Notes on different Cisco operating systems and their uses

There are different operating systems for different environments.

• Cisco IOS XE Software: OS commonly used in enterprise networks. Supports features important for programmability and high availability, making it ideal for business applications.

• Cisco IOS XR Software: OS commonly used in service provider networks. Supports advanced routing capabilities and technologies that are used in core networks such as MPLS and Ethernet VPN (EVPN).

• P routers: Provider routers in the core of the network.

• PE routers: Provider edge routers positioned at the edge of the providers core network.

• CE routers: Devices at the edge of the customer network.

The core network usually uses MPLS and supporting technologies to guarantee network availability and sufficient bandwidth. The MPLS devices have different roles that define their position and function within the network.

• Cisco NX-OS: OS commonly used in data center environments. Focused on high-performance and low-latency requirements and includes data center specific features, such as support for Fibre Channel Protocol.

Enterprise Network and platforms

• Switches: Cisco Catalyst Switches

• Routers: Cisco Aggregation Services Routers, Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR), virtual routers

• Wireless LAN Controllers: Cisco Catalyst Wireless Controllers

Switches

Cisco Catalyst 9200

These switches deliver high performance, robust security, and easy manageability to address the demands of modern networking environments. The operating system supports model-driven programmability, on-box Python scripting, streaming telemetry, container-based application hosting, and critical bug patching. Also, Cisco IOS XE Software includes built-in defenses against run-time attacks.

Catalyst 9600-

The high-performance Catalyst 9600 and 9500 Series support up to 400G links, making them ideal for core and distribution layers. The Catalyst 9400 Series is suited for access layer switching, while the Catalyst 9200 Series offers the right-sized solutions for simple branch deployments.

Routers

• Aggregation Routers: Cisco ASR 1000 Series

• Branch Routers: Cisco ISR 1000 Series, Cisco ISR 4000 Series

• Virtual Routers: Cisco Catalyst 8000v

ASR 1000-

The Cisco Aggregation Services Routers (ASR) 1000 Series are high-performance routers. They are designed for large enterprises and can handle the growing demands of modern network environments, including mobility, cloud networking, and high-bandwidth applications like video. These routers are generally used as an internet edge for enterprise networks where multiple connections are combined into a single, high-speed link.

ISR 1000-

The ISRs on the other hand are meant for smaller networks. They have edge routing capabilities and are primarily used by small businesses and branch offices that have small- or medium-sized networks.

8000v-

To save costs and to be more agile, enterprises are increasingly virtualizing their equipment. To support that, Cisco also offers virtual-form-factor routers that still offer the main functionalities of their physical counterparts. They enable enterprises to easily extend their networks into virtual and cloud environments. A popular virtual router running IOS XE Software is Catalyst 8000v.

Cisco Data Center platforms

• Cisco Nexus Switches

• Cisco Multilayer Director Switches (MDS)

• Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Fabric Interconnects

Nexus Switches

• Cisco Nexus 3000 Series: Designed as a cost-effective top-of-rack (ToR) device with a basic feature set. It offers sufficient performance for basic needs, energy efficiency, and ease of deployment and management in less demanding data center environments. It is suitable for high-performance, low-latency networks like High-Frequency Trading (HFT) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) networks.

• Cisco Nexus 9000 Series: Offers higher throughput and more advanced capabilities compared to the Cisco Nexus 3000 series. Those include unified ports supporting 10/25G Ethernet and 8/16/32G Fibre Channel, RDMA over converged Ethernet (RoCE), and IP storage. It also supports advanced programmability features, enhanced telemetry, line-rate encryption (MACsec), and robust support for EVPN and VXLAN. The Cisco Nexus 9000 series supports both NX-OS and ACI.

MDS

SANs on the other hand are specialized networks that provide fast, reliable access to large amounts of storage, essential for managing large volumes of data. SAN network is traditionally a fully separate network using a reliable and low latency communication protocol instead of Ethernet. In the Cisco space, this protocol is Fibre Channel.

Service provider network

Cisco IOS XR Software is a network operating system that is designed for large-scale service provider environments. It supports advanced routing features and transport technologies, including segment routing and Ethernet Virtual Private Networking (EVPN). Unlike its relative, Cisco IOS XE Software, which is often used in enterprise networks, Cisco IOS XR Software focuses on delivering high availability and robust performance, offering features like In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) and a Two-Stage Configuration Commit Process.

• Cisco Aggregation Services Routers: ASR 9000 Series

• Cisco Network Convergence System Routers: NCS 500, NCS 1000, NCS 5000, NCS 5500, NCS 5700 Series, and NCS 6000 Series

• Cisco 8000 Series Routers: Cisco 8100 and Cisco 8200 Series

• Virtual Routers: Cisco XRv 9000 virtual router

Aggrigation Service Router(general)

Unlike Cisco ASR 1000 Series, Cisco ASR 9000 Series routers are running Cisco IOS XR Software and support specific features, making them suitable for service provider networks.

The Cisco ASR 9000 Series portfolio includes routers of various sizes, from compact models for smaller requirements, to ultra, high-density service routers designed for extensive sites.

Convergence System routers(specific service)

There are different types of Cisco NCS routers, each designed for specific roles in service provider networks. For instance, the Cisco NCS 500 and 5500 Series are optimized for dense aggregation and routing in metro and access networks. In contrast, the Cisco NCS 6000 Series is designed to serve as core routers, handling the highest performance and capacity requirements.

Virtual Routers

The Cisco IOS XRv 9000 is a virtualized version of the Cisco IOS XR Software. It delivers the same comprehensive suite of features and capabilities that are found in the physical IOS XR platforms but in a virtualized form. Therefore, you can deploy Cisco IOS XR Software as a virtual machine in data centers and cloud environments, which reduces the need for dedicated hardware, allowing businesses to utilize existing infrastructure. This approach is also very scalable since the businesses can easily adjust the VM resources if needed.

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