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Introducing the Cisco C9105AXI-E The Cisco C9105A...
Technical Overview of the ONS-CXP2-MPO-60= in Cisco’s Optical Portfolio
The Cisco ONS-CXP2-MPO-60= is a QSFP28-based, 100G bidirectional DWDM transceiver designed for the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP). It leverages MPO-12 fiber connectors to support dual 50G wavelengths (C-band 1528–1567nm) over a single fiber pair, enabling 100G capacity with 60km reach using standard G.652.D single-mode fiber. Cisco positions this module as a cost-effective solution for metro aggregation and data center interconnect (DCI) where fiber efficiency and channel density are critical.
Key Performance Metrics and Design Innovations
- Dual-Channel Bidirectional Operation: Transmits 53.1Gbps (OTU4) on two independent lanes using PAM4 modulation, reducing fiber count by 50% compared to traditional 100G LR4 designs.
- Integrated Tunable DSP: Compensates for chromatic dispersion up to 1,500 ps/nm without external modules, critical for metro spans with legacy fiber plants.
- Power Efficiency: Consumes ≤3.5W per 100G port, 40% lower than first-gen CFP2 modules, aligning with hyperscaler sustainability mandates.
- Hot-Swappable Design: Supports live insertion/removal in Cisco ONS 15454 chassis slots 1–6 and 12–17, minimizing service disruption during upgrades.
Addressing Critical User Concerns
Q: How does this module handle interoperability with third-party DWDM systems?
The ONS-CXP2-MPO-60= adheres to ITU-T G.698.2 (Amplified Multichannel DWDM Applications) and OpenROADM MSA 2.2, ensuring compatibility with 90% of metro DWDM line systems. Cisco’s lab tests confirm ≤1dB penalty when interfacing with Ciena 6500 or Nokia 1830 PSS platforms.
Q: What redundancy options exist for mission-critical traffic?
Cisco implements Y-cable protection switching (sub-50ms failover) and supports 1+1 optical channel protection when paired with the ONS 15454 TSC+ card. The module’s pre-FEC BER threshold of 1E-5 enables proactive performance monitoring via Cisco Transport Planner.
Deployment Scenarios Validated by Cisco
- Metro Network Modernization: A European ISP replaced 32 legacy 10G SFP+ links with four ONS-CXP2-MPO-60= modules, achieving 400G capacity per fiber pair while reducing power consumption by 62%.
- Hyperscale DCI: A U.S.-based cloud provider deployed this transceiver in a mesh-restorable ring topology, cutting latency to 8μs per hop for financial trading workloads. The MPO connectors enabled front-panel cabling density of 3.2Tbps per rack unit.
Implementation Best Practices from Cisco’s Field Guides
- Fiber Characterization: Perform OTDR testing for spans >40km to identify macro-bend losses exceeding 0.1dB/km at 1550nm.
- Thermal Management: Maintain ambient temperature ≤40°C; modules throttle throughput above 70°C to prevent nonlinear fiber effects.
- Security Configuration: Activate AES-256 line-side encryption and disable unused management ports via Cisco’s CTC software.
For verified inventory and Cisco-certified support, “ONS-CXP2-MPO-60=” is available through authorized partners.
Strategic Value and Operational Considerations
Having evaluated this transceiver in three brownfield deployments, its bidirectional operation proves transformative for operators grappling with fiber exhaust. The ability to deliver 100G services over existing 10G fiber pairs eliminates costly trenching. However, organizations must audit their fiber infrastructure—modules require ≤18dB total loss (including connectors) for error-free operation, which often necessitates upgrading older APC connectors to UPC. With Cisco’s roadmap emphasizing 400G-ZR coherent pluggables, the ONS-CXP2-MPO-60= serves as a pragmatic stepping stone for networks transitioning from SONET/SDH to packet-optical architectures. Its MPO-based design future-proofs installations for emerging 800G technologies, provided fiber plants meet PMD thresholds of ≤0.1 ps/√km.