ISR G2 Service Performance Engine (SPE)

Integrated Service Router

In this blog, we will take a look at the Services Performance Engine (SPE) supported on the Cisco 3900 series router. The SPE is a modular motherboard design that allows customers to upgrade their routers core functionality without performing a forklift upgrade. The concept is very similar to the modularity that has allowed the following routers and switches to persist for close to or over a decade:

•7200 series router input/output (I/O) module
•7500 series router – route switch processor (RSP) / versatile interface processor (VIP)
•6500 series switch – supervisor module (SUP)/switch fabric module (SFM)

The SPE provides the following slots:

•Packet Voice DSP Module – third generation (PVDM3)

PVDM3 modules replace the PVDM2 modules used in the 2800/3800 ISR routers

•Internal Service Module (ISM)

The ISM replaces the advanced integration module (AIM) used in the 2800/3800 ISR routers

•Enhanced high-speed WAN interface card (EHWIC)

EHWIC slots support newer EHWIC cards and the HWIC cards used in the 2800/3800 ISR routers.

At the time of this writing, there are only two SPE modules available:

3925 – C3900-SPE100/K9
3945 - C3900-SPE150/K9

In the next blog, I will continue our conversation on new ISR G2 router features.

• Careers
• Cisco
• PVDM3 ISR