Cisco® Integrated Services Routers Generation 2 (ISR G2) routers offer a wide variety of WAN connectivity modules to accommodate a wide range of application needs in customer network deployments. The Cisco Multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ Enhanced High-Speed WAN Interface Card (VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ EHWIC) supports DSL multimode, including very high speed DSL (VDSL2) and asymmetric DSL (ADSL2/2+) over plain old telephone service (POTS) or an integrated services digital network (ISDN). VDSL2 and ADSL2/A2+ are supported on a single WAN interface and thus this card provides a secure, cost-effective solution for a wide range of customers ranging from teleworkers and small businesses to large enterprise branch offices.

Product Overview

The Cisco Multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ EHWIC (EHWIC-VA-DSL) provides 1-port multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ WAN connectivity (Figure 1). In combination with the Cisco 1921 and 1941 Integrated Services Routers (ISRs) and Cisco 2900, 3900, and 3900E Series ISRs, this EHWIC provides high-speed digital data transmission between customer premises equipment (CPE) and the central office (DSL access multiplexer [DSLAM]), usually located on the telephone company premises. This capability enables service providers and resellers to offer additional services such as business-class security; voice, video, and data; differentiated classes of service (QoSs); and managed network access with Cisco IOS® Software over existing telephony infrastructure. These value-added features, along with the flexible manageability and reliability of Cisco IOS Software, provide the mission-critical networking features that businesses expect.

With Cisco IOS 15.1(3)T/15.1(4)M and later releases, the 1-port multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ EHWIC is supported on the following Cisco ISR G2 routers: Cisco 1861E, 1921,1941, 2901, 2911, 2921, 2951, 3925, 3945, 3925E, and 3945E ISRs. The Cisco 1861E ISR is supported starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 15.1(4)M.

Business-Class DSL with WAN Backup

The Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series ISRs offer multiple WAN slots. These routers can be configured with an EHWIC-VA-DSL card for primary WAN access, providing redundancy for mission-critical applications. The WAN flexibility in these platforms enables the EHWIC-VA-DSL card to be swapped for any applicable HWIC or EHWIC, depending on business need.

Banking Application

In this scenario, a bank branch office uses the Cisco 2911 with an EHWIC-VA-DSL card and ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) WAN interface card (WIC) to provide primary and backup WAN access. In addition, the 8-port asynchronous and synchronous HWIC (HWIC-8A/S) can be used as a communication interface for ATM machines. This scenario uses the versatility of the Cisco 2911 to enable banking databases to synchronize ATM transactions without any interruption of WAN access, and it provides redundancy for other mission-critical applications.

Business-Class Security

The Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series routers with the EHWIC-VA-DSL card can be optimized for Internet security with the Cisco IOS Firewall, supporting stateful-inspection-firewall and intrusion-prevention-system features. With an always-on DSL connection, Internet security is crucial to protecting corporate resources from malicious network attacks. You can enable these features on the modular routers by purchasing the optional Cisco IOS Software with the Advanced Security or later feature set.

These platforms can also be optimized for VPN to secure the Internet for communications with the same policies and levels of security and performance as a private network. VPNs provide security through encryption tunneling, and the Cisco routers support hardware-based Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES), IP Security (IPsec), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).These advanced encryption features can be enabled on Cisco ISRs by purchasing an optional Cisco IOS Software Advanced Security feature license.

Application-Aware Networking with IP Quality of Service

Using Cisco quality-of-service (QoS) features, including Class-Based Weighted Fair Queuing (CBWFQ), Low-Latency Queuing (LLQ), Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED), etc., Cisco 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series routers with the Cisco Multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ EHWIC can help service providers and resellers offer services that can differentiate bandwidth based on the specific application or specific user. For example, network administrators can give traffic from a customer order entry priority over regular internal network traffic.

Performance

VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ performance is a function of many variables, including the DSLAM line card, DSLAM software version, VDSL profile and band plan, line-noise conditions, and loop length, and other environmental factors.

Software Support

The 1-port Cisco Multimode VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ EHWIC is supported on Cisco IOS Software Release 15.1(3)T. 15.1.4(M) and later releases on Cisco 1921, 1941, 2901, 2911, 2921, 2951, 3925, 3945, 3925E, and 3945E ISRs. The Cisco 1861E is supported starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 15.1(4)M.

The VDSL2 and ADSL2/2+ features are supported with the IP Base technology package license for the Cisco 1861E*, 1921, and 1941 ISRs and the Cisco 2900 and 3900 Series routers.