Filter
Top Products
5-2
Cisco 10008 Router Hardware Installation Guide
OL-0659-13
Chapter 5 Maintaining the Cisco 10008 Router
Spare Parts
Service providers usually draw on their own experience with similar equipment as they try to determine
the number of spare parts of a given item to keep on hand. In developing a strategy for spare parts, the
service providers must
• Evaluate the criticality of the equipment.
• Estimate the mean time between failures, a key component of any spares strategy.
• Calculate the number of production routers (and associated components) they need to have on hand.
For example, if they have the critical mass to shift capacity to other locations or other devices, they
may be able to carry fewer spares.
Service providers may also subscribe to services that supply them with replacement parts, sometimes
with turnaround times as short as 4 hours.
Redundancy
Service providers trying to decide on the level of redundancy appropriate for their operations must
examine their business models. The service provider invests more heavily in high network reliability if
the business model
• Calls for protected services
• Provides customer service-level agreements
• Accommodates customers that require a high degree of reliability
• Emphasizes overall reliability as opposed to cost
In addition, the service provider discusses the situation with the supplier to identify those software and
hardware features likely to experience the most stress and thus to have the shortest mean time between
failures. The point is to determine, not just whether or not redundancy is to be used, but also the quantity
to be used (1:1, 2:1, or greater).
Some service providers have redundant chassis, but not redundant routing engines. This approach gives
them increased flexibility, so that they can provide reliable service and accommodate a growing number
of customers. Customers requiring the highest levels of network reliability and availability often add
redundancy by connecting to two different service providers.
Situational Analysis
38546
Situational Analysis
38546