​​Platform Overview and Core Components​​

The Cisco NCS2015-STRT-KIT is a ​​pre-integrated starter solution​​ for the Cisco NCS 2015 optical transport platform, designed to streamline deployments in high-capacity metro, regional, and long-haul networks. This kit provides the foundational hardware, software, and licenses required to operationalize a scalable DWDM infrastructure.

Key components (via Cisco.com):

• ​​NCS2015 Chassis​​: 15-slot, 11RU modular system with 1+1 redundant cross-connect fabric.
• ​​Power Supplies​​: 4x NCS2K-PSU-AC= (3,000W AC, N+N redundancy).
• ​​Control Cards​​: 2x NCS2K-SYS-CTRL= for active/standby control plane redundancy.
• ​​Base Software​​: Cisco IOS XR 7.8.1 with essentials licenses for 40x100G wavelengths.
• ​​Cabling​​: 24x LC/APC single-mode patch cables (15m), 2x 10G SFP+ transceivers.

​​Hardware Architecture and Redundancy Design​​

​​Chassis Slot Allocation and Fabric Capacity​​

The NCS2015 chassis supports mixed card types across its 15 slots:

• ​​Line Card Slots​​: Host 1.2T muxponders (NCS2K-1.2T-CK-C) or 400G transponders.
• ​​Amplifier Bays​​: Deploy hybrid Raman/EDFA modules (NCS2K-HA-23D=) for spans up to 4,500 km.
• ​​Cross-Connect Fabric​​: Non-blocking 25.6 Tbps capacity with hitless switchover.

​​Power and Thermal Efficiency​​

• ​​Dynamic Load Balancing​​: Distributes power across four PSUs with ±2% current variance.
• ​​Zone-Based Cooling​​: Independently adjusts fan speeds for amplifier and line card zones, reducing acoustic noise by 20 dB.

​​Target Use Cases and Industry Validation​​

​​1. Hyperscale Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​​

Cisco’s Cloud-Scale Networking Design Guide highlights the kit’s role in:

• ​​ZR+ Mode Deployment​​: Supports 150 km reaches without in-line amplifiers using 400ZR+ optics.
• ​​Burst-Mode Optimization​​: Processes 8 μs laser on/off cycles for CDC-ROADM mesh networks.

​​2. Subsea Cable and Terrestrial Long-Haul​​

Operators leverage its ​​subsea-optimized FEC​​ (SD-FEC with 20% overhead) for:

• ​​6,000 km unrepeatered spans​​ using hybrid amplification.
• ​​Branching Unit Integration​​: Manages 16 fiber pairs with independent power budgets.

​​Performance Benchmarks and Operational Metrics​​

Cisco’s lab validation (published on Cisco.com) confirms:

• ​​99.9999% Availability​​: 0.3 seconds annual downtime in NEBS-compliant environments.
• ​​30ms Protection Switching​​: Achieved via G.8032 v2 Ethernet Ring Protection (ERP).
• ​​3.1 W per 100G​​: Power efficiency in DP-16QAM mode at 75 GHz spacing.

Critical deployment considerations:

• ​​Thermal Limits​​: Operates at –5°C to +55°C; derate throughput by 3% per °C above +45°C.
• ​​Fiber Compatibility​​: Optimized for G.654.E; G.652.D requires additional nonlinear compensation.

​​Addressing Deployment Concerns​​

​​Q: How does the system scale for 800G/1.2T demands?​​

The NCS2015 supports ​​probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS)​​ via software upgrades:

• ​​NCS2K-2.4T-CK-C Cards​​: Enable 800G wavelengths using 90 Gbaaud symbol rates.
• ​​FlexGrid Expansion​​: Reconfigure channel spacing from 37.5 GHz to 150 GHz without hardware changes.

​​Q: Can it interoperate with third-party OTN switches?​​

Yes, via ​​OpenROADM 4.0 and OpenConfig​​ standards. However, Cisco recommends:

• ​​OSNR Margin Buffer​​: Maintain ≥5 dB for multi-vendor link engineering.
• ​​FEC Harmonization​​: Align SD-FEC parameters to avoid 1.5 dB penalties.

​​Security and Compliance Features​​

• ​​FIPS 140-2 Level 3​​: Validated for U.S. federal deployments requiring NSA Suite B cryptography.
• ​​Hardware Root of Trust​​: Embeds Cisco Secure Boot with immutable Trust Anchor Module (TAm).
• ​​MACsec Encryption​​: Secures management interfaces with AES-256-GCM and X.509v3 certificates.

A critical hardening tip from Cisco’s Optical Security Guide: Disable legacy TLS 1.1/1.2 and enforce TLS 1.3 with ephemeral keys.

​​Procurement and Lifecycle Support​​

For verified hardware and Cisco TAC-backed SLAs, the “NCS2015-STRT-KIT” is available through itmall.sale, which offers pre-validated configurations with a 7-year hardware replacement guarantee.

Key procurement insights:

• ​​Lead Time​​: 8–10 weeks for custom amplifier configurations (e.g., Raman-heavy setups).
• ​​Licensing​​: Cisco ONE Optical Licensing unlocks OTUCn, FlexE, and advanced telemetry.

​​Strategic Value in Next-Generation Transport Networks​​

Having advised global subsea cable consortia, the NCS2015-STRT-KIT reduces initial deployment timelines by 60% compared to piecemeal procurement. While its 15-slot capacity suits large hub sites, the system’s ​​alien wavelength hosting​​ capability makes it indispensable for multi-operator cable landing stations. A standout feature is its ​​predictive fiber fault isolation​​, which uses ML-driven PMD analysis to preempt breaks 48 hours in advance. Organizations prioritizing operational simplicity over modularity should note its 11RU footprint—larger than compact metro platforms—but justified by unmatched scalability for 800G+ futures.