[c-nsp] C7600 vs. ASR 9000

[Mack McBride]

The 7600 and ASR9000 use a lot of similar hardware (Cisco didn't reinvent the wheel they just added rims).
The ASR line cards resemble the ES series on the 7600.
The 7600 is a more 'mature' platform but as Mark notes there 
is a completely different architecture at the OS level.
Roland noted that the ASR9K has netflow and uRPF advantages.
The differences at the ACL level are less likely to be noticeable unless you are trying to use the
device as a full scale firewall.

Mack


-----Original Message-----
From: cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net [mailto:cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net] On Behalf Of Mark Tinka
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 8:16 PM
To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
Subject: Re: [c-nsp] C7600 vs. ASR 9000

On Monday, October 03, 2011 02:06:16 AM Michał Grzybczyk
wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Any opinion which one is the better choice for a core network ? How 
> much different is OS on ASR 9000 in comparizon to IOS ? If I know IOS 
> there is no problem to operate it ?
> 
> Assuming that I need MPLS, VPLS, H-QOS ...
> and of course the most important is stable, stable ...
> and reliable device !

If you're looking for a core application, then either box should do just fine. 

Of course, the ASR9000 would make more sense as I think it would be cheaper, is far more modern, and is where Cisco will be focusing development for the next phase of platforms in this space.

The ASR9000 runs IOS XR, which is quite different from IOS fundamentally. Some might argue it's more stable, especially if you need a core application.

QoS on the ASR9000 is not bad. I think the 7600 would be just as good if you were running the ES line cards.

I'd say take an ASR9000, in case, some day, you need run a collapsed core. If you're sure you'll always be running the box as a core node, and only if it's dirt cheap, you may consider a 7600.

Mark.