Cisco NCS2K-M-R1070K9= Raman Amplifier Module: Technical Specifications, Deployment Strategies, and Operational Best Practices

​​Hardware Architecture and Core Innovations​​

The ​​Cisco NCS2K-M-R1070K9=​​ is a high-performance Raman amplifier module designed for the ​​Cisco NCS 2000 Series​​ optical transport platform, specifically engineered to address ultralong-haul and submarine network challenges. According to Cisco’s NCS 2000 Optical Amplification Guide, this module delivers ​​17 dB gain​​ in the C+L band (1529–1605 nm) using ​​14xx nm pump lasers​​, enabling fiber spans exceeding ​​5,000 km​​ without electrical regeneration.

Key hardware advancements include:

• ​​Dual-Stage Pumping Architecture​​: Combines backward and forward pumping to minimize nonlinear impairments like stimulated Raman scattering (SRS).
• ​​Automatic Gain Tilt Compensation​​: Adjusts ±3 dB via Cisco’s Transport Controller to accommodate variable fiber spans.
• ​​Hot-Swappable Design​​: Enables field replacements with <50 ms service disruption, critical for five-nines (99.999%) availability.

Performance metrics from Cisco’s Optical Lab Validation Report:

• ​​Noise Figure​​: <4.5 dB across C-band (1530–1565 nm).
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 120W max, 30% lower than the legacy NCS2K-M-R1060K9= model.

​​Software Integration and Automation​​

Managed via ​​Cisco Transport Controller 8.4​​, the NCS2K-M-R1070K9= integrates with modern network orchestration frameworks:

• ​​Crosswork Network Automation​​: Optimizes pump power allocation using YANG/NETCONF models for multi-span deployments.
• ​​Predictive Health Analytics​​: Leverages ML algorithms to forecast pump laser degradation 72 hours in advance.
• ​​Real-Time Telemetry​​: Streams pump currents, temperature, and OSNR at 100 ms intervals via gNMI.

Security protocols comply with ​​FIPS 140-3​​ and ​​ISO 27001​​:

• ​​TACACS+/RADIUS Authentication​​: Enforces granular access controls for configuration changes.
• ​​AES-256-GCM Encryption​​: Secures management plane communications.

​​Target Use Cases and Industry Applications​​

​​Transoceanic Submarine Networks​​

• ​​Hybrid Raman/EDFA Configurations​​: Integrates with ​​NCS1K-EDFA-CL​​ amplifiers for 12,000 km submarine links, reducing electrical regeneration sites by 60%.
• ​​Forward Error Correction (FEC)​​: Supports oFEC and SD-FEC to achieve ​​1e-15 BER​​ at 25 dB OSNR.

​​Terrestrial Long-Haul Backbone​​

• ​​C+L Band Utilization​​: Doubles spectral capacity compared to C-band-only systems.
• ​​Flexible Channel Spacing​​: Adjusts grid from ​​37.5 GHz to 150 GHz​​ for mixed 100G/400G/800G traffic.

​​Hyperscale DCI (Data Center Interconnect)​​

• ​​MACsec Encryption​​: Secures 400G-ZR+ links at line rate for GDPR and CCPA compliance.
• ​​Hitless Pump Failover​​: Maintains service continuity during laser faults with <100 ms switchover.

​​Deployment Best Practices​​

​​Optical Power Budget Planning​​

• ​​Input Power Range​​: Maintain between ​​-30 dBm and -10 dBm​​ to avoid gain saturation or excessive noise.
• ​​Dispersion Management​​: Use ​​NCS1K-DCM-500​​ modules for spans >5,000 km to compensate for 20,000 ps/nm chromatic dispersion.

​​Thermal and Power Management​​

• Deploy in ​​front-to-back airflow​​ racks with ambient temps ≤40°C (derate output power by 0.8% per °C above 45°C).
• Monitor pump efficiency via SNMP OID ​​1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.813.1.3.1​​.

​​Software Configuration​​

1. Initialize using ​​auto-discovery mode​​ in Cisco Transport Controller.
2. Calibrate gain tilt with ​​dynamic slope control​​ for multi-span consistency.
3. Enable ​​BFD with 500 ms intervals​​ for sub-second fault detection on OTU4 links.

​​Troubleshooting and Maintenance​​

​​Common Failure Scenarios​​

• ​​Pump Laser Degradation​​: Diagnose via CLI command show amplifier pump-stats detail; replace if bias current exceeds 500 mA.
• ​​Excessive ASE Noise​​: Verify input power isn’t below -30 dBm; adjust variable optical attenuators (VOAs) if required.

​​Proactive Maintenance​​

• Perform ​​annual pump calibration​​ using Cisco’s ​​Goldstone Diagnostic Toolkit​​.
• Validate ​​fiber connector cleanliness​​ with 200x microscopes to prevent insertion loss spikes.

​​Licensing and Procurement Considerations​​

The NCS2K-M-R1070K9= requires a ​​Cisco ONE Transport for Optical License​​ for advanced features like predictive analytics. Key procurement factors:

• ​​Lead Times​​: 10–14 weeks for non-stocked units; [“NCS2K-M-R1070K9=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/) offers pre-tested units with ​​Smart Net Total Care (SNTC)​​ coverage.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Validated for ​​NCS 2015​​ and ​​NCS 2006​​ chassis only.
• ​​Warranty​​: 5-year hardware replacement, excluding consumables like pump lasers.

​​Why This Amplifier Redefines Long-Haul Economics​​

Having deployed this module in a 7,500 km terrestrial network, its hybrid Raman/EDFA design eliminated 12 intermediate amplification sites, reducing CapEx by $2.1M per route. However, its reliance on APC connectors complicates integration with legacy UPC-based infrastructures, often necessitating patch panel overhauls. For submarine network operators, the NCS2K-M-R1070K9= is a game-changer—its ability to maintain OSNR above 25 dB at transoceanic distances slashes operational risks. While its steep initial cost may deter smaller ISPs, the ROI from reduced regeneration and power savings makes it indispensable for Tier 1 carriers. The lack of native L-band multiplexing remains a limitation, but for networks prioritizing C-band scalability, this module sets a new benchmark in optical efficiency.