Need recommendation on an affordable internet edge router

Thu May 4 20:39:16 UTC 2017

We have a number of internet edge routers across several data centers approaching EOL/EOS, and are budgeting for replacements. Like most enterprises, we have been Cisco-centric in our routing/switching platforms. The ASR1Ks are too small for our needs and the ASR9Ks are prohibitively expensive and probably overkill. That being said, our IT staff is willing to look at other vendors if they are the right fit.

Requirements:

  *   Can handle full internet tables, both v4 and v6 with room for reasonable growth over the next 5 years.
  *   VRF capability.
  *   About 12-ish 10Gb ports and 10-ish 1Gb ports (24-ish total if they are 1Gb/10Gb select-rate ports.)
  *   Full-Feature BGP (address-families, communities, peer-groups, etc...)
  *   Used by carriers or large enterprises in a production role for at least a year (and not causing ulcers)
  *   Affordable. I know that's subjective, but we need a solution that is as close as possible to commodity-pricing if this modernization effort balloons to include all of our data centers.

We are open to named vendors and even so-called brite-box solutions. A little nervous about fringe solutions like pure whitebox with Quagga, but if the savings are there and people can vouch for it, we will consider it.

In other words, if you've used it and stand by it, we value that input and will put it on the initial list. Also, if you chose solution-X after comparing it to solution-Y it would be very helpful to detail what you tested and why you chose.

Thanks in advance.