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bigsy
join:2001-07-18
ireland

bigsy

Member

ASA 5500 Series 8.3(x) Memory Requirements

ASA 8.3(1) has been released along with ASDM 6.3.1. The release notes are at »www.cisco.com/en/US/docs ··· n83.html

There are new memory requirements for this release:
"To run Version 8.3 in a production environment, you need to upgrade the memory on the Cisco ASA 5505, 5510, 5520, or 5540."

Model        Default DRAM        Required DRAM
5505         256 MB              512 MB
5510         256 MB              1 GB
5520         512 MB              2 GB
5540         1 GB                2 GB
 
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

1 edit

HELLFIRE

MVM

I had to keel over laughing when I saw the memory requirements of that!
What did Cisco (drastically) change in 8.3 that now every platform needs
between 2 and 4 times the memory to run?! Good thing I upgraded my
ASA5505's flash and DRAM when I had a chance

Thanks for the news bigsy

Regards
elnino
join:2006-08-27
Akron, OH

elnino

Member

They're requiring more RAM to deal with all the new memory leaks
meta
join:2004-12-27
00000

meta

Member

lol how true is that. I have no respect left for cisco security products.

Whats even better is that if you spend the cash on a 5580, even with an enormous pile of ram like 16gb, its still a 32bit OS on 64bit hardware, so it cant use more than 3gig and change.
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to bigsy

MVM

to bigsy
So lemme guess, the next version is going to need to up the RAM again? I've heard one anecdotal
story of someone pushing a 5505 to 1GB, but they didn't happen to mention what manufacturer and
P/N of RAM they used, but as far as I know, the 5505 can't go any higher than 512 megs.

...guess Cisco needs to be looking at the ASA G2s now, in keeping with the ISR nomenclature...

Regards
bigsy
join:2001-07-18
ireland

bigsy

Member

Here's an old link from cyberpost See Profile which discusses some options for upgrading ASA5505 flash and DRAM:

»www.breezy.ca/?q=node/258

According to the forum FAQ you need 184Pin PC3200 DIMM CL3 UB Non-ECC

idolclub
join:2003-12-24

3 edits

idolclub to HELLFIRE

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to HELLFIRE
said by HELLFIRE:

So lemme guess, the next version is going to need to up the RAM again? I've heard one anecdotal
story of someone pushing a 5505 to 1GB, but they didn't happen to mention what manufacturer and
P/N of RAM they used, but as far as I know, the 5505 can't go any higher than 512 megs.
ASA 5505 can support 1GB DDR-400 RAM and 2GB Compact Flash, just need to replace the original 256MB to a Kingston 1GB DDR-400 memory(P/N:KVR400X64C3A/1G).

bigsy
join:2001-07-18
ireland

1 edit

bigsy

Member

»www.cisco.com/en/US/prod ··· 414.html

According to the above: "All Cisco ASA 5505, ASA 5510, ASA 5520, and ASA 5540 appliances will ship with additional default memory to meet the memory requirements for Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3 in February 2010."

In addition it appears that the minimum RAM requirement for the basic 10- and 50-user versions of the ASA5505 stays at 256MB for ASA 8.3.
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to bigsy

MVM

to bigsy
@bigsy
I also recall this one as well »cisconews.co.uk/2007/12/ ··· ry-hack/

@idolclub
Thanks for the manufacturer and P/N. I don't really use the ASA for anything right now,
but the bragging rights of upgrading it to 1GB are tempting Also managed to slap
a 2GB CF card into the ASA however I've found a few times where the ASA wouldn't boot up.
It may be a time for a full card reformat...

The minimum RAM requirements statement so reminds me of the day WinXP came out and MS
said that 256megs was the "minimum requirements." Oh god, the horror...

Regards

CCO
@sk.ca

CCO to bigsy

Anon

to bigsy
Hey folks,

I was able to upgrade my 5505 to 1GB with some memory out of an old IBM x306 server (DDR-400, CAS3, ECC) this morning with no issues. I don't have the part number handy but they were Infineon chips.

I don't see much point to swapping the flash out unless you're keen on storing multiple ASA/ASDM images as backup, or possibly logging a significant amount to flash.

Too bad the Security Plus license upgrade would cost me more than I paid for the ASA to begin with :-(
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to bigsy

MVM

to bigsy
@CCO
If you are able to get the make, model and P/N numbers of the RAM, that'd be
great info for reference. I think it'd be worth it to add this info to
the forum FAQ for the ASA DRAM, and the fact that the ASA will take
1GB of RAM.

...now I'm wondering if my wallet'd agree to a test of a 2GB stick of
DDR400 RAM sometime...

@idolclub
Couldn't help but notice your screenshot showing the ASA moving well over
150MB bidirectionally simultaneously and the CPU / memory barely straining.
Was this a test or production environment? Was your config a vanilla setup
or highly customized?

I've always wondered what the ASA could do when pushed to the limits

Regards
bigsy
join:2001-07-18
ireland

bigsy

Member

Why do you think some have reported a 1GB stick only showing up as 512MB? Hardware revisions of ASA or support with later software releases?

I've successfully upgraded an ASA5505 with the Kingston module mentioned in the forum FAQ (note that this FAQ currently has a typo - the correct reference for the 512MB stick is KVR400X64C3A/512).

However I had problems with Crucial CT6464Z40B which on paper looks like it should be compatible. The ASA wouldn't even boot with this memory installed and flashed all sorts of error lights. I'm not sure if this simply reflected a bad memory module or whether there is a more generic problem with this particular combination.

idolclub
join:2003-12-24

idolclub to HELLFIRE

Member

to HELLFIRE
said by HELLFIRE:

@idolclub
Couldn't help but notice your screenshot showing the ASA moving well over
150MB bidirectionally simultaneously and the CPU / memory barely straining.
Was this a test or production environment? Was your config a vanilla setup
or highly customized?

I've always wondered what the ASA could do when pushed to the limits

ASA 5505 in production environment with a simple test.

After upgrade to a new ASA software, I always will do a simple performance test.

The new ASA 8.3 screenshot about CPU, Memory and Throughput:

rtwilliamsjr
join:2001-12-04
Clairton, PA

rtwilliamsjr to bigsy

Member

to bigsy
I have an ASA5520 running so I wonder if 2 of these sticks of memory will work from Kingston:

KVR400X72C3A/1G

at about 40.00 each its probably worth a shot.
SPERTW
Premium Member
join:2010-03-01
Canada

SPERTW

Premium Member

Well, I am still waiting for my new ASA5505...

Let's hope is the newer shipment with default 512mb memory... »www.cisco.com/en/US/prod ··· 414.html
surnj1
join:2008-12-31

surnj1 to bigsy

Member

to bigsy
I upgraded my Cisco ASA 5505 ram from 256 MB (VIKING INTERWORKS VR4CU326426ETP-MF VIR0838467A) to a Kingston value RAM PC3200 2.6 V. Now the "show version" command shows

Hardware: ASA5505, 512 MB RAM, CPU Geode 500 MHz
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to bigsy

MVM

to bigsy
Doesn't seem to be any output in the ASA 'show version' output that
specifies hardware revision. I'll have to take apart my ASA5505 to
see if there is anything on the board that identifies the revision.

Can't imagine Cisco playing games about artificially limiting the
memory, but then again, they've played sillier games before.

I also seem to recall someone speculating about memory voltage being
the issue as to why the ASA can't see beyond a certain memory amount
when plugging in larger RAM banks.

@idolclub
That an IPERF load you're putting across the ASA when you loadtest?

Regards

smunro622
Premium Member
join:2006-02-15
united state

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
thanks everyone, i have a 5505, and a 5510 to upgrade...

any one have a link to get parts othere then what was listed here... would prefer to max out both units...both are at default right now, and run the aip modules, and sec+ on the 5505
sbnaturally
join:2010-03-17
Goleta, CA

sbnaturally

Member

I like to upgrade our ASA 5510 from 256mb to 1gb.

Does anybody have a specific 1gb chip they've used in the ASA 5510 and recommends ?

Thanks!

smunro622
Premium Member
join:2006-02-15
united state

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
looking for the same thing on my 5505

Spencer
@bethere.co.uk

Spencer

Anon

Be careful, we have 10 yes, 10 ASA5505's to upgrade, bought ten sticks of KVR400X64C3A/1G none of it worked, I had a full bank of flashing lights. I am going to test it to see if it is a bad batch. Other sizes and speeds of memory I have tested appeared to work fine until I did a "reload" at which point it just hung.

smunro622
Premium Member
join:2006-02-15
united state

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
memory 1 gig
»www.amazon.com/Kingston- ··· 000V1A8A

new cf card 2 gig
»www.amazon.com/SanDisk-C ··· 2&sr=1-6

how to copy flash to new card/disassemble
»cisconews.co.uk/2007/12/ ··· ry-hack/

idolclub
join:2003-12-24

idolclub to HELLFIRE

Member

to HELLFIRE
said by HELLFIRE:

@idolclub
That an IPERF load you're putting across the ASA when you loadtest?
Not Iperf, it is a FTP download and upload throughput test.
HELLFIRE
MVM
join:2009-11-25

HELLFIRE to bigsy

MVM

to bigsy
@Spencer
Would you be able / willing to pull apart your 5505 and check for any hardware
rev #s on the hardware itself? I was going to do that on mine, but I'm on
vacation right now, and it's something that can wait till I get back

Regards

jaydeee
@bethere.co.uk

jaydeee to bigsy

Anon

to bigsy
The memory used by Cisco in these units is manufactured by Smart Modular Technologies. The Smart partnumber for the 1GB modules for the ASA 5510's and 5520's is SG5722885D8D0UU. For the 512MB modules for the ASA5505's its SG5726485D8D0UU.

The spc of this DRAM is 184pin PC2700 DDR-333 ECC Unbuffered.

PC3200 DDR-400 will work becauses it can run at slower speed, but as with all things I will always recommend staying as close to the spec for which the hardware was designed.

smunro622
Premium Member
join:2006-02-15
united state

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
new 1 gig upgrade to 5505 done...
memory 1 gig
»www.amazon.com/Kingston-ValueRAM···000V1A8A

moving on flash memory as i received the card today with my Sec+ lic....

Launching BootLoader...
Default configuration file contains 1 entry.

Searching / for images to boot.

Loading /asa723-k8.bin... Booting...
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
############################################################################
####################
1024MB RAM
smunro622

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
no such luck on flash

Use BREAK or ESC to interrupt boot.
Use SPACE to begin boot immediately.

Launching BootLoader...
Default configuration file contains 1 entry.

Searching / for images to boot.

Loading /asa723-k8.bin... Booting...
sumval(0xc758) chksum(0x0 )md5(0x938231d0 0xd522263b 0xee499549 0xad36dcf1)
md5(0xf5dad750 0xf9048773 0x57d0a42f 0x6c55375f)
Checksum verification on compression loader failed.
macallah
join:2003-01-22
Wichita Falls, TX

macallah to bigsy

Member

to bigsy
Has Cisco started to ship units with upgraded memory yet? I am looking to get an 5505, but rather have the unit covered under smartnet than have 3rd party memory (yes I know the Cisco memory is around $200).

smunro622
Premium Member
join:2006-02-15
united state

smunro622 to bigsy

Premium Member

to bigsy
tried ordering a new asa and was told a 3 month wait..
meta
join:2004-12-27
00000

meta

Member

Yep, all cisco lead times are horrid these days, and ASAs are the worst. Too many chip/component suppliers went out of business during the little economic dip the last year.