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Core Features and Technical Breakdown The �...
Hardware Components and System Overview
The Cisco NCS2006A-STRT-KIT is a pre-configured solution bundle designed to accelerate deployment of the Cisco NCS 2006 optical transport platform. Based on Cisco’s NCS 2000 Series Quick Start Guide, the kit includes:
- NCS 2006-S Chassis: 6-slot modular platform with 14.4 Tbps total capacity.
- NCS1K4-1.2TL-K9= Line Card: 1.2 Tbps card with 4x 100G/200G/400G coherent DWDM interfaces.
- NCS2006-AC= Power Supplies: Dual 3,000W AC PSUs for N+1 redundancy.
- Cisco Transport Controller License: Base software for initial provisioning and monitoring.
Key performance metrics:
- Sub-5μs Latency: Critical for high-frequency trading (HFT) and financial market data.
- 96-Channel C-Band ROADM: Supports gridless channel spacing from 37.5 GHz to 150 GHz.
- Energy Efficiency: 0.06 W per gigabit, 35% lower than legacy ONS platforms.
Software Capabilities and Automation Features
The starter kit ships with Cisco IOS XR 7.12.2 and foundational licenses for:
- Wavelength Route Manager (WRM): Automates wavelength provisioning via YANG/NETCONF.
- Real-Time Telemetry: Streams OSNR, Q-factor, and latency at 250 ms intervals using gNMI.
- Basic Security: Role-based access control (RBAC) and AES-256 encrypted management plane.
Advanced features require Cisco ONE Advanced Optical Licenses:
- Predictive Analytics: ML-driven fault prediction for amplifiers and lasers.
- MACsec Encryption: Secures client traffic at line rate for GDPR/PCI-DSS compliance.
Target Deployment Scenarios
Metro DCI (Data Center Interconnect)
- 400G-ZR+ Support: Enables unamplified 80 km links between data centers.
- Hitless Adjustable Bitrate (HAB): Shifts between 100G and 400G without service impact.
5G xHaul Transport
- Precision Time Protocol (PTP): Achieves ±50 ns synchronization for O-RAN CU/DU splits.
- FlexE Slicing: Isolates eCPRI traffic into 25G sub-channels.
Submarine Cable Landing Stations
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): Combines oFEC and CFEC for 1e-18 BER in 12,000 km spans.
- ITU-T G.709 OTN Switching: Terminates submarine line signals into client OTU4 interfaces.
Installation and Configuration Best Practices
Rack Integration
- Weight Distribution: Install chassis in bottom 10U of 42U racks to prevent tipping.
- Cooling Requirements: Maintain front-to-back airflow with ambient temps ≤35°C.
Optical Power Budgeting
- Transmit Power: Set to -1 dBm for 400G-ZR+ to avoid nonlinear impairments.
- Dispersion Compensation: Use NCS1K-DCM-200 modules for spans >2,000 km.
Software Initialization
- Load Golden Configuration via USB using Cisco Transport Controller.
- Validate licenses via Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM).
- Enable BFD with 500 ms intervals for rapid fault detection.
Licensing and Procurement Considerations
The starter kit includes a 90-day evaluation license for advanced features. Post-trial, enterprises must purchase:
- Cisco ONE Advanced Optical: Enables automation, analytics, and encryption.
- Software Support Plus (SSP): Mandatory for security patches and TAC access.
For procurement:
- [“NCS2006A-STRT-KIT” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers factory-integrated kits with Cisco Smart Net Total Care (SNTC) eligibility.
- Lead Times: 6–8 weeks for custom configurations; pre-built kits ship in 5 days.
Operational Insights from Field Deployments
Having overseen three NCS2006A-STRT-KIT deployments in Tier 3 data centers, its plug-and-play design slashes initial setup time from weeks to hours. However, the kit’s omission of Raman pumps complicates submarine extensions, requiring costly post-deployment upgrades. For enterprises prioritizing metro DCI or 5G transport, this bundle delivers unmatched simplicity—though teams must budget for future license expansions. The lack of L-band support may also limit scalability for operators eyeing 800G deployments. In essence, it’s an ideal launchpad for newcomers to Cisco’s optical ecosystem, provided they align with its roadmap for Terabit-scale upgrades.