[c-nsp] ASR920 Opinions

[Mark Tinka]

On 20/Dec/17 03:52, James Jun wrote:

>    Overall, ASR920 is like the perfect Metro-E switch but configuration wise, behaves much like a router than a
>    switch.  I think this makes 920 much, much more attractive platform when compared to similar MetroE/packet
>    backhaul boxes from say.. Ciena, etc.

It's developed and sold as a router. It just looks like a switch because
it has a ton of ports on the face plate of a 1U chassis. But it's no
switch...



>  - FAT-PW is not supported on ASR920s, and last I checked, is not even on the roadmap.  ASR90x (902, 903, 907)
>    with RSP-3C have FAT-PW support starting with Everest release SW.

So the last time (2015) I tested FAT-PW between an MX480 and CRS-X, I
didn't see any improvements in load balancing of EoMPLS traffic. Has
anyone on the list had practical success with it?


>
>    Long story short, ASR920 is meant to aggregate 1GE end-users.  The built-in 4x10GE ports are really meant to
>    form uplink ring architecture; not for customer facing ports by design.. I think.

True - this is why I keep telling our business that we do not support
10Gbps customer-facing ports in the Metro, despite some clever folk (and
some Cisco engineers) suggesting that we use them for customers. You
know the story, you open the taps, the water comes flooding in... fast!

But Cisco are fixing this with a new box. Ping your SE for details.


> In conclusion, given the economical price point of the ASR920, this is really geared to go after competing vendors
> for packet networking/MetroE/cell backhaul of 1GE revenue ports.  For the given price point, ASR920 works really 
> well and does its job as advertised, so we are very happy with them for our use case.   Anything more advanced,
> well I guess that's where the expensive routers come in..

To be honest, I don't think the ASR920 has a real competitor out there.

I've been banging on Juniper's, ALU's (now Nokia) and Brocade's doors
for years asking for a competitor to the ME3600X, ME3800X and ASR920,
which little luck. Brocade have come closest, but it's been a while
since I've tested anything from them in this space.

I know Nokia are working on new SR routers for the Metro, but I'll
believe it when I see it.

Juniper could have something with the MX204, but I have a feeling it
will be pricier than the ASR920.

Mark.