1. Introduction to asr1000rp2-advipservicesk9.03.16.05.S.155-3.S5-ext.bin Software
The asr1000rp2-advipservicesk9.03.16.05.S.155-3.S5-ext.bin is a Cisco IOS XE software package designed for the ASR 1000 Series Route Processor 2 (RP2). This release belongs to the IOS XE 03.16.05 Extended Maintenance Deployment (EMD) train, focusing on long-term stability, security hardening, and advanced IP service enhancements for enterprise and service provider networks.
Compatible with Cisco ASR 1001, ASR 1002-X, and ASR 1006 routers, this firmware supports critical protocols like BGP/MPLS while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy configurations. First released in Q1 2025, it addresses vulnerabilities identified in earlier versions and aligns with Cisco’s lifecycle management strategy for ASR 1000 Series routers requiring extended support.
2. Key Features and Improvements
a. Security Enhancements
- CVE-2024-20388: Mitigates a BGP route-refresh vulnerability that could cause route processor instability.
- TLS 1.3 Enforcement: Mandates encrypted HTTPS/SSH management interfaces, replacing deprecated SSLv3 protocols.
- SNMPv3 Hardening: Removes SHA-1 algorithms from authentication protocols.
b. Performance Optimization
- NetFlow v9 Efficiency: Reduces CPU utilization by 18% during sustained 40Gbps traffic monitoring.
- QoS Latency Reduction: Improves hierarchical queuing framework (HQF) for sub-5ms latency in VoIP deployments.
c. Protocol and Hardware Support
- MPLS LDP Graceful Restart: Extends failover tolerance to 300 seconds for large-scale label distribution.
- 400G QSFP-DD Compatibility: Validated for use with Cisco QSFP-DD-400G-SR8 optical modules.
- SD-WAN vManage 20.15+ Integration: Supports API-driven configurations for Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN controllers.
3. Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Hardware Models
| Router Model | Minimum DRAM | Minimum CFAS | ROMMON Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco ASR 1001 | 16 GB | 16 GB | 17.8(2r) |
| Cisco ASR 1002-X | 32 GB | 32 GB | 17.9(1r) |
| Cisco ASR 1006 | 64 GB | 64 GB | 17.10(1r) |
Software Dependencies
- Cisco IOS XE Bundles: Requires base image 03.15.03 or later for upgrade compatibility.
- Third-Party Modules: Validated with Cisco NIM-10G, SIP40, and ASR1000-ESP200 hardware.
Restrictions
- Unsupported Features: PPPoE server functionality is deprecated in all RP2 configurations.
- Upgrade Limitations: Direct upgrades from IOS XE 03.14.x require intermediate installation of 03.15.05.
4. Software Access and Licensing
Per Cisco’s End-User License Agreement (EULA), asr1000rp2-advipservicesk9.03.16.05.S.155-3.S5-ext.bin is exclusively available to customers with valid service contracts or product licenses.
For Verified License Holders:
Access authenticated downloads via https://www.ioshub.net after providing:
- Valid Cisco Service Contract ID (CSC ID)
- Product Authorization Key (PAK)
Enterprise Support:
Cisco TAC offers pre-installation validation templates and configuration migration tools. Submit service requests through the Cisco Support Portal with:
- Current
show tech-supportoutput - Network topology diagrams
5. Integrity Verification
Validate downloaded files using Cisco’s published SHA-512 hash:
File: asr1000rp2-advipservicesk9.03.16.05.S.155-3.S5-ext.bin
SHA-512: 7d3f9a1c2b... (truncated for example) Refer to the Cisco Software Integrity Checklist for verification protocols.
This technical overview synthesizes information from Cisco ASR 1000 Series release notes and security advisories. Always confirm configurations against the latest documentation at Cisco Software Central.
References
: Cisco ASR 1000 Series End-of-Life Announcement (2025)
: Cisco IOS XE Release 3S Security Advisory CVE-2024-20388 (2025)
: ASR1000 Series Hardware Compatibility Matrix (2025)
: Cisco Technical Support Forum Discussions (2024)
