Cisco 4000 series

Types of Cisco 4000 Series

The Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers are manufactured in three main models that support different network requirements.

• Cisco ISR 4400 Series

  The 4400 series of the routers was designed for large and medium enterprises. They offer robust security features, high throughput, and advanced services integration. The Cisco ISR 4400 series come in four models;

  • Cisco 4431: This model supports 2u rack mounting, has 2 to 8 service module slots, and can support up to 200 Mbps WAN throughput. It is ideal for a small branch or offices.
  • Cisco 4441: With a WAN throughput of 500 Mbps, the 4441 is the next in the hierarchy. It supports Base and Adv, license types B, and can accommodate two to eight service module slots. This makes it suitable for medium-sized branches/offices.
  • Cisco 4431: This router supports a 2U rack mount and has 2 to 8 service module slots. With its capabilities, businesses can integrate multiple services into a single router, thus optimizing resources.
  • Cisco 4451-X: This is the topmost model in the 4400 series. It supports upto 3000 concurrent SSL VPN users and a WAN throughput of 2Gbps. It also supports redundant power supply.

• Over-the-Box (OTB) Configuration

  This is a simple and fast method for configuring and deploying routers in the Cisco 4000 series. The OTB setup allows network administrators to power on their router, perform basic configurations, and have it function in a short period. The router would then be configured and managed via Cisco's DNA center or infrastructure.

• Embedded Services Processor (ESP)

  In the Cisco 4000 series, the embedded services processor is a key component that allows the integration of various services directly into the router. It enables functions such as unified communications, security services, and application acceleration to be delivered alongside routing capabilities. By embedding these services into the Cisco 4000 series, network efficiency is enhanced, as separate appliances are not needed, thus saving cost and space.

Function and feature of cisco 4000 series

The functions and features of the Cisco 4000 Series routers are diverse and intended to accommodate various network requirements. They provide solid performance, flexible connectivity choices, and safe communication in contemporary digital surroundings. A few of the Cisco 4000 Series router features are;

• Modular design: The series features a modular design that gives organizations the ability to expand and adapt as their connectivity requirements change. The Cisco 4000 ISR provides the up-to-date integrated service router platform to support Cisco's goal of securing and connecting the multi-cloud enterprise.
• Scalability: These routers offer robust, scalable architectures that support a wide-ranging number of users and applications to meet business demands. They scale up high WAN throughput and maximum VPN peer counts without compromising performance.
• Security: The routers have built-in security features like advanced threat protection, firewall capabilities, and secure communications to ensure the safety of network traffic. They safeguard communications between enterprise resources, customers, partners, and employees.
• Application optimization: Cisco 4000 Series routers can optimize application performance and offer higher reliability and responsiveness. They enhance Cisco business critical applications, Microsoft Office 365 applications, UC applications, and cloud applications.
• Connectivity: They offer smooth connectivity to diversified environments, including branch offices, remote sites, and cloud services. The Cisco 4000 Series routers simplify cloud networking and protect branch-to-cloud connections.
• Wireless connectivity: Some Cisco 4000 Series routers support integrated wireless capabilities, allowing businesses to set up secure and efficient wide area network (WAN) connections and offer reliable connectivity for mobile users and branch offices.

Usage scenarios of cisco 4000 series

Cisco 4000 series routers are widely used in enterprises and service providers. Here are some of their key applications:

• Branch office Connectivity

  Organizations deploy Cisco ISR 4000 series routers at branch offices to connect the local area network (LAN) to the internet and establish wide area network (WAN) links to the headquarters. These routers provide secured, reliable, high-performance connectivity for all branch office users and applications.

• Enterprise Network

  Cisco 4000 series ISR router is an integral part of most enterprises' networks. They serve as the edge routers connecting the enterprise network to the internet and establishing WAN links between different branches. With advanced security, application visibility, and virtualization capabilities, these routers help organizations deliver reliable and secure network services while maximizing operational efficiency.

• Unified Communication Services

  To enable voice and video calling over data networks, organizations deploy ISR 4000 Series routers to deliver Cisco Unified Communications services. These routers provide necessary quality of service (QoS) mechanisms to ensure voice and video traffic traverse the networks with high quality. They also integrate with Cisco Unified Communications Manager and other collaboration services to provide reliable unified communications infrastructure.

• Network Security Services

  Every Cisco 4000 series router comes with integrated firewall, IPS and advanced malware protection capabilities to protect the enterprise networks from threats. These routers enable organizations to enforce security policies, protect critical assets, and detect and respond to security incidents, thus serving as a key component of enterprise security infrastructure.

• SD-WAN Deployment

  Many organizations deploy Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) solutions to secure and optimize wide area network connectivity between offices and the cloud. Cisco SD-WAN is often integrated with Cisco 4000 series routers at branch locations to provide secure, efficient, policy-based connections between users, applications and data. The routers enable organizations to leverage multiple connections, including broadband, 4G/5G, and MPLS to support SD-WAN.

How to Choose cisco 4000 series

When buying Cisco 4000 series routers for sale, buyers should consider Cisco’s proposed feature sets. They should also ensure the proposed feature sets have the router’s or device’s hardware and software. This is essential for securing the functionality and performance needed for the customer’s network.

Organizations should focus on software, hardware, and application availability. They should deploy the Cisco wide-area application services solution. This will accelerate application performance over the WAN while providing availability through Cisco’s ICA. An organization can create a seamless branch to data center to cloud application experience by choosing the right Cisco model.

Users can distinguish between various 4000 series Integrated Services Routers through their endpoint capacity. They can decide which one best meets their specific needs and requirements. Cisco provides baseline dimensioning for determining capacity. They also offer guidelines for end-user computing scenarios for voice and collaboration.

When deploying the Cisco IOS-XE SD-WAN, organizations can provide secure, simplified networking from the cloud to the edge. The router has cloud-delivered SD-WAN that extends from campuses to branches. It pairs powerful WAN optimization with industry-leading security.

When choosing a Cisco router from the 4000 series, buyers should also consider the following:

• Performance and Scalability: Assess the network's throughput needs and growth potential to choose a router that can handle current and future demands.
• Geographic Reach: Consider whether remote sites need local routing and switching capabilities; if so, include Ethernet ports.
• Integration with Other Technologies: Check if the router works seamlessly with current infrastructure components like firewalls, virtualization platforms, and cloud services.
• Advanced Features: Evaluate whether the organization needs MPLS for complex network connectivity, Unified Communications for voice and video collaboration, or Security for comprehensive threat protection.

Cisco 4000 series Q&A

Q1: How many devices does the Cisco 4000 Series support?

A1: The Cisco 4000 Series currently has three router models: the Cisco 4321, 4331, and 4351. They all share a similar architectural design and run the same Cisco IOS XE software.

Q2: What is performance routing (PfR)?

A2: Performance Routing (PfR) is an intelligent app routing technology that extends Cisco Performance Routing (PR) to the WAN. It optimizes app performance by dynamically steering app traffic over the best-performing links, prioritizing critical SaaS and enterprise apps, and providing full visibility and control. It continually assesses app performance and user experience metrics and monitors network conditions.

Q3: What Cisco IOS XR version is the best?

A3: The Cisco IOS XR High Definition (HD) software provides an efficient and industry-leading platform for networking in large service provider and enterprise data center environments. HDXR runs on Cisco routing platforms with the Cisco IOS XR software.

Q4: What is the Cisco 4000 series used for?

A4: The Cisco 4000 series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs) secure, cloud-scale networking built for digital businesses. The routers help deliver multiple services on a single device by providing high-performance connectivity to distributed enterprises.

Q5: How to configure a Cisco 4000 router?

A5: Basic Cisco 4000 ISR router configuration steps include: accessing the router, setting up passwords and user accounts, configuring interfaces, enabling routing protocols, setting up the network time protocol (NTP), and securing and saving the configuration.