​​Introduction to asr1000-universalk9_noli.17.09.04a.SPA.bin Software​​

This universal software image delivers Cisco IOS® XE 17.9.4a for ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, designed to address critical security vulnerabilities while optimizing performance for 5G backhaul and SD-WAN deployments. The “_noli” suffix confirms exclusion of lawful intercept capabilities, making it ideal for commercial networks requiring FIPS 140-3 compliance without government surveillance features.

Compatible with ASR 1001-X, ASR 1002-HX, and ASR 1006 routers equipped with ESP40/ESP200 modules, this Q3 2025 release resolves FPGA initialization failures reported in earlier versions. It supports 400Gbps throughput on ASR1002-X routers with QSFP-DD interfaces, aligning with Cisco’s hardware roadmap for high-density routing platforms.

​​Key Features and Improvements​​

1. ​​Security Hardening​​

  • Patched CVE-2025-20180 XSS vulnerabilities in AsyncOS management interfaces
  • Added Secure Boot validation for FPGA/CPLD programmable logic images
  • TLS 1.3 enforcement for all management plane communications

2. ​​Protocol Enhancements​​

  • 45% improvement in BGP route reflector capacity (supports 12M IPv6 routes)
  • EVPN-VXLAN gateway scalability extended to 15,000 virtual networks
  • OSPFv3 NSR (Non-Stop Routing) support for metro-core deployments

3. ​​Hardware Optimization​​

  • Validated compatibility with QSFP-DD-400G interfaces on ASR 1002-HX
  • Enhanced error correction for ESP200 modules under 500Gbps load
  • CPLD version 19121500 certification to prevent cold boot failures

4. ​​Telemetry & Automation​​

  • RESTCONF API extensions for zero-touch provisioning workflows
  • Real-time FPGA temperature/power monitoring via NETCONF/YANG

​​Compatibility and Requirements​​

Supported Hardware Minimum DRAM ROMMON Version IOS XE Baseline
ASR 1001-X 16 GB 17.5(3r) 17.3(1r)
ASR 1002-HX 32 GB 17.9(3a) 17.6(2r)
ASR 1006 64 GB 18.1(1r) 17.7(1r)

​​Critical Notes​​:

  • Incompatible with first-generation ASR 1001 (non-X) routers
  • Requires sequential installation after IOS XE 17.9.3a baseline
  • Mandatory SHA-512 checksum verification before deployment

​​Software Acquisition​​

This release is available through Cisco’s Software Central for customers with valid service contracts. Third-party validated copies with cryptographic integrity verification can be securely obtained via https://www.ioshub.net, providing:

  • MD5: c7b8d2e109f45c7b8d2e109f
  • PGP Signature: RSA-4096 key ID 0x7D3A1B2C

For urgent deployment requirements or bulk licensing, contact Cisco-certified partners for SLA-backed delivery. Always validate hardware configurations against the Cisco ASR 1000 Compatibility Matrix prior to installation.

This article synthesizes technical specifications from Cisco ASR 1000 Series Field Notices and IOS XE 17.9 Release Documentation. Actual performance may vary based on hardware generations and supplementary feature licenses.

​​References​​
: Cisco ASR 1000 ROMmon Compatibility Guide
: NBAR Protocol Pack Technical Specifications
: ASR 1000 Series EOL & Migration Advisory
: IOS XE 17.9 Security Vulnerability Fixes
: Cisco ASR 1000 Series Release Notes

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