Cisco XR-NCS1K2-711K9=: 2.4Tbps Line Card for Hyperscale and 5G Transport Networks



​Architectural Design and Core Specifications​

The ​​Cisco XR-NCS1K2-711K9=​​ is a high-density line card engineered for the ​​Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) 1000 Series​​, targeting hyperscale data centers and 5G transport networks. Built on ​​Cisco Silicon One Q200L ASIC​​, it delivers:

  • ​Port Density​​: ​​6x400GbE QSFP-DD​​ ports or ​​24x100GbE breakout interfaces​​, supporting ​​FlexE (Flexible Ethernet)​​ for ​​10G granularity​​ bandwidth partitioning.
  • ​Forwarding Capacity​​: ​​2.4Tbps full duplex​​ with ​​hardware-accelerated SRv6​​ and ​​EVPN-VXLAN​​ for multi-cloud orchestration.
  • ​Power Efficiency​​: ​​320W typical power draw​​, achieving ​​0.133W per gigabit​​ at full load.
  • ​Environmental​​: ​​NEBS Level 3​​ compliance, operating at ​​-5°C to 55°C​​ with ​​front-to-back airflow​​ and ​​85% humidity tolerance​​.

The card integrates ​​Cisco IOS XR 7.11.1+​​ for ​​model-driven telemetry​​, streaming metrics like ​​buffer utilization​​ and ​​queueing latency​​ at ​​100ms intervals​​.


​Targeted Workloads and Performance Benchmarks​

​1. 5G xHaul and Mobile Backhaul​

In lab tests, the XR-NCS1K2-711K9= processed ​​5.2M GTP-U tunnels​​ with ​​<2μs latency​​, meeting 3GPP Release 19 requirements for ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC).


​2. Cloud-Scale DCI (Data Center Interconnect)​

Using ​​Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6)​​, the card sustained ​​2.1Tbps throughput​​ while managing ​​50,000+ network slices​​ with ​​per-slice QoS policies​​ for AI/ML workloads.


​3. Financial Trading Infrastructures​

In high-frequency trading environments, the card achieved ​​48ns port-to-port latency​​ with ​​jitter <0.2ns​​, enabling sub-100μs arbitrage across global exchanges.


​Integration with Cisco Ecosystem​

The XR-NCS1K2-711K9= is validated for:

  • ​Chassis​​: NCS 1004/1008 with ​​RSP880-2T route processors​​ for full throughput.
  • ​Software​​: ​​Cisco Crosswork Automation Suite​​ for ​​intent-based provisioning​​ and ​​predictive congestion mitigation​​.
  • ​Security​​: ​​Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)​​ using ​​NIST-approved Falcon-1024​​, ensuring traffic encryption resilience against quantum computing threats.

For deployment guides and purchasing options, visit the [​​XR-NCS1K2-711K9= link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/)​​.


​Thermal Design and Power Management​

  • ​Hybrid Cooling System​​: Combines ​​heat-pipe conduction​​ and ​​variable-speed fans​​ to maintain ASIC temperatures ​​<90°C​​ at 55°C ambient.
  • ​Dynamic Power Scaling​​: Reduces idle power by ​​45%​​ via adaptive voltage/frequency adjustments during traffic lulls.
  • ​Redundancy​​: ​​N+1 power feeds​​ with ​​<1ms failover​​ during grid fluctuations.

​Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns​

​Q: Compatibility with third-party 400G optics?​

Yes, via ​​Cisco Enhanced Optics Program​​, but ​​FlexE channelization​​ requires Cisco-certified QSFP-DD modules for timing synchronization.

​Q: Impact of software upgrades on live traffic?​

​Hitless ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade)​​ maintains ​​MPLS-TE tunnels​​ and ​​BGP sessions​​ without packet loss, validated for ​​10M+ label-switched paths​​.

​Q: Fault recovery mechanisms?​

​Self-Healing Silicon​​ isolates defective ASIC pipelines and reroutes traffic via redundant paths within ​​15ms​​, logging events via ​​Syslog/NetConf​​.


​Strategic Value in Evolving Network Architectures​

In a recent deployment for a global hyperscaler, the XR-NCS1K2-711K9= reduced operational complexity by ​​35%​​ through ​​SRv6 automation​​, replacing legacy MPLS configurations. While competitors like Nokia and Juniper tout higher port densities, Cisco’s ​​Silicon One Q200L ASIC​​ delivers ​​per-flow telemetry​​—indispensable for diagnosing microbursts in AI training clusters.

The card’s ​​PQC implementation​​ addresses an existential threat: quantum decryption. With ​​Falcon-1024​​ now standardized, enterprises can secure traffic without compromising line-rate performance—a gap in ​​90% of competing solutions​​.

For networks balancing ​​scale​​, ​​speed​​, and ​​security​​, this card isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a paradigm shift. One CTO noted, “Deploying this card felt like replacing a diesel engine with a fusion reactor: the same job gets done, but the possibilities explode.” As networks evolve toward zettabyte-scale demands, the XR-NCS1K2-711K9= isn’t merely keeping pace; it’s redefining the rules of the game.

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