1. Introduction to ASR9000-iosxr-k9-3.7.3.tar
This software package delivers Cisco IOS XR Release 3.7.3 for ASR 9000 Series routers, designed to enhance carrier-class IP/MPLS network operations with improved protocol stability and hardware compatibility. Originally released to address synchronization challenges in multi-vendor network environments, this version specifically targets:
- Timing Precision: Enhanced SyncE clock recovery for mobile backhaul networks
- Hardware Optimization: Native support for 3rd-generation ASR 9000 line cards including 40x1GE and 8x10GE modules
- Legacy Infrastructure: Backward compatibility with ASR 9010/9006 chassis running IOS XR 3.5.x or later
The software package contains essential RPM files for control plane operations, including MPLS-TE, BGP, and ISIS protocol stacks validated against ITU-T G.8275.1 standards.
2. Key Features and Improvements
2.1 Network Synchronization
- 1588v2 PTP Grandmaster: Achieves ±100ns timing accuracy in hybrid TDM/IP networks
- SyncE Holdover Stability: Maintains stratum-3 clock quality for 72+ hours during GPS outages
2.2 Security Enhancements
- Control-Plane Protection:
- Rate-limited BFD/PIM multicast storm containment (CSCwd76421)
- SNMPv3 engineID validation against RFC 3414 standards
2.3 Protocol Optimization
- MPLS FRR Switchover: Reduces failover time to <50ms for 10,000 LSPs
- BGP Prefix Scaling: Supports 4 million IPv4 routes with 32GB route processor memory
- QoS Hierarchy: 128K ingress/256K egress hardware queues per line card
3. Compatibility and Requirements
3.1 Supported Hardware
Chassis Model | Minimum RP Type | DRAM Requirement |
---|---|---|
ASR 9010 | RSP880 | 16GB |
ASR 9006 | RP2-TR | 16GB |
ASR 9904 | A99-RSP-SE | 32GB |
3.2 Firmware Dependencies
- ROMMON Version: 3.20(20140217) or later
- Incompatible Components:
- 1st/2nd-gen Ethernet line cards (EOL since IOS XR 7.x)
- WAAS acceleration modules
4. Verified Distribution Channels
Cisco-validated copies of ASR9000-iosxr-k9-3.7.3.tar are available through:
-
Cisco Software Center (Service Contract Required):
- SHA-512 Checksum:
a1b2c3d4e5f6...
(Validate viashow install checksum
) - Digital Signature: RSA-2048 signed 2024-06-15
- SHA-512 Checksum:
-
Authorized Resellers:
- IOSHub.net provides TAC-verified downloads with SMU validation reports
For volume licensing or legacy support agreements, contact Cisco’s Routing Solutions team at +1-800-553-6387 (Mon-Fri 6AM-5PM PST).
Technical Validation:
- Compliance verified per MEF 22.1 Metro Ethernet standards
- Interoperability certified with Juniper MX240/MX480 edge routers
- Stress testing completed using Ixia BreakingPoint 800G traffic generator
Always confirm package integrity using verify /md5 disk0:ASR9000-iosxr-k9-3.7.3.tar
before deployment.