Cisco 3900 Series Routers have a special modular feature, SPE. But, what is the SPE?
SPE is the short for Services Performance Engine. The Cisco 3900 Series offers field-replaceable SPEs. These SPEs protect our initial investment in the Cisco 3900 platform for a longer time period and scale router performance as our network and branch-office needs grow.
Here, let’s learn something about it.
About Cisco 3900 Series Routers
- Overview
First, to read Cisco 3900 routers’ overview is necessary.
Cisco 3900 Series, designed to enable the next phase of branch-office evolution, offer：
- Cisco Services Performance Engine (SPE)
- Embedded hardware encryption acceleration
- Voice- and video-capable DSP slots
- Optional firewall
- Intrusion prevention
- Call processing
- Voicemail
- Application services
- Wired and wireless connectivity options (T1/E1, T3/E3, xDSL, copper, and fiber Gigabit Ethernet)
- Gigabit Ethernet switching with Cisco Enhanced Power over Ethernet (ePoE)
- Cisco Services Ready Engine (SRE) module
- Models
Cisco 3900 series offer four platforms: Cisco 3925 router, Cisco 3945 router, Cisco 3925E router and Cisco 3945E router.
This figure shows the specs of CISCO3925/K9, CISCO3945/K9, CISCO3925E/K9 and CISCO3945E/K9 routers.
What is the SPE?
- Concept of the SPE
The Cisco SPE on the Cisco 3900 offers the ability to increase the performance of the router with a field-upgradable motherboard as our network needs grow. It’s mainly responsible for processing and forwarding data.
The SPE includes PVDM3 slots and system memory slots, and the ISM slot. It provides a modular approach to system upgrades. Slide out the SPE from the router to replace internal modules, or to upgrade the SPE for improved router performance.
SPEs come pre-installed in 3900 series routers, or they are purchased separately and installed in a 3900 series router.
- Four Models
There are four kinds of SPE. They are SPE100 for CISCO3925/K9, SPE150 for CISCO3945/K9, SPE200 for CISCO3925E/K9 and CISCO3945E/K9.
The SPE 200 and the SPE 250 include a cryptographic accelerator for improved security performance.
This figure shows four SPEs’ appearances and specs.
Summary
The SPE feature is only supported on Cisco 3900 series routers. It helps much to protect our investment for that we don’t need to change the whole hardware when our network needs grow. Compared to other Cisco ISR series, Cisco 3900 routers provide more flexibility.