As service providers invest in IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks to support the growing business and customer demand for next-generation edge applications and services, they must control costs to be profitable and competitive. As part of the industry's premium routing platform, the Cisco 12000 Series, the Cisco 12010 Router delivers the power of carrier-class 2.5-Gbps networking in a compact, half-rack configuration and low cost per I/O slot. The Cisco 12010 Router enables a software upgrade to a 10-Gbps-per-slot Cisco 12410 Router, providing the ability to scale the edge of the network transparently and without an expensive forklift upgrade.