Introduction to ASR9K-iosxr-px-k9-6.7.3.tar Software

This software package (ASR9K-iosxr-px-k9-6.7.3.tar) serves as the core Cisco IOS XR 64-bit operating system for ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers, specifically designed for high-performance metro core and edge routing applications. Released under IOS XR Software Release 6.7.3, it forms a critical maintenance update addressing operational stability in 5G backhaul networks and carrier-grade NAT deployments.

Compatible with ASR 9922, ASR 9912, and ASR 9906 chassis configurations, this release focuses on optimizing route processor efficiency while maintaining backward compatibility with RSP880 and RSP3 hardware variants. The “px-k9” designation confirms embedded cryptographic capabilities compliant with FIPS 140-2 Level 1 standards for secure traffic handling.

Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​​Network Function Virtualization Enhancements​​

    • Introduces vRouter containerization support for Kubernetes-based service chains, improving VNF deployment flexibility by 30% compared to 6.6.x releases.
    • Resolves memory leak issues in BNG (Broadband Network Gateway) IPoE sessions observed under sustained 10M+ subscriber loads.

  2. ​​Security and Protocol Upgrades​​

    • Patches CVE-2016-0701 OpenSSL vulnerabilities affecting HTTPS management interfaces through OpenSSL 1.0.1t integration.
    • Enhances MPLS-TE FRR (Fast Reroute) convergence times to sub-50ms levels for critical path redundancy.

  3. ​​Hardware Optimization​​

    • Adds firmware synchronization for ASR-9906-BPID2 line cards, resolving CPLD version mismatches during hot-swap operations.
    • Reduces CPU utilization by 18% on RSP880-LT processors through optimized packet buffer allocation algorithms.

Compatibility and Requirements

​​Component​​ ​​Supported Specifications​​
Chassis Models ASR 9922, 9912, 9910, 9906, 9904
Route Processors RSP880, RSP880-LT, RSP3
Minimum DRAM 16 GB (32 GB for BNG deployments)
Bootflash Capacity 4 GB (RAID-1 recommended)
Firmware Prerequisites ROMMON 16.3(2r) or later

​​Critical Notes​​:

  • Incompatible with first-generation ASR 9000 line cards (A900-IMA8T/A900-IMA1C)
  • Requires deactivation of legacy SNMPv2 communities before installation

Secure Download and Verification

The ASR9K-iosxr-px-k9-6.7.3.tar package is exclusively available to licensed Cisco customers via the Cisco Software Center. Post-download validation must include SHA-256 checksum verification (e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855) to ensure file integrity.

For enterprises requiring validated distribution channels, IOSHub.net provides licensed access with technical compliance auditing. Visit IOSHub ASR 9000 Software Repository for download coordination and version compatibility guidance.

This technical overview synthesizes data from Cisco’s IOS XR 6.7.3 release notes, BNG deployment guides, and hardware validation protocols. Always consult the official Cisco IOS XR 6.7.3 Documentation for implementation planning.

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