Upgrading network infrastructure is crucial for keeping pace with growing bandwidth demands. For Cisco ASR 1002-X router users looking to enhance their connectivity with 10 Gigabit Ethernet, the SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 adapter is a common choice. However, encountering detection problems during installation can be a frustrating roadblock. This guide addresses a scenario where a newly installed SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 card isn’t being recognized by a Cisco ASR 1002-X router, offering troubleshooting steps and insights to resolve the issue.

One user recently faced this exact problem when attempting to upgrade their Cisco ASR1002x router. They installed a new SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 10GE SPA card into one of the available SPA slots, expecting a seamless plug-and-play experience, similar to previous Gigabit SPA installations. Unfortunately, the card remained undetected by the system. No lights, no recognition in the router’s output – it was as if nothing had been installed.

To diagnose such issues, it’s essential to gather information about the system’s current state. Commands like show hw-module subslot and show inventory are invaluable for checking hardware recognition. In the user’s case, show hw-module subslot 0/1 ?% The indicated slot/subslot number is empty clearly indicated the system did not detect anything in the specified slot. Similarly, the show inventory output, while listing existing components, did not include the newly installed SPA card.

NAME: "Chassis", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002-X Chassis"
PID: ASR1002-X , VID: V02, SN:

NAME: "Power Supply Module 0", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002 AC Power Supply"
PID: ASR1002-PWR-AC , VID: V03, SN: ART1824U0A8

NAME: "Power Supply Module 1", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002 AC Power Supply"
PID: ASR1002-PWR-AC , VID: V03, SN: ART1824U0AS

NAME: "module 0", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002-X SPA Interface Processor"
PID: ASR1002-X , VID: , SN:

NAME: "SPA subslot 0/0", DESCR: "6-port Built-in GE SPA"
PID: 6XGE-BUILT-IN , VID: , SN:

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 0", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024115

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 1", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024116

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 2", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024117

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 3", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024118

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 4", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024120

NAME: "subslot 0/0 transceiver 5", DESCR: "GE T"
PID: SFP-GE-T-ASR , VID: E , SN: MTCGETC024119

NAME: "module R0", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002-X Route Processor"
PID: ASR1002-X , VID: V02, SN:

NAME: "module F0", DESCR: "Cisco ASR1002-X Embedded Services Processor"
PID: ASR1002-X , VID: , SN:

This show inventory output, displaying the router’s components, confirms the absence of the newly installed 10GE SPA card. It lists the chassis, power supplies, route processor, embedded services processor, and the built-in GE SPA, but crucially, no mention of the SPA-1X10GE-L-V2. This indicates the router’s system inventory hasn’t registered the new hardware.

Further investigation using show version provides details about the Cisco IOS XE software version running on the router.

Cisco IOS XE Software, Version 03.13.01.S - Extended Support Release
Cisco IOS Software, ASR1000 Software (X86_64_LINUX_IOSD-UNIVERSALK9-M),
Version 15.4(3)S1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)
cisco ASR1002-X (2RU-X) processor (revision 2KP) with 1089555K/6147K bytes
of memory.
Processor board ID FOX1802H0VC
6 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
32768K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
4194304K bytes of physical memory.
6684671K bytes of eUSB flash at bootflash:.

This show version output details the Cisco IOS XE software version and confirms the router model as ASR1002-X. While helpful for general system information, it doesn’t directly pinpoint the SPA card detection issue. However, verifying software compatibility with the SPA card is a crucial step in broader troubleshooting.

Possible Causes and Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Compatibility: While the SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 card is designed for ASR1000 series routers, ensure compatibility with the specific IOS XE version. Refer to Cisco’s compatibility matrix for the SPA card and the running IOS XE version (15.4(3)S1 in this case). Although generally compatible, a quick check can rule out software incompatibility.

2. Card Seating: A common oversight is improper seating of the SPA card in the slot. Even though SPA cards support Online Insertion and Removal (OIR), physically reseating the card ensures a firm and correct connection with the backplane connectors. Power down the router (if possible and within maintenance window), carefully remove and re-insert the SPA card, ensuring it is fully seated and latched in place. Power the router back on and re-check for detection.

3. Slot Issues: Test different SPA slots on the ASR1002-X. If the card is not detected in one slot, try inserting it into another available SPA slot. This helps determine if the problem is specific to a particular slot rather than the card itself.

4. Hardware Fault: Although less frequent with new hardware, a faulty SPA card cannot be ruled out. If possible, test the SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 card in a known working compatible router to isolate whether the card itself is defective. Similarly, if another working SPA card is available, try installing it in the problem router to see if the router’s SPA slots are functioning correctly.

5. Power Issues: While less likely to cause complete non-detection, insufficient power could potentially lead to issues. Ensure the ASR1002-X power supplies are functioning correctly and providing adequate power, especially if other recent hardware additions have been made. However, for a single SPA card, power issues are less probable unless the power supplies are already near their capacity.

6. Software Configuration (Less Likely for Detection): In most cases, SPA card detection is automatic and doesn’t require specific pre-configuration commands. However, in rare scenarios or with certain IOS XE versions, there might be a subtle software-related issue. Consult Cisco documentation for any specific software configuration steps required for SPA-1X10GE-L-V2 and ASR1002-X with the running IOS XE version, although this is less likely the cause of non-detection.

Resolution and Key Takeaways:

In the original user’s scenario, the resolution might involve one of the above steps, most likely reseating the card or testing in a different slot. If hardware fault is suspected, contacting the network hardware reseller or Cisco support for further diagnostics and potential replacement is necessary.

For successful 10GE upgrades using SPA cards in Cisco ASR1002-X routers, always:

• Verify Compatibility: Double-check SPA card and IOS XE software compatibility using Cisco documentation.
• Handle with Care: Ensure proper handling and seating of SPA cards during installation.
• Systematically Troubleshoot: Use show commands to gather information and systematically isolate the cause of detection issues.
• Test Components: If possible, test SPA cards and router slots independently to pinpoint hardware faults.

By following these troubleshooting steps, network administrators can effectively diagnose and resolve SPA card detection problems, ensuring a smooth 10GE upgrade process for their Cisco ASR1002-X routers and maintaining optimal network performance.