Cisco router ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 Cisco ASR 1000 / 5000 series router

Brand: Cisco | Category: Network Equipment

SKU: CSC-ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 | Part #: ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 | MPN: ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9

Contact for Pricing — Request a Quote

The Cisco ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 is a four-port GigabitEthernet line card engineered for long-haul metropolitan and enterprise backbone deployments where single-mode fiber connectivity and predictable throughput matter more than raw port density. This card slots into the Cisco ASR 5000 chassis and brings intelligent routing control, Quality of Service enforcement, and carrier-grade traffic shaping to networks that cannot afford congestion or unpredictable latency. Each port operates at 1000BASE-LX over single-mode fiber at 1310 nm wavelength, extending connectivity up to 10 kilometers on standard SMF—a reach that bridges data center clusters, remote offices, and campus networks without intermediate regeneration. Network engineers and enterprise infrastructure teams deploying this card are typically solving for either geographic redundancy or need to separate management, control plane, and data plane traffic across distinct logical channels within a single chassis.

What makes the ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 relevant in modern data center and carrier environments is not just its optical reach, but the routing and traffic management intelligence it inherits from the Cisco IOS and IOS-XE platforms. The card supports BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, and RIP—the full suite of dynamic routing protocols that let operators respond in real time to network topology changes and perform intelligent path selection based on business policy rather than simple hop count. MPLS is fully supported, meaning you can run Layer 3 VPN architectures, traffic engineering, and fast reroute mechanisms that protect against link or node failures. QoS policies can be applied per port or per application flow, and traffic shaping ensures that bulk data transfers or backup jobs do not starve interactive applications of bandwidth. This level of control is what separates a dumb pipe from a managed network service.

The physical form factor is modular and hot-swappable within the ASR 5000 chassis, which means you can add or replace this line card without powering down the entire router—a critical requirement in 24/7 production environments where even a few minutes of downtime translates to revenue loss or SLA violations. The LC duplex connectors are industry standard, so fiber patching and cross-connects are straightforward and do not require proprietary adapters. Each of the four ports delivers a full gigabit per second, so total throughput from this card is 4 Gbps aggregate. If you are running Cisco SMARTnet support, the card comes with eligibility for firmware updates, bug fixes, and technical support from Cisco, reducing the operational burden on your team. Whether your deployment is in a tier-one data center, a financial services hub, or a telecommunications point of presence, the ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 has been battle-tested and proven reliable over decades of carrier network deployments.

The decision to use this Cisco line card typically comes down to port requirement, reach requirement, and existing infrastructure. If your network already runs Cisco ASR 5000 chassis routers and you need to extend connectivity over SMF at gigabit speeds, this card is the natural fit. If you are consolidating multiple smaller routers into a single high-availability pair of ASR 5000 devices, adding multiple ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 cards gives you the flexibility to grow without replacing the entire platform. System architects also value the ability to mix and match different line card types in the same chassis—you might pair this card with other interface types to handle different edge or core duties from a single device. For teams running MPLS traffic engineering or segment routing, the control plane horsepower of the ASR 5000 series combined with these long-haul interfaces creates a powerful backbone segment.

Omnixon Global stocks the Cisco ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9 as part of our broader inventory of network infrastructure for data centers, AI compute labs, and enterprise networks across the GCC, South Asia, and Europe. We supply genuine Cisco hardware with full warranty support and can assist with technical questions around chassis compatibility, port configuration, and deployment strategy. If you are planning a network expansion, considering a migration to higher availability, or need to refresh aging line cards, we invite you to submit a detailed RFQ so our team can confirm stock, lead time, and technical fit for your specific environment.

Interface & Connectivity Specifications

• Four 1000BASE-LX GigabitEthernet ports, each delivering 1 Gbps full-duplex throughput over single-mode fiber
• 1310 nm wavelength with reach up to 10 kilometers on standard SMF, suitable for metro and long-haul backbone links
• LC duplex fiber connectors for reliable and standardized patch-panel integration
• Modular line card form factor, hot-swappable within Cisco ASR 5000 chassis without router downtime
• Support for Cisco IOS and IOS-XE software platforms, enabling BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIP, MPLS, and full QoS and traffic-shaping policies
• Cisco SMARTnet support eligible for firmware updates, security patches, and technical assistance
• Manufactured as genuine Cisco part number ASR5K-042GE-LX-K9, ensuring interoperability and long-term platform support