Cisco ISR4321/K9

Key Features of Cisco ISR4321/K9:

1. High-Performance Routing:

   • The ISR4321 offers high-performance routing with support for advanced IP routing, dynamic routing protocols (such as OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP), and IPv4/IPv6 support. It provides the necessary throughput and scalability for branch offices and remote locations.
   • The router can handle demanding workloads and provide high availability, redundancy, and load balancing for mission-critical applications.

2. Modular Design:

   • The ISR4321 is part of the modular Cisco 4000 Series, allowing for future expansion. It supports module slots that allow you to add WAN interfaces, security services, network modules, and voice interfaces as needed. This modularity ensures that you can tailor the router to meet the specific needs of your organization and scale as your business grows.
   • The router includes two integrated Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports and one Fast Ethernet port for flexible connectivity options.

3. Integrated Security:

   • The ISR4321 includes built-in security features such as firewall, VPN (Virtual Private Network) support, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and content filtering. These features help protect branch office networks from external threats, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
   • It supports Cisco’s Umbrella for cloud-based security, and the router can also integrate with Cisco Firepower for advanced threat protection.

4. Voice and Video Support:

   • The router supports voice and video services, making it ideal for businesses that require unified communications (UC) or VoIP (Voice over IP) solutions. With support for Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CME) and Cisco Unity Express (CUE), the ISR4321 can be used as a gateway for call routing and unified messaging.
   • It also supports SIP trunking and media handling, ensuring that voice and video traffic is delivered with high quality and reliability.

5. Cisco ISR Series Performance:

   • The ISR4321 provides up to 100 Mbps of IPsec VPN throughput and up to 50 Mbps of threat defense throughput. It’s well-suited for medium-sized businesses, branch offices, and remote locations where high-performance network services are required, including secure VPNs and internet access.
   • It also supports Integrated Services for application optimization (e.g., WAN optimization, application-aware routing, and application visibility).

6. Cloud-Ready Features:

   • The ISR4321 is designed with cloud-centric services in mind. It supports Cisco Cloud Services like Cisco Meraki and Cisco Umbrella, which provide integrated cloud security and network management.
   • It’s also capable of supporting SD-WAN (Software-Defined WAN) through Cisco vManage, which allows businesses to deploy more flexible and scalable WAN solutions that reduce costs and improve application performance across remote locations.

7. Energy Efficiency:

   • The ISR4321 is built with energy-efficient technology, helping organizations reduce their power consumption while maintaining high performance. This is particularly useful for businesses that want to reduce operational costs and minimize their environmental impact.

8. Quality of Service (QoS):

   • The ISR4321 supports advanced QoS mechanisms to prioritize important traffic, such as voice, video, and mission-critical applications. Traffic shaping, policing, and scheduling help ensure that key services receive the necessary bandwidth and low latency, even during periods of high network demand.

9. Simplified Management:

   • The ISR4321 can be managed through Cisco’s DNA Center (for SD-Access and network automation) and Cisco Prime Infrastructure. Additionally, it supports Cisco Configuration Professional (CCP), a web-based GUI tool that simplifies setup, configuration, and monitoring for network administrators.
   • Integration with Cisco Smart Licensing allows easier license management for the router and the ability to scale licensing as needed.

10. Enhanced Virtualization Support:

    • The ISR4321 includes a dedicated slot for the Cisco Integrated Services Virtualization (ISV), which enables the deployment of virtual network functions (VNFs) on the same physical device. This is helpful for businesses adopting network virtualization and those that need a combination of physical and virtual network services.

Specifications:

• Form Factor: 1U rackmountable
• WAN Ports:
  • 2 x Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports
  • 1 x Fast Ethernet WAN port
• Expansion Slots:
  • 1 x Network Module Slot
  • 1 x Service Module Slot
• Performance:
  • Up to 100 Mbps of IPsec VPN throughput
  • Up to 50 Mbps of threat defense throughput
• Security:
  • Cisco IOS XE security features
  • VPN support (IPsec, SSL VPN)
  • Firewall and IDS/IPS integration
• Voice:
  • Voice gateway support (with Cisco Unified CME and Unity Express)
• Power Consumption:
  • Low power consumption for energy efficiency
• Licensing:
  • Cisco Smart Licensing
  • Modular license options for different features (security, performance, etc.)

Use Cases:

1. Branch Office Routing:

   • The ISR4321 is well-suited for branch office deployment, where high-speed internet access, secure WAN connectivity, and quality of service for voice and video traffic are required. It’s perfect for businesses looking to provide reliable connectivity and secure communications between branch offices and the central data center.

2. Remote Office Connectivity:

   • Remote offices or remote workers can benefit from the ISR4321‘s robust VPN support, allowing them to securely connect back to the corporate network. It also supports features like WAN optimization and traffic management, improving the performance of applications in remote locations.

3. Unified Communications:

   • The ISR4321 is an excellent choice for organizations looking to implement unified communications solutions, including VoIP, video conferencing, and collaboration tools. The router’s support for SIP trunking, Cisco CME, and Cisco Unity Express makes it a versatile platform for both voice and data traffic.

4. Security and Compliance:

   • Businesses that need to secure their network infrastructure and comply with regulatory standards can use the ISR4321 to provide firewall protection, VPN support, and intrusion prevention. Its comprehensive security features help safeguard the network against threats and ensure data integrity.

5. SD-WAN and Cloud Integration:

   • For companies that are transitioning to SD-WAN or integrating cloud services, the ISR4321 is an ideal choice. Its support for SD-WAN and cloud security integration with Cisco Meraki and Cisco Umbrella allows businesses to optimize their WAN performance and securely connect branch offices to cloud resources.