Cisco NCS 57C3 Chassis Datasheet

As organizations navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, driven by increasing internet usage and a strong move towards cloud-first strategies, the need for robust, scalable, and cost-effective networking solutions is paramount. Significant investment is required to meet this burgeoning demand, necessitating infrastructure that delivers best-in-class capabilities while minimizing operational expenditure. Establishing intelligent connections and expanding network capacity efficiently are critical goals. The Cisco Network Convergence System 57C3 Series Routers, or NCS 57C3, are specifically engineered to address these challenges. These routers are designed for economical delivery of next-generation networking services, offering high capacity and remarkably low power consumption within a compact 3-rack-unit form factor. This document delves into the technical specifications, features, and ordering information for the Cisco NCS 57C3 chassis, providing a comprehensive overview for network professionals.

Product Overview

The Cisco NCS 57C3 Series Routers represent a significant advancement in carrier-class networking solutions. These devices are built to support the growing demands of modern networks, providing high-density interfaces and advanced features in a power-efficient design. The chassis, combined with Modular Port Adapters (MPAs), provides versatile interface options ranging from 1GE to 400GE. This flexibility allows organizations to deploy high-speed connections tailored to their specific needs, whether for aggregation, peering, or core network roles.

A key aspect of the NCS 57C3 is its support for industry-leading technologies like MACSec encryption and Class C Timing. These features are crucial for secure and synchronized network operations, essential for applications such as mobile backhaul and financial services where data integrity and precise timing are critical. Furthermore, the inclusion of Control Plane redundancy enhances the system’s reliability and availability, ensuring continuous network operation even in the event of component failures. The NCS 57C3 platform is versatile, suited for a wide array of applications including Carrier Ethernet Aggregation, Subscriber Services, Business Ethernet, Mobile Edge, Campus networks, Peering points, and Core routing functions. This broad applicability makes the NCS 57C3 a flexible choice for diverse network deployments.

Powering the NCS 57C3 is the Cisco IOS XR Software, renowned for its industry-leading, carrier-class capabilities. This 64-bit operating system is designed with operational efficiency, optimized resource utilization, and service agility in mind, embodying the principles of an evolved programmable network. IOS XR Software brings a wealth of features to the platform, significantly enhancing its functionality and manageability. These include iPXE boot and autoprovisioning for simplified deployment, native support for hosting third-party applications, enabling customization and integration, machine-to-machine interfaces for advanced automation, comprehensive telemetry for network visibility, and flexible software package delivery mechanisms for easy updates and feature activation.

The NCS 57C3 Series is available in two primary chassis variants: the Base chassis (NCS-57C3-MOD-SYS) and the Scale chassis (NCS-57C3-MODS-SYS). While both share the compact 3RU form factor and support for MPAs, they differ in their fixed port configurations and route scale capabilities, allowing organizations to select the model best suited for their specific capacity and performance requirements.

Product Technical Specifications

The Cisco NCS 57C3 Series Routers are engineered with meticulous attention to technical detail, offering robust performance and reliability for demanding network environments. Understanding the core technical specifications is essential for deploying these systems effectively within a network infrastructure. The following tables highlight the key specifications of the fixed chassis models and their components.

Hardware Architecture

The hardware architecture of the NCS 57C3 is designed for high performance, scalability, and redundancy. The chassis houses the route processor, power supplies, and fan trays, while supporting Modular Port Adapters for flexible interface density and types. The compact 3RU form factor allows for efficient rack space utilization in data centers and network facilities.

The chassis itself comes in two main configurations, impacting fixed port availability and route scale:

The system is designed for high availability with redundant power supplies and fan trays. The front-to-back airflow ensures efficient cooling within racks. Support for various Modular Port Adapters provides flexibility in deploying different interface speeds and types as needed.

The environmental specifications ensure the system can operate reliably in a range of deployment scenarios:

Software Architecture

The Cisco NCS 57C3 Series Routers are underpinned by the robust Cisco IOS XR Software Release 7.4.1 and later. This carrier-class, 64-bit operating system is designed for modern networking demands, emphasizing operational efficiency, network visibility, and automation. IOS XR provides a comprehensive suite of features supporting a variety of network roles and services.

Key software features supported on the NCS 57C3 with IOS XR 7.4.1 and later include:

This extensive feature set enables the NCS 57C3 to support a wide range of networking requirements, from basic Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing protocols to advanced MPLS, Segment Routing, and EVPN capabilities. The platform’s emphasis on automation and telemetry through NETCONF/YANG and other interfaces facilitates simplified management and enhanced network visibility, crucial for modern network operations. Security features, including MACsec encryption on selected ports, provide essential data protection for sensitive traffic. The integrated timing features are vital for applications requiring stringent synchronization.

Ordering Information

Cisco offers the NCS 57C3 Series Routers through both Flexible Consumption Model (FCM) and Perpetual Licensing (BAU) options, providing customers with choice based on their procurement preferences. The following tables list the orderable hardware and software part numbers for these models.

Flexible Consumption Model Hardware

Flexible Consumption Model Software Licenses

Perpetual Hardware

Perpetual Software Licenses

For organizations looking to acquire Cisco networking equipment with global discount offers, consider purchasing from authorized channels. For potential global discounts, you can explore options available at https://itmall.sale. It’s always recommended to consult with Cisco sales representatives or authorized partners to determine the most suitable licensing model and configuration for your specific network requirements and budget.