It provides the following key functions:

Gigabit speed interconnections between line cards (5 Gbps per slot)

State-of-the-art scheduling algorithm combined with Virtual Output Queues to eliminate head-of-line blocking (HOLB) achieving 99% efficiency

Hardware based multicast

High Availability via redundancy (1:4 for SFC, 1:1 for CSC) with loss-less failover and hot-swap capability.

Gigabit Route Processor

The Gigabit Route Processor (GRP) is a high performance engine that provides the routing intelligence for the Cisco 12000 Series. It is dedicated to determining the network topology and calculating the best path across the network. The GRP has the following hardware characteristics:

200 MHz R5000 CPU

128MB CPU DRAM default for 2.5Gbps packet forwarding line cards or below

256 CPU DRAM default for 10Gbps packet forwarding line cards (OC192c/STM-64c and 4OC48c/STM-16c)

512 KB Layer 2 cache

512 KB configuration NVRAM

8 MB boot Flash

Two PCCMIA Type II software upgrades

Ethernet (RJ45 and MII connectors) for Network Management access

Local Console and modem ports (DB-25 EIA/TIA-232c)

It provides the following key functions:

Process Interior Gateway Protocols (IGP) such as IS-IS, IGRP, EIGRP to determine the network topology

Process External Gateway Protocols (EGP) such as BGP

Create and maintain the routing table (up to 1 million route entries)

Distribute and update Express Forwarding (EF) tables on the line cards and maintain copies of each line card’s EF tables for card initialization

General maintenance functions such as diagnostics, console support and line card monitoring

In-band management through SNMP MIB, Telnet, BOOTP and TFTP

Line Card

Line cards connect the Cisco 12000 Series to other devices via electrical or optical media. The line cards are designed for the transmission of IP packets over PPP, Frame Relay or ATM interfaces. The features and functions of the line cards are interface specific.

Packet over SONET/SDH (POS)

POS interfaces on the Cisco 12000 Series enable connections to other Cisco 12000 Series or other Cisco routers, such as Cisco 7500 or 7200 via optical interfaces. These interfaces can be circuits provisioned over a SONET/SDH infrastructure or dark fibers (native fiber links) connections or wavelengths of Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) systems. The Cisco 12000 Series offers the following POS interfaces:

4 OC3/STM1 port per line card

1 OC12c/STM4c ports per line card

4 OC12c/STM4c ports per line card

6 Channelized T3 ports to (DS1) per line card

1 Channelized OC12 port (to DS3) per line card

4Cisco Product Catalog, December, 2000

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Cisco Systems 12000 manual Packet over SONET/SDH POS

12000 specifications

Cisco Systems has long been a leader in the networking industry, providing robust solutions designed to meet diverse networking needs. Two notable products in their router lineup are the Cisco 10720 and the Cisco 12000 series. Both of these routers are designed for high-performance environments, catering to service providers and large enterprises.

The Cisco 10720 is a versatile edge router designed primarily for broadband and multiservice applications. A key characteristic of the 10720 is its ability to support various protocols, including IP, MPLS, and Ethernet, facilitating seamless integration into existing networks. It can handle multiple services concurrently, such as voice, video, and data, making it an ideal choice for service providers looking to offer bundled services to their customers.

One of the main features of the Cisco 10720 is its modular architecture, which allows for scalability and flexibility. Network operators can tailor the configurations to their specific requirements by adding or upgrading modules as needed. The 10720 also supports Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities, ensuring that critical applications receive the bandwidth they require, ultimately enhancing user experience.

On the other hand, the Cisco 12000 series, including models like the 12006 and 12008, represents some of the highest-performing routers available. The 12000 series is known for its high capacity, reliability, and ability to operate in a multi-protocol environment. Designed for the core of networks, these routers can handle massive amounts of traffic, making them suitable for Internet backbone deployments and large enterprise networks.

A standout feature of the Cisco 12000 series is its support for multiple interfaces and protocols, including OC-3, OC-12, and Gigabit Ethernet. This flexibility in connectivity makes it adaptable to a variety of network environments. Additionally, the 12000 series employs Cisco’s innovative Distributed Cisco IOS architecture, which provides fault tolerance, consistency, and high availability.

Both the Cisco 10720 and 12000 series routers incorporate advanced security features, ensuring that data remains protected even amidst heavy traffic. With capabilities such as IPsec encryption and advanced filtering mechanisms, they are well-suited for secure and resilient network operations.

In conclusion, both the Cisco 10720 and the Cisco 12000 series routers exemplify cutting-edge technology and engineering excellence, catering to high-performance networking requirements. Their features and capabilities ensure that organizations can build reliable, scalable, and secure networks, capable of supporting emerging technologies and growing traffic demands.