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The current generation of routers usually include Layer 2 switches, and many modern switches include Layer 3 routing capability. Routers offered by Cisco, the supplier of 90% of the world's routers, have improved dramatically in function and performance and Cisco now makes an extensive portfolio that features routers designed to meet the needs of customers ranging from individual telecommuters to the world's largest ISPs.

The most recent ISR routers from Cisco offer the performance and integrated functionality to support IP voice and video as well as virtualization while at the same time providing high availability, web-based management, seamless expandability, and advanced security and compliance. Cisco's ISR routers enable your business to build a solid foundation for an information environment that can evolve smoothly as you hire new employees, open extra sites, deploy additional services, give access to your system to clients and vendors, and build an an increasingly mobile user base. Progent's Cisco certified CCIE network consultants offer immediate and economical remote expertise to assist you to select, configure, administer, upgrade, and troubleshoot Cisco's most advanced router technology and can help you to maintain your legacy routers or move efficiently to Cisco's newer router solutions. Cisco Routers for Home and Small Offices and Branches
Cisco's routers for small organizations and remote offices provide affordable and reliable entry-level solutions that allow limited sets of workers to share safe connectivity to wide area networks. All these fixed-configuration desktop devices include at minimum four 10/100 Ethernet switches with Wi-Fi options and integrated firewall to provide enhanced security. Designed for simple setup, management, and support, Cisco's small business and home routers minimize ownership costs by cutting acquisition and maintenance investments. Progent's remote support specialists have in-depth backgrounds providing immediate and economical IT help for small companies to configure and support these routers, and Progent's CCIE network consultants can assist you to determine whether and how Cisco's small office routers can add to the strategic value of your information system.

Cisco ISR 900 Series Integrated Services Routers
The Cisco ISR 900 Series desktop routers are compact, fanless, fixed-configuration appliances designed for small to medium-sized businesses, branches, and home offices. These value-priced routers have four managed GE LAN ports and can support Metro Ethernet, LTE, and DSL WAN connectivity. Cisco's ISR 900 router product line delivers triple the IPsec throughput of Cisco's ISR 800 Series routers. All ISR 900 models offer Group Encrypted Transport VPN, dynamic multipoint virtual private network VPN (DMVPN), Cisco FlexVPN, and firewall. VPN throughput is up to 250 Mbps. All router models support up to 50 virtual LANs. Supported dynamic failover technology for business continuity include VRRP, HSRP, and Multigroup HSRP (MHSRP). Provisioning and management can be performed with Cisco Configuration Professional Express, Cisco DNA Center, and Cisco IOS Software. ISR 900 Series routers do not work with Cisco SD-WAN.

Cisco's ISR 921 router features dual GE WAN, LTE Cat 4, and a built-in power supply. VPN throughput is 150 Mbps. The ISR 926 and ISR 927 models have external power and support a single WAN interface, Category 4 LTE, VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ high-speed broadband. VPN performance for both devices is 150 Mbps. The high-performance ISR 931 router features dual GE WAN and includes an internal power supply. GE WAN VPN throughput is 250 Mbps.

Cisco Meraki MX Series SD-WAN Security Appliances
The Cisco Meraki MX portfolio of desktop routers provide software-defined wide area networking and cloud-hosted unified threat management (UTM) in one compact device able to support 50 to 200 users. Each MX series appliance must be licensed to the Meraki cloud. For venues with several WAN network connections (e.g., MPLS, fiber optic, cellular), SD-WAN technology allows administrators to specify the WAN connection an app uses or to create performance-based rules to determine the preferred interface. Cisco Meraki MX fixed-configuration desktop routers share important features that include:

• App and identity-based firewalling
• Content and web search filtering
• PCI-compliant Intrusion Detection and Prevention
• Cisco Advanced Malware Protection with reputation-based filtering
• Load balancing to aggregate multiple WAN connections into one fast interface with policy-based QoS, traffic shaping, and fast failover
• Works with all IPsec VPN devices and services
• USB port for fast 3G/4G failover
• Wi-Fi versions of each model have 802.11ac Wave 2 2x2 MU-MIMO

Cisco 1000 Series ISR Branch Routers
Cisco 1000 and 1100 Series Integrated Services Routers running Cisco IOS XE internetworking operating system are a selection of fanless appliances intended to deliver high-performance network service, wireless access, and advanced security for SMBs, enterprise branch offices, retail stores, kiosks, and M2M venues. Parallel processing CPU cores and the ability to run Cisco IOS XE allow these routers to offer features consistent with Cisco's entire family of Enterprise routers. 1000 and 1100 Series ISR routers are offered with 4 or 8 LAN switch ports and provide Gigabit Ethernet (GE) packet forwarding. Various models include PoE and PoE+, auto provisioning, plus a range of built-in or pluggable options including LAN, WAN, WLAN, G.fast DSL, LTE Advanced wireless, 802.11ac wireless, and SFP Fiber. Cisco 1000 and 1100 Series ISR models work with Cisco's SD-WAN subscription services for seamless multi-cloud access, multilayer security, and unified administration across hybrid network models.

Cisco's 1RU or desktop ISR 1100-4G router includes four integrated GE WAN/LAN ports, built-in 3G/4G LTE with two LTE antenna connectors, and one micro-SIM plug-in slot. Encryption packet processing speed is 200 Mbps. The Cisco 1100-6G ISR router also includes two 1G SFP connections and delivers encryption throughput of 520 Mbps. Cisco's desktop-only 1101-4P ISR router comes with four built-in GE connections, offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi as well as 3G/4G LTE wireless, and features encryption rates of 280 Mbps. Cisco's 1109-2P/4P ISR desktop routers include two or four built-in switched GE ports and two pluggable 3G/4G LTE ports. Encryption performance is 200 Mbps.

The Cisco 1RU or desktop ISR 111x-4P/8P routers include four or eight integrated switched GE connections (two or four provide Power over Ethernet) and feature VDSL2/ADSL2+, 802.11ac, 3G/4G LTE wireless, and SFP. Encryption throughput is 280 Mbps. Cisco's rackmount or desktop 1111X-8P ISR router includes eight built-in switched GE interfaces (four with POE) and a port for SFP Fiber. Encryption performance is 340 Mbps. The 112x-8P ISR router has eight integrated switched GE interfaces with Power over Ethernet and features SHDSL, VDSL2/ADSL2+, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 3G/4G LTE, and SFP. Encryption throughput is 340 Mbps. Cisco's 1161X-8P ISR router features eight switched GE interfaces with Power over Ethernet and provides 3G/4G LTE and 1G SFP. Encryption speed is 450 Mbps. Catalyst 8000 Series Branch and WAN Edge Platforms for SD-WAN and Routing
Cisco's Catalyst 8000 Series routers are modular devices designed to operate at the enterprise branche and the WAN edge to support hybrid network environments that can incorporate a mix of public and private clouds and cloud-hosted applications. Catalyst 8000 routers use Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software and offer scalability, intelligent cybersecurity, and 5G access. Performance is optimized via custom hardware, a multicore architecture, high port density, and line-rate encryption. Cisco's subscription software suites offer continual access to the latest SD-WAN technology and allow unified management with advanced cybersecurity, application-based policies, segmentation, and cloud integration.

Catalyst 8200 Series Enterprise Edge Routers
Cisco Catalyst 8200 routers are upgrades to Cisco's 4300 Series ISRs, delivering higher IPsec performance and scale, hardware-accelerated encryption, plus higher built-in WAN port density. These 1RU routers are designed to bring Cisco's Secure Access Service Edge, Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) and 5G-connection technology to enterprise branches and the enterprise WAN edge. Cisco's Catalyst C8200L-1N-4T router includes four CPU cores, supports 500 Mbps IPsec throughput, and permits 1,500 SD-WAN tunnels. Cisco's Catalyst 8200L platform does not support container-based applications. The Catalyst C8200-1N-4T router features eight CPU cores, provides 1Gb IPsec performance, permits 2,500 SD-WAN tunnels, and enables edge computing with existing container models. Both appliances come with a Network Interface Module (NIM) slot, one PIM slot, two 1G Ethernet WAN copper interfaces, and two 1G Ethernet WAN Small-Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) ports. 4-port and 8-port 1 Gigabit Ethernet switch NIM modules are supported by both 8200 models.

Catalyst 8300 Enterprise Branch Edge Routers
Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series WAN Edge routers are designed to replace Cisco's 4400 line of Integrated Services Routers, providing Cisco's secure SD-WAN solution to medium-sized and large company branches looking for high WAN IPSec performance with cohesive SD-WAN services. Enhanced capabilities include 5G wireless support, built-in cybersecurity, WAN MACSec, enhanced Layer 2 switching, and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) with application optimization. Catalyst 8300 Series routers enable edge computing for an in-place container architecture for Cisco UCS-E modules available on Cisco's 4000 Series ISR appliances. All versions in the Catalyst 8300 Series portfolio support 4,000 SD-WAN tunnels and feature backup power supplies for high availability.

The Cisco Catalyst 8300-1N1S-6T router model is a one-rack unit device that features 8 CPU cores and offers 2G SD-WAN throughput and IPsec performance of up to 1.9Gbps. The router includes a single SM plug-in slot, a Network Interface Module slot, and six integrated 1-Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports. The Catalyst 8300-2N2S-6T model is a 2RU model that features 8 CPU cores and delivers 2G SD-WAN throughput and IPsec performance as high as 1.9Gbps. The unit includes two SM plug-in slots, two Network Interface Module slots, and six built-in 1G Ethernet WAN ports. The Cisco Catalyst C8300-1N1S-4T2X router model is a 1RU device that has eight CPU cores and delivers 5G SD-WAN performance and IPsec performance up to 15Gbps. The device includes one one SM plug-in slot, a Network Interface Module slot, two integrated 10-Gigabit Ethernet WAN interfaces, and four built-in 1G Ethernet WAN interfaces. The Cisco Catalyst C8300-2N2S-4T2X model is a two-rack unit router that includes 12 CPU cores and supports 5G SD-WAN performance and IPsec data rates as high as 18Gbps. The router has two Service Module expansion slots, two NIM slots, two built-in 10-Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports, and four fixed 1G Ethernet WAN interfaces. LAN plug-in modules offered by Cisco range from a 4-port 1-Gigabit Ethernet switch NIM module to a 50-port Catalyst L2 switch Service Module.

Cisco Catalyst 8500 Aggregation Edge Routers
The Catalyst 8500 Series Aggregation Edge routers are fixed form factor, 1RU aggregation models for SD-WAN and colocation environments. Built-in features include route processor, embedded services processor, plus aggregation hardware for multiple interfaces and connectivity options. IPsec performance is twice that of Cisco's earlier generation ASR1001-X aggregation services router. Available connectivity alternatives include 1GE, 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE WAN ports. 8500 Series routers come with dual power units for improved availability. Software subscription packages provide continuing use of Cisco DNA Center Software for SD-WAN and routing and offer unified management of security, application-aware policies, network segmentation, and cloud connectivity optimization.

The Catalyst C8500L-8S4X router is designed to provide a similar basic functionality as Cisco's ASR 1000 appliance. The C8500L-8S4X has four 1/10GE WAN interfaces and delivers as high as 20 Gbps aggregate data rates. SD-WAN IPsec throughput is up to 19Gbps. The Catalyst C8500-12X router has 12 built-in 1/10GE WAN interfaces and delivers up to 120 Gbps Cisco Express Forwarding aggregate performance. SD-WAN IPsec throughput is up to 51 Gbps. The C8500-12X4QC model comes with four built-in 1/10GE WAN ports and eight 1G ports and delivers up to 200 Gbps aggregate throughput. SD-WAN IPsec throughput is up to 68 Gbps. The Catalyst C8500-20X6C router comes with 20 built-in 1/10GE interfaces and 6 x 40/100GE ports. Cisco's C8500-20X6C delivers up to 500 Gbps Cisco Express Forwarding aggregate performance. Cisco Integrated Services G2 Routers
Cisco's ISR Generation 2 routers are designed to offer satellite offices of enterprises with enhanced collaboration, virtualization, security, and reliable connectivity. Integrated Services G2 routers introduce a design that preserves prior investments in service modules for first-generation Integrated Services Routers and lowers future costs by permitting field upgrades to additional modules as they are developed. Compared to older Integrated Services Routers, Cisco's Integrated Services Generation 2 routers feature 2-7 times more throughput, substantially more, and more affordable support. All ISR Generation 2 routers support GE switching and include multi-core processors and ultra-fast fabric for faster throughput. Integrated Services Generation 2 routers also support smart power control for better energy efficiency.

A key advance with Integrated Services G2 routers is the Cisco IOS Universal image which includes all of the IOS feature sets so that you can quickly license and deploy new services when desired without needing to acquire and copy a new IOS Software image over to yourCisco router. Progent's team of CCIE-certified network consultants offer world-class expertise to assist you to plan, configure, and maintain multi-site installations of Cisco ISR G2 routers that enhance branch office productivity and reduce the price of expansion and maintenance.

Cisco's ISR 800 Line of Routers
Cisco's 800 Series of ISR routers has been functionally replaced by the higher performance Cisco ISR 900 line but remains widely used. Cisco's extensive portfolio of 800 Series ISR routers is made up of desktop appliances designed and priced for small businesses, branch offices, retail venues, telecommuters, and customers of broadband service providers. Many models in the 800 family of routers have been developed with various options over the course of many years. Cisco's 881 Series of ISR routers suggests the vast array of options offered within Cisco's 800 Series product family. Models in Cisco's 881 router catalog can support unified media networks by providing voice and video, Wi-Fi and cellular wireless and data in a single integrated appliance. Advanced security can include encryption, VPN tunneling, firewall, and URL filtering. For survivability, available options for 881 ISR routers include redundant WAN links or support for landline high-speed WAN connections such as DSL plus multiple different 3G and 4G wireless connections all on a single desktop appliance.

The baseline Cisco 881 router features a 4-port fast Ethernet managed switch that delivers 15 Mbps performance, support for up to 20 users, two-port integrated PoE, and IPv6 support. The Cisco 881W ISR router supports 802.11g/n Wi-Fi. Cisco's 881 SRST router includes four FXS ports and 1 FXO port for PSTN failover with Cisco SRST. With a Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) feature license, the Cisco 881 ISR router supports SIP trunking as a replacement for outdated Primary Rate Interface (PRI) lines or FXO voice connectivity to a PSTN carrier. SIP trunks also support offsite agents in Cisco Call Center deployments.

4000 Series ISR Routers
The Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs) are modular and expandable platforms designed for businesses with a large number of branches and remote workers who need direct access to private data centers as well as public clouds via VPN tunnels and the Internet. The 4000 series provides the throughput required for distributed enterprise sites to accommodate mobile users, cloud services, and multimedia applications by using wide area network optimization, deep packet inspection, and traffic-management technology. Models in Cisco's ISR 4000 product line run Cisco's powerful IOS XE software, come in a 1RU or 2RU form factor, can support as much as 2 Gbps of traffic, and can include up to 3 network interface module slots, 2 service module slots, 4 built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, and 8 CPU core integrated server modules. Cisco ISR 4000 models support integrated Gigabit Ethernet, T1/E1, T3/E3, PR1, xDSL and other interfaces. To handle unified communications, Cisco's 400o ISR offers extensive edge support for policy-enhanced session border control, telephony survivability, and Time Division Multiplexing gateways.

The major difference between the Cisco 4400 and 4300 Series Routers is the inclusion of dual power supply support in the 4400 Series, providing a greater level of fault tolerance. Cisco's 4321 ISR Router has a 1 RU desktop package with two network interface modules (NIMs), provides as much as 100 Mbps throughput, and supports 240 Digital Voice and Video Channels. Cisco's 4331 router has a 1 RU package and includes two NIMs, delivers up to 300 Mbps throughput, and allows up to 360 Digital Voice and Video Channels. Cisco's 4351 ISR Router comes in a 2 RU form factor with three network interface modules, delivers up to 400 Mbps performance, and supports 720 Digital Voice/Video Channels. The power-redundant 4431 model has a 2 RU form factor and includes three network interface modules, provides up to 1 Gbps performance, and can handle 720 Digital Voice/Video Channels. The redundant-power 4431 Integrated Services Router features a 2 RU form factor with three network interface modules, provides as much as 2 Gbps throughput, and can handle 1200 Digital Voice and Video Channels. Cisco's WAN Edge Routers and Service Provider Routers
Cisco's WAN edge and carrier routers can provide larger businesses with high-performance, protected headends to manage satellite office and remote user traffic and to offer service providers cost-optimized wide area network edge solutions. Cisco's WAN aggregation and service provider router product line features the Cisco ASR 1000 product line and the 9000 Series Aggregation Services routers.

Progent's nationwide group of Cisco CCIE network consultants have in-depth experience working with enterprise businesses and Internet service providers to plan optimal installations and seamless upgrades of Cisco's WAN edge routers. Progent's GIAC-certified information assurance experts can provide unbiased, independent network security inventory assessments, penetration testing services and comprehensive Security information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions to help companies with Cisco's Aggregation Services Routers to meet business guidelines and government regulations for network information protection and reporting. Progent also offers expertise with Horizon3.ai's NodeZero platform for penetration testing. NodeZero relies on AI technology to streamline the threat evaluation cycle of finding security gaps in network perimeters and inside the internal network, recommending remediation, fixing problems, and confirming fixes.

Cisco ASR 1000 Aggregation Services Routers
Cisco's ASR 1000 Series Aggregation Services line of routers is designed to fill the center of Cisco's midrange routers that concentrate on aggregating services at the wide area network edge. Cisco's ASR 1000 Series routers offer a small footprint, multi-function solution for enterprises requiring branch office service aggregation at supergigabit Ethernet performance. Cisco's ASR 1000 Series routers incorporate an innovative architecture that mixes on-board acceleration with programmable versatility in order to deliver a rich set of simultaneous services while preserving dependable responsiveness.

ASR 1000 Series routers feature Cisco's new QuantumFlow Processor composed of 40 custom Packet Processing Engines that together can handle up to 160 simultaneous processor threads. This massive parallelism, in conjunction with on-board acceleration for all services, allows the top-of-the-line ASR 1006 WAN Edge router to scale up to 128K hardware queues, 32,000 subscribers, 4K IP security tunnels at 10,000 sessions per second, and 2M Netflow log records. This CPU power permits Cisco's ASR 1000 Series WAN Edge routers to deliver a wide variety of sophisticated services concurrently in massive volume while avoiding performance decay that could violate adherence to SLAs. These services include Cisco Firewall, intrusion-detection services, NAT, FPM, and in-line deep packet inspection. The ASR 1000 also allows tiered traffic control for performing multiple levels of Quality of Service to a packet in one operation, enhancing the user experience for high-bandwidth voice, video, and conferencing applications.

Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers
Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers are intended as edge routers for carriers who need to deliver world-class HD multimedia services to residential, business, and mobile users by offering always-on availability, high performance, and application awareness. All platforms in the ASR 9000 family of Routers run Cisco's IOS XR, a self-healing, distributed OS designed for non-stop uptime. Throughput of the Cisco ASR 9000 portfolio of Routers can be expanded to as high as 96 Tbps per system. Cisco's ASR 9000 line of Aggregation Services Routers can handle Gigabit Ethernet (GE), 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and 100 GE and have fully redundant fabric and power supply, power entry modules, plus backup control planes and switch fabric.

The Cisco ASR 9001 model is a provider-edge router in a 6 RU form factor that delivers 120 Gbps of full-duplex fabric capacity. The ASR 9001 has two modular bays to support adapters for 1 GE, 10 GE, and 40 GE. The chassis incorporates four 10 Gbit Ethernet SFP+ ports as well as ports for Stratum 1 clocking, building integrated timing supply (BITS), and management. The Cisco ASR 9904 Router has a 6 RU chassis and offers line-rate 10 GE and 100 GE connections in space-constrained environments. The 4-slot ASR 9094 can support up to 4 Tbps of capacity in one box. The Cisco ASR 9912 platform comes in a 30 RU chassis with 10 line-card slots able to support 550 Gbps of throughput. The ASR 9912 Router has 2 route processors as well as 6+1 Fabric Cards to provide N+1 redundancy. How Progent's Consultants Can Help Your Business to Support Cisco Router Products
Progent's CCIE certified consultants can help your business to design, configure, and manage an integrated network infrastructure that can streamline operations, lower expenses, and accelerate time to positive return on investment. By teaming Cisco routers with Cisco Catalyst switches expertise and Catalyst and Meraki Wi-Fi wireless expertise, Progent can dramatically enhance the strategic value of your information network. Progent offers in-person and remote troubleshooting and offers data center support throughout the U.S. To see more details about Progent's professional assistance for Cisco products, pick a subject:

• Introduction to Progent's Cisco Expertise
• Fast Online Assistance from a Cisco CCIE Network Engineer
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• ASA 5500-X Firewall with Firepower Services: Consulting and Troubleshooting Expertise
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• PIX 500 Series Firewall Management Help
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• Catalyst 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6/6E Wireless Access Points Planning, Deployment and Troubleshooting Expertise
• Cisco WiFi Controllers Consulting
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• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM or Unified CM) and CallManager Configuration and Troubleshooting
• Cisco Voice over IP Phones and IP Video Phones Consulting and Cisco Wireless VoIP Phone Integration
• Cisco Jabber Configuration and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Catalyst Switches Deployment Services
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• Meraki MS Switches Support and Troubleshooting Services
• Cisco Security and VPN Consulting Assistance
• SIP and CUBE Infrastructure Solutions: SIP Trunks and Cisco CUBE Integration Expertise
• Cisco Duo MFA Two-factor Authentication (2FA) Services for Remote Workers
• Design Solutions for Cisco-powered Data Centers
• Network Optimization Consulting for Service Providers
• Centralized Cloud-based and Hybrid Management Technologies for Cisco-powered Environments

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