Cisco lifts lid on 'mini' 640Gbps router

Cisco has released the latest version of its CRS-1 intelligent router aimed at service providers.

The 'mini' CRS-1 8-slot single-shelf system has half the slots of the firm's existing CRS-1 router but is half the size and can process 640Gbps of switching capacity compared to the larger model's 92Tbps.

"The service provider market has been tough over the past few years," said Neil Walker, technical marketing manager of core technology at Cisco Systems EMEA.

"There's a drive towards increasing revenue, but this has to be balanced against operational costs. The CRS-1 has huge operational cost savings."

The latest model will be priced at $225,000 and comes with Cisco IOS XR software. The offering also includes integrated software from Cisco's acquisition of P-Cube to provide deep packet inspection of data at wire speed.

This allows service providers to assign different priorities to data streams as needed, making it possible to offer premium services to some customers, Cisco claimed.

In the longer term the networking giant has signed a deal with Fujitsu to jointly develop and market high end routers for the service provider community. Mutual service and support are included in the deal.

"Telecoms service provider networks must support the highest quality service levels and be built on the best technologies available," said Chiaki Ito, corporate executive vice president at Fujitsu Limited.

"Fujitsu and Cisco have unparalleled technology depth and, through the joint development and other collaborative efforts we are embarking on, we will be able to address service providers' needs with even higher quality systems and innovative solutions."