Cisco 900 Series ISR Software Configuration Guide

Cisco 900 Series Integrated Services Routers Overview

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This chapter provides an overview of Cisco 900 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs). The chapter contains the following sections:

• Overview of the Cisco 900 Series ISR
• Cisco 900 Series ISR Models
• Cisco 900 Series ISR Features

Overview of the Cisco 900 Series ISR

Cisco 900 Series ISRs are entry level branch routers that provide secure network connectivity for small offices to a central location. These powerful, fixed-configuration routers provide secure broadband and Metro Ethernet and connectivity. Service providers offering managed Ethernet WAN services can deploy them in customer locations as CPE.

Figure 1-1 explains a scenario where the Cisco 900 Series ISR is deployed to provide remote connectivity from a small office to central office over secure VPN tunnels. In this scenario corporate users use a separate VLAN than the Internet users.

Figure 1-1 Cisco 900 Series Deployment Example

Cisco 900 Series ISR Models

Cisco 900 Series ISRs are available in the following models:

• Cisco C921-4P
• Cisco C921J-4P
• Cisco C931-4P

Table 1-1 summarizes the LAN and WAN interface options available for the Cisco 900 Series ISR models.

Table 1-1 LAN and WAN Interfaces of the Cisco 900 Series ISRs

Cisco 900 Series ISR Features

Some of the key features supported by Cisco 900 Series ISRs are:

• Redundant WAN connections for failover protection and load balancing
• Dynamic failover protocols such as Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP; RFC 2338) and Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP)
• Network perimeter security with integrated application inspection firewall
• Data privacy through high-speed IP Security (IPsec) Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption
• Enforced security policy with intrusion prevention
• Security hardware acceleration
• Next-generation encryption for secure network communications systems, reliable for the next decade
• Supports LAN connections
• Simplifies and centralizes configuration and management of wireless and wireline devices. Supports WLAN services without requiring a wireless LAN controller
• Supports separate console and USB ports