WAN port density. These one-rack unit routers are built to bring Cisco's SASE, Software-Defined WAN and 5G-interface technology to enterprise branch offices and the enterprise WAN edge. The Catalyst C8200L-1N-4T model includes four CPU cores, supports 500 Mbps IPsec throughput, and allows 1,500 SD-WAN tunnels. Cisco's Catalyst 8200L router does not support container-based applications. The Catalyst C8200-1N-4T router features eight CPU cores, provides 1Gb IPsec performance, supports 2,500 SD-WAN tunnels, and allows edge computing with in-place container architectures. Both devices include one Network Interface Module slot, a PIM slot, two 1G Ethernet WAN interfaces, and two 1G Ethernet WAN Small-Form-Factor Pluggable ports. 4-port and 8-port 1G Ethernet switch NIM modules are available for both 8200 routers.
Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Enterprise Branch Edge Routers
Catalyst 8300 Series WAN Edge routers are intended to supersede Cisco's 4400 Series Integrated Services Routers, delivering Cisco's secure SD-WAN solution to medium-sized and large company branches seeking high WAN IPSec performance combined with integrated SD-WAN services. Enhanced capabilities include 5G wireless support, integrated security, WAN MACSec, integrated enhanced Layer 2 switching, and Deep Packet Inspection with application optimization. Cisco Catalyst 8300 WAN Edge routers enable edge computing for an in-place container environment for Cisco UCS-E modules offered on Cisco's 4000 family of ISR appliances. All models in the Catalyst 8300 Series family allow 4,000 SD-WAN tunnels and include backup power supplies for improved availability.
The Cisco Catalyst 8300-1N1S-6T router is a 1RU appliance that features 8 CPU cores and offers 2G SD-WAN performance and IPsec performance as high as 1.9Gbps. The unit includes one Service Module plug-in slot, one NIM slot, and six built-in 1-Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports. The Catalyst 8300-2N2S-6T model is a 2RU router that includes 8 CPU cores and offers 2G SD-WAN performance and IPsec data rates of up to 1.9Gbps. The appliance has two Service Module plug-in slots, two Network Interface Module slots, and six built-in 1G Ethernet WAN interfaces. The Cisco Catalyst C8300-1N1S-4T2X router model is a one-rack unit appliance that has 8 CPU cores and delivers 5G SD-WAN throughput and IPsec performance as high as 15Gbps. The model includes one one Service Module plug-in slot, one Network Interface Module slot, two integrated 10-Gigabit Ethernet WAN interfaces, and four fixed 1-Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports. The Catalyst C8300-2N2S-4T2X device is a 2RU router that features 12 CPU cores and supports 5G SD-WAN performance and IPsec performance up to 18Gbps. The appliance has two SM plug-in slots, two Network Interface Module slots, two built-in 10-Gigabit Ethernet WAN interfaces, and four fixed 1-Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports. LAN plug-in modules available from Cisco range from a four-port 1G Ethernet switch Network Interface Module module to a 50-port Catalyst L2 switch SM module.
Catalyst 8500 Aggregation Edge Routers
The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Aggregation Edge routers are fixed form factor, one-rack unit aggregation routers for SD-WAN and colocation deployments. Built-in features include route processor, embedded services processor (ESP), plus aggregation hardware for various connection choices. IPsec performance is twice that of Cisco's prior generation ASR1001-X aggregation services router. Available interface options include 1GE to 100 GE WAN ports. 8500 routers include dual AC or DC power supplies for improved resilience. Software subscription suites allow continuing access to Cisco DNA Center Software for SD-WAN and routing and offer centralized management of cybersecurity, application-aware policies, segmentation, and cloud support.
The Catalyst C8500L-8S4X router is intended to offer a similar experience as Cisco's ASR 1000 appliance. The C8500L-8S4X comes with four 1/10GE WAN ports and offers as high as 20 Gbps Cisco Express Forwarding aggregate throughput. SD-WAN IPsec throughput can reach 19Gbps. The Catalyst C8500-12X router includes 12 integrated 1/10GE WAN ports and delivers up to 120 Gbps Cisco Express Forwarding aggregate performance. SD-WAN IPsec throughput is up to 51 Gbps. The C8500-12X4QC model comes with four built-in 1/10GE WAN ports and eight 1GE interfaces and can support up to 200 Gbps aggregate throughput. SD-WAN IPsec performance is up to 68 Gbps.
Cisco Integrated Services G2 Routers
Cisco's Integrated Services Generation 2 routers are intended to offer satellite offices of large businesses with advanced collaboration, virtualization, security, and dependable WAN access. Integrated Services Generation 2 routers introduce an architecture that protects prior investments in service modules for older Integrated Services Routers and reduces down-the-line costs by allowing easy upgrades to additional modules as they become available. Compared to older ISR routers, Cisco's Integrated Services G2 routers feature 2-7 times more performance, substantially more, and easier support. All Cisco ISR Generation 2 routers offer Gbit switching and incorporate multi-core processors and multigigabit fabric for faster performance. Integrated Services G2 routers also support smart power control for improved energy efficiency.
A major innovation with Integrated Services G2 routers is the Cisco IOS Universal image which includes all of the Cisco IOS technology sets so that you can quickly authorize and activate extra features when required without having to download and transfer a new IOS image to yourCisco router. Progent's team of CCIE network engineers can provide world-class skills to assist you to plan, implement, and support multi-location installations of Cisco ISR Generation 2 routers that improve satellite office productivity and reduce the price of upgrades and maintenance.
Cisco's ISR 800 Series Routers
Cisco's 800 Series of ISR routers has been superseded by the higher performance Cisco ISR 900 family but remains widely used. Cisco's comprehensive line of 800 Series ISR routers consists of desktop, fanless devices designed and priced for small businesses, branch offices, retail shops, telecommuters, and clients of ISPs. Many devices in the 800 Series family of routers have been developed with various options over the course of many years. Cisco's 881 line of ISR routers suggests the wide selection of options available within the Cisco 800 line of routers. Various models in Cisco's 881 Series router catalog can support converged media networks by delivering IP voice and video, wireless and data in one integrated router and switch. Built-in data protection can include encryption, VPN, firewall, and URL filtering. For business continuity, available features for Cisco 881 routers include redundant wide area network links or support for landline broadband WAN links like DSL as well as multiple different 3G and 4G wireless WAN connections all on a single desktop appliance.
The baseline Cisco 881 has a 4-port fast Ethernet managed switch with up to 15 Mbps performance, support for 20 users, 2-port integrated Power over Ethernet, and IPv6 compatibility. Cisco's 881W router includes 802.11g/n Wi-Fi. The 881 SRST router features four FXS ports and 1 FXO port for public-switched-telephone-network (PSTN) failover with Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony. With a Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) license, Cisco's 881 ISR router supports SIP trunk connectivity to replace outdated Primary Rate Interface (PRI) lines or FXO voice connectivity to a PSTN carrier. CUBE-based SIP trunks also connect offsite agents in Cisco Call Center environments.
4000 Series Integrated Services Routers
The Cisco 4000 Series ISR Routers are modular and scalable routers designed for businesses with multiple branches and offsite users who need direct access to private data centers as well as public clouds across VPNs and the Internet. Cisco's 4000 series delivers the throughput needed for hybrid WAN environments to accommodate mobile workers, Cloud-based services, and HD multimedia applications by using wide area network optimization, deep packet inspection, and advanced traffic-management technology. Devices in Cisco's 4000 product line are powered by Cisco's IOS XE operating system, come in a 1RU or 2RU package, are able to handle as much as 2 Gbps of traffic, and can include up to 3 network interface module slots, 2 service module slots, 4 built-in Gigabit Ethernet switches, and 8 CPU core server modules. Cisco ISR 4000 models support integrated Gigabit Ethernet, T1/E1, T3/E3, PRI and xDSL. To manage unified communications, the 400o ISR provides extensive edge support technology for session border control, branch telephony survivability, and TDM gateways.
The major difference between the Cisco 4400 and 4300 Series Routers is the inclusion of redundant power supply support in the 4400 ISR Series, offering a greater degree of availability. The 4321 Integrated Services Router has a 1 RU desktop form factor and includes two network interface modules (NIMs), delivers up to 100 Mbps performance, and allows up to 240 Digital Voice and Video Channels. The 4331 model has a 1 RU package and includes two network interface modules, provides as much as 300 Mbps performance, and can handle 360 Digital Voice and Video Channels. Cisco's 4351 ISR Router comes in a 2 RU package and includes three NIMs, offers up to 400 Mbps performance, and allows up to 720 Digital Voice/Video Channels. Cisco's dual power supply 4431 router comes in a 2 RU package and includes three network interface modules, provides as much as 1 Gbps throughput, and allows up to 720 Digital Voice and Video Channels. Cisco's redundant-power 4431 router features a 2 RU form factor with three network interface modules, delivers as much as 2 Gbps performance, and allows up to 1200 Digital Voice/Video Channels.
Cisco's Midrange WAN Aggregation Routers and Service Provider Routers
Cisco's midrange and service provider routers can provide enterprises with high-performance, protected head ends to manage satellite office and remote user data packets and to offer service providers cost-effective WAN edge routing. Cisco's WAN aggregation and service provider router product line features the Cisco ASR 1000 product line and the 9000 Series Aggregation Services family.
Progent's national group of Cisco CCIE certified network consultants have in-depth backgrounds helping enterprises and service providers to plan optimal deployments and smooth upgrades of Cisco's midrange and carrier-class routers. Progent's GIAC-certified information assurance experts can provide unbiased, independent network security vulnerability evaluations, penetration testing and comprehensive SIEM solutions to help companies that use Cisco's Aggregation Services Routers to comply with industry guidelines and statutory mandates for network information protection and incident reporting.
Cisco ASR 1000 WAN Edge Routers
Cisco's ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services line of routers is positioned in the center of Cisco's midrange routers that focus on aggregating services at the wide area network edge. ASR 1000 routers provide a small footprint, multi-function solution for large businesses looking for satellite office aggregation at multigigabit Ethernet speeds. Cisco's ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services routers incorporate an innovative architecture that mixes on-board acceleration with software versatility in order to deliver a rich set of simultaneous services without sacrificing consistent responsiveness.
Cisco's ASR 1000 Series WAN Edge routers include Cisco's new QuantumFlow Processor composed of 40 purpose-built Packet Processing Engines (PPEs) that in combination can handle as many as 160 simultaneous processor threads. This multi-processing structure, in conjunction with hardware acceleration for all services, enables the top-of-the-line ASR 1006 Aggregation Services router to expand up to 000 queues, 32,000 clients, 4,000 IP security tunnels at 10,000 sessions/second, and 2 million Netflow records. This processing capability allows Cisco's ASR 1000 routers to deliver a wide variety of sophisticated services concurrently in high volume without suffering performance decay that could violate compliance with SLAs. Examples of these advanced services include Cisco Firewall, IPS, Network Address Translation, Flexible Packet Matching, and deep packet inspection. The Cisco ASR 1000 also permits tiered traffic management for applying numerous levels of Quality of Service to a packet in a single operation, enhancing responsiveness for resource-intensive voice, video, and conferencing applications.
Cisco ASR 9000 Series Routers
Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers are designed as edge routers for carriers who are required to deliver world-class HD multimedia services to residential, commercial, and mobile customers by providing continual availability, high speed, and application-aware intelligence. All platforms in the Cisco ASR 9000 line of Routers run Cisco's IOS XR, a self-healing, distributed operating system built for non-stop availability. Performance of Cisco's ASR 9000 portfolio of Aggregation Services Routers can be expanded up to 96 Tbps per chassis. Cisco's ASR 9000 line of Aggregation Services Routers support high-density Gigabit Ethernet (GE), 10 GE, and 100 GE and have redundant fabric and power modules, power entry modules, and fan trays plus redundant control planes and switch fabric.
The ASR 9001 platform is a provider-edge router in a 6 RU package with 120 Gbps of nonblocking fabric capacity. The ASR 9001 has two bays which can support port adapters for 1, 10, and 40 Gigabit Ethernet. The base chassis has four 10 Gbit Ethernet enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP+) ports as well as ports for GPS clocking, BITS, and management. The ASR 9904 Router has a 6 RU form factor and provides line-rate 10 and 100 GE connectivity in space-constrained sites. The 4-slot ASR 9094 can scale up to 4 Tbps of switching capacity in a single box. The ASR 9912 platform comes in a 30 RU form factor and includes 10 line-card slots able to handle up to 550 Gbps of throughput. The Cisco ASR 9912 Router includes 2 route CPUs and 6+1 Fabric Cards for N+1 redundancy.
Ways Progent Can Help You to Support Cisco Routers
Progent's Cisco certified consultants can help your company to design, setup, and maintain a converged network infrastructure that can simplify processes, lower costs, and accelerate time to positive return on investment. By teaming Cisco integrated services routers with Catalyst switches expertise and Cisco Catalyst and Meraki Wi-Fi wireless integration, Progent can significantly increase the business value of your network infrastructure. Progent offers on-premises and remote support and can provide data center support throughout the U.S.
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