ASR1000-RP2= Cisco ASR 1000 Series Route Processor 2 Firewall Router.

Cisco Route Processor Router

The Cisco ASR1000-RP2= is a high-performance routing solution designed for enterprise-grade networking. It delivers secure connectivity, advanced firewall capabilities, and reliable data transfer for mission-critical environments.

General Details

• Brand: Cisco Systems
• Model Number: ASR1000-RP2=
• Category: Firewall Router
• Form Factor: Rack-mountable 1U

Technical Specifications

Processor and Memory

• CPU: 20 MHz Motorola 68030
• System RAM: 4 MB expandable up to 16 MB
• Flash Storage: 8 MB to 16 MB maximum

Connectivity Options

Fixed Ports

• 16 x RJ-45 Asynchronous Serial interfaces

Ethernet Capability

• 1 x 10Base-5 AUI (requires transceiver for RJ-45)
• Data Transfer Rate: 10 Mbps Ethernet

WAN Interfaces

• 1 x Synchronous Serial (DB-60)

Management Ports

• 1 x Console (RJ-45)
• 1 x Auxiliary (RJ-45)

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions: 17.5" x 1.75" x 10.5"
• Weight: Approx. 9.5 lbs to 10 lbs (shipping)
• Mounting: 1U rack-mountable design

Power Supply

• Internal AC (100–220V)
• -48V DC option

ASR1000-RP2= ASR 1000 Series Route Processor Overview

The Cisco ASR1000-RP2= ASR 1000 Series Route Processor 2 Firewall Router represents a critical component in modern enterprise and service provider networking infrastructure. Designed to support high-performance routing, advanced security capabilities, and scalable architecture, this route processor is an integral part of the Cisco ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers. It enables organizations to manage increasing data traffic demands while maintaining robust firewall protection, application awareness, and high availability.

The route processor serves as the brain of the router, controlling system operations, managing routing tables, and handling network intelligence functions. With the ASR1000-RP2=, Cisco introduces enhanced processing capabilities that significantly improve throughput, scalability, and reliability. This makes it suitable for environments requiring consistent uptime, such as enterprise WANs, data centers, cloud connectivity hubs, and service provider edge networks.

Architecture and Design of the ASR 1000 Series Route 

Centralized Control Plane Functionality

The Cisco ASR1000-RP2= is designed to handle control plane operations efficiently, separating them from data plane processing. This separation ensures that routing decisions, protocol management, and system control tasks are executed without interference from heavy traffic flows. The route processor maintains routing tables, executes routing protocols, and manages system-wide configurations.

This architecture enhances performance by allowing dedicated hardware resources to focus on packet forwarding while the RP2 handles intelligent decision-making processes. As a result, the system achieves high efficiency even under heavy network loads.

Integration with Cisco ESP Modules

The route processor works in conjunction with Embedded Services Processor (ESP) modules to deliver advanced packet processing capabilities. While the ESP handles data forwarding and services such as encryption and firewall filtering, the RP2 ensures that policies and configurations are consistently applied across the system. This synergy between RP2 and ESP modules creates a powerful networking solution capable of supporting complex workloads.

Redundancy and High Availability

High availability is a key feature of the ASR1000-RP2=, supporting dual route processor configurations for redundancy. In such setups, one processor operates as the active unit while the other functions as a standby. In the event of a failure, the standby processor takes over seamlessly, minimizing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted network operations.

This redundancy is critical for mission-critical environments where even brief outages can result in significant operational or financial losses. The RP2 supports stateful switchover and non-stop forwarding, allowing traffic to continue flowing during failover events.

Key Capabilities and Scalability

Enhanced Processing Power

The Cisco ASR1000-RP2= offers significantly improved processing power compared to earlier route processor models. It is equipped with advanced multi-core processors and increased memory capacity, enabling it to handle larger routing tables and more complex policies. This makes it suitable for modern networks that demand high-speed processing and real-time responsiveness.

The improved CPU performance ensures faster convergence times, which is essential for maintaining network stability. When routing changes occur, the RP2 can quickly recalculate paths and update forwarding tables, reducing the impact of network disruptions.

Future-Proof Design

The modular architecture of the ASR 1000 Series allows organizations to upgrade components such as route processors without replacing the entire system. The RP2 is designed with future scalability in mind, ensuring compatibility with evolving network requirements and emerging technologies.

This future-proof approach reduces long-term costs and extends the lifecycle of networking investments, making the ASR1000-RP2= an economically viable solution for organizations planning long-term infrastructure growth.

Encryption and Secure Connectivity

The ASR1000-RP2= supports secure communication through integration with encryption services provided by the ESP. It enables VPN technologies such as IPsec, SSL, and GRE tunnels, ensuring that data transmitted across networks remains confidential and secure.

These features are particularly important for organizations with remote offices, mobile users, or cloud-based applications. By providing secure connectivity, the RP2 helps maintain data integrity and protect sensitive information from cyber threats.

Service Provider Networks

Service providers rely on the ASR1000-RP2= to deliver reliable and scalable network services to customers. The route processor supports high-density connections and large routing tables, making it ideal for handling the demands of modern internet traffic.

Its ability to support advanced routing protocols and security features ensures that service providers can offer high-quality services while protecting their infrastructure from threats.

Data Center Connectivity

In data center environments, the ASR1000-RP2= facilitates high-speed connectivity between servers, storage systems, and external networks. It ensures efficient data flow and supports advanced features such as load balancing and traffic optimization.

This capability is essential for maintaining the performance and reliability of data center operations, particularly in environments with high traffic volumes and stringent performance requirements.