Alcatel-Lucent 3HE01014AAAA02 Interface Module – High‑Performance I/O Card

The Alcatel-Lucent 3HE01014AAAA02 is a versatile interface module (IOM) designed for the company's 7750 Service Router (SR) platform. This advanced I/O card provides high‑density Ethernet connectivity with programmable packet processing capabilities, enabling service providers and large enterprises to build scalable, resilient, and feature‑rich IP/MPLS networks.

Module Overview

This interface module, identified by part number 3HE01014AAAA02, supports a flexible combination of 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE ports via pluggable optics (SFP+, QSFP+, and QSFP28). It is based on Alcatel‑Lucent's FP (Forwarding Plane) processor architecture, which offloads complex packet classification, filtering, and tunneling operations from the main control CPU, achieving wire‑speed forwarding at line rate. The module is hot‑swappable and can be inserted into any I/O slot of the 7750 SR chassis.

The card includes onboard memory buffers for deep packet inspection and traffic shaping, with support for hierarchical QoS (H‑QoS) that enables granular service differentiation across multiple subscribers and virtual private networks.

Technical Specifications

• Product Type: Interface Module (IOM)

• Part Number: 3HE01014AAAA02

• Port Configuration: 2 x 100GE (QSFP28) + 4 x 40GE (QSFP+) + 8 x 10GE (SFP+) – software selectable

• Forwarding Capacity: 400 Gbps full duplex

• Processor: FP4 forwarding engine with 1.6 GHz clock

• Memory: 16 GB DDR4 ECC for large routing tables and ACLs

• Supported Features: MPLS, Segment Routing, IPv6, BGP, OSPF, IS‑IS, VPLS, EVPN

• Power Consumption: 150 W typical

• NEBS Level 3 compliant

Advanced Capabilities

• Hardware‑based line‑rate encapsulation and decapsulation for MPLS and VxLAN.

• Integrated traffic generation and loopback for diagnostics.

• Precise timing support via SyncE and IEEE 1588v2 for mobile backhaul.

• Programmable pipeline allowing custom packet processing (e.g., metadata insertion).

• Remote management via SNMP, NETCONF, and gRPC for telemetry.

Deployment Use Cases

This IOM is widely deployed in core routing, data centre interconnect, and broadband network gateway (BNG) applications. It aggregates traffic from hundreds of subscribers and forwards it through the fabric to other line cards or egress interfaces. The module's ability to handle large ACLs and sophisticated filtering makes it suitable for security‑conscious environments, including government and financial networks.

In mobile backhaul, the 3HE01014AAAA02 supports synchronisation distribution and advanced OAM (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) functions, ensuring that 4G/5G traffic meets strict latency and jitter requirements.

Integration and Management

The module integrates seamlessly with the 7750 SR's routing engine, which runs the Alcatel‑Lucent SROS operating system. All port configurations, QoS policies, and routing parameters are centrally managed via CLI or the Network Services Interface (NSI). The card reports detailed performance counters, including packet drops, CRC errors, and buffer utilizations, enabling proactive capacity planning.

Reliability and Maintainability

Hot‑swappable design permits replacement without powering down the chassis. The module includes redundant power paths and internal self‑tests that run on boot and periodically. In case of a failure, the system can automatically redirect traffic to other IOMs using link aggregation or MPLS Fast Reroute.

Conclusion

The Alcatel‑Lucent 3HE01014AAAA02 Interface Module offers an excellent balance of density, performance, and programmability for modern IP networks. Its robust feature set and carrier‑grade reliability make it a key building block for high‑speed, service‑aware infrastructures.