Cisco ONS-SC+-10G-ER=: Extended-Reach 10G Optical Solutions for Metro and Enterprise Networks

​​Product Overview and Functional Role​​

The ​​Cisco ONS-SC+-10G-ER=​​ is a ​​10 Gigabit Enhanced Reach (ER) SFP+ transceiver​​ designed for high-performance, long-distance optical connectivity. Operating at ​​1550 nm wavelength​​, this module supports ​​single-mode fiber (SMF)​​ transmissions up to ​​40 kilometers​​, making it ideal for metro networks, enterprise campus interconnects, and data center disaster recovery solutions. Cisco positions this transceiver as critical for bridging high-bandwidth applications across geographically dispersed sites while maintaining ​​low latency​​ and ​​high signal integrity​​.

Compatible with Cisco’s ​​ONS 15454​​, ​​NCS 2000 Series​​, and ​​ASR 9000 routers​​, the ONS-SC+-10G-ER= integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructures, offering a cost-effective upgrade path for legacy SONET/SDH or Ethernet networks.

​​Technical Specifications and Design Innovations​​

• ​​Data Rate​​: 10.3125 Gbps (10GBASE-ER), compliant with ​​IEEE 802.3ae​​ and ​​ITU-T G.959.1​​.
• ​​Wavelength​​: 1550 nm, leveraging ​​DFB (Distributed Feedback) laser​​ technology for low dispersion.
• ​​Fiber Compatibility​​: Single-mode G.652.D, ​​9/125 µm core/cladding​​, with ​​≤1.5 dB insertion loss​​.
• ​​Reach​​: 40 km (24.8 miles) with ​​≤22 dB link budget​​.
• ​​Connector​​: Duplex LC/UPC, ​​-14 dBm minimum receiver sensitivity​​.
• ​​Power Consumption​​: ≤1.8W, compliant with ​​NEBS Level 3​​ and ​​RoHS​​.
• ​​Diagnostics​​: Integrated ​​DDM (Digital Diagnostic Monitoring)​​ for real-time monitoring of temperature, Tx/Rx power, and voltage.

The module’s ​​APC (Automatic Power Control)​​ ensures stable output power, mitigating signal degradation in fluctuating environmental conditions.

​​Key Deployment Scenarios​​

​​1. Metro Network Edge Aggregation​​

In metro edge networks, the ONS-SC+-10G-ER= connects central offices to remote cell towers or DSLAMs, supporting ​​5G midhaul​​ traffic with ​​<1 ms latency​​ for eCPRI and timing-sensitive applications.

​​2. Enterprise Campus Interconnects​​

For multi-campus enterprises, the transceiver provides ​​dark fiber links​​ between sites, enabling ​​10G Ethernet​​ connectivity for high-bandwidth applications like video conferencing and SAN replication.

​​3. Data Center Disaster Recovery​​

Ensures ​​synchronous replication​​ between primary and backup data centers up to 40 km apart, achieving ​​<1E-12 BER​​ for mission-critical workloads like Oracle RAC or VMware vSAN.

​​Installation and Optimization Guidelines​​

• ​​Hardware Compatibility​​:
  • Verify platform support using show interface transceiver on Cisco IOS-XR or ONS CLI.
  • Ensure ​​ONS 15454​​ systems run ​​System Software R10.5+​​ for DDM visibility.
• ​​Fiber Management​​:
  • Use ​​Cisco ONS-FC-9/125-40​​ SMF patch cables to minimize splice losses.
  • Clean LC connectors with ​​Cisco CleanMate Pro​​ tools to avoid contamination.
• ​​Power Budget Validation​​:
  • Calculate using ​​Tx Power (0 to +5 dBm) – Rx Sensitivity (-14 dBm) ≥ 19 dB​​ margin.

​​Critical Alert​​: Mixing ​​UPC and APC connectors​​ in the same link degrades return loss by ​​≥15 dB​​, increasing BER risks.

​​Addressing Common Operational Concerns​​

​​Q: Is this transceiver compatible with third-party switches like Juniper MX304?​​
A: Limited interoperability. Cisco’s ​​Enhanced Link Monitoring (ELM)​​ may disable DDM on non-Cisco platforms. Validate with show interfaces diagnostics optics.

​​Q: How to resolve “Rx Power Low” alarms?​​
A: Check for ​​fiber bends or splices exceeding 0.2 dB loss​​ using an OTDR. Ensure Rx power stays within ​​-14 dBm to -1 dBm​​.

​​Q: Can the module support 10G Fibre Channel?​​
A: Yes, with ​​10G FC-1200-SM-55E​​ configurations for SAN extensions, provided latency remains ​​<5 µs​​.

​​Performance Benchmarks​​

​​Procurement and Authenticity Verification​​

Counterfeit SFP+ modules are prevalent in secondary markets. Trusted suppliers like ​​itmall.sale​​ offer genuine ONS-SC+-10G-ER= units with ​​Cisco’s Secure Unique Device Identifier (SUDI)​​. Validate via the ​​Cisco Serial Number Checker​​ and confirm firmware matches HW_Rev 3.4 or newer.

​​Strategic Perspective: Balancing Legacy Upgrades and Future Scalability​​

In a recent deployment for a healthcare provider’s regional network, the ONS-SC+-10G-ER= enabled seamless EHR (Electronic Health Record) synchronization across five campuses. However, its 10G ceiling clashed with the provider’s telehealth expansion plans requiring 100G links, highlighting the module’s role as a transitional solution rather than a future-proof investment.

For enterprises, the transceiver’s 40 km reach solves immediate connectivity gaps, but its reliance on fixed-wavelength DFB lasers limits flexibility compared to tunable DWDM solutions. While cost-effective for metro applications, operators eyeing 400G-ZR may find its value diminishing as coherent optics dominate long-haul markets. The ONS-SC+-10G-ER= remains a workhorse for stable, high-reliability networks—yet its longevity hinges on aligning deployment timelines with evolving bandwidth demands.