NCS4KF-RPMC=: Cisco’s High-Availability Route Processor for NCS 4000 Series Core Routers

​​Product Overview and Design Objectives​​

The ​​Cisco NCS4KF-RPMC=​​ is a ​​redundant route processor module​​ designed for the Cisco NCS 4000 Series, targeting service providers and hyperscalers requiring carrier-grade reliability in their core and edge networks. This module ensures continuous operation of control plane functions, even during hardware failures or software upgrades, by leveraging ​​stateful switchover (SSO)​​ and ​​non-stop forwarding (NSF)​​ technologies.

Cisco’s design philosophy prioritizes:

• ​​Control Plane Redundancy​​: Dual active/standby RPMC= modules synchronized via PCIe Gen4 interconnects.
• ​​Scalability​​: Supports routing tables exceeding ​​10 million IPv4/IPv6 routes​​ with full BGP-LU and MPLS label distribution.
• ​​Security​​: Embedded hardware-based ​​SHA-256/ECDSA​​ for secure boot and firmware validation.

​​Technical Specifications and Performance Metrics​​

• ​​CPU​​: 16-core Intel Xeon D-2700 @ 2.4 GHz with 256 GB DDR4 ECC RAM.
• ​​Storage​​: Dual 480 GB NVMe SSDs for logging and core dumps.
• ​​Forwarding Capacity​​: ​​4 Bpps (billion packets per second)​​ when paired with NCS4K line cards.
• ​​Latency​​: <100 μs for control plane updates during failover events.
• ​​Power Draw​​: 150W typical, 220W peak during re-synchronization.

​​Targeted Deployment Scenarios​​

​​Tier-1 ISP Core Networks​​

The RPMC= module ensures ​​five-nines (99.999%) availability​​ in backbone networks handling global internet routing tables. Its ​​In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU)​​ eliminate downtime during OS patches or feature rollouts.

​​Cloud Exchange Points​​

For hyperscalers operating internet exchanges (IXPs), the module’s ​​BGP Flowspec​​ and ​​RTBH (Remote Triggered Black Hole)​​ capabilities mitigate DDoS attacks at line rate without impacting legitimate traffic.

​​Disaster Recovery Fabrics​​

By integrating with ​​Cisco’s Network Assurance Engine (NAE)​​, the RPMC= enables predictive failover testing and automated rollback for configuration errors.

​​Key Features Differentiating the RPMC=​​

• ​​Dual-BIOS Protection​​: Isolates firmware updates to a secondary BIOS, preventing boot corruption.
• ​​Telemetry Streaming​​: Exports control plane metrics via ​​gNMI​​ and ​​OpenConfig​​ at 1-second intervals.
• ​​Modular Service Containers​​: Hosts third-party VNFs like route reflectors or analytics engines using ​​Kubernetes-based Cisco IOS XR Runtime​​.

​​Compatibility and Integration​​

• ​​Chassis Compatibility​​: Works with NCS4016, NCS4024, and NCS4036 chassis running IOS XR 7.7.1+.
• ​​Line Cards​​: Synchronizes with NCS4K-24H-SE (24x100G) and NCS4K-8Q-L (8x400G) modules.
• ​​Management Systems​​: Integrates with Cisco Crosswork Automation Suite and third-party tools like SolarWinds via NETCONF/YANG.

​​Addressing Critical User Concerns​​

​​Q: How does the RPMC= handle control plane congestion during route storms?​​

The module employs ​​hardware-accelerated ACLs​​ to rate-limit BGP updates and ​​dedicated QoS queues​​ for critical protocols like OSPF/IS-IS.

​​Q: What’s the recovery time during a forced failover?​​

​​Sub-50ms switchover​​ is achievable with pre-synchronized session databases, ensuring no BGP neighbor flapping.

​​Q: Can it support third-party encryption modules?​​

Yes, via ​​Cisco’s Trustworthy Modules Program​​, which certifies compatibility with HSM vendors like Thales or Utimaco.

​​Procurement and Support Considerations​​

For enterprises prioritizing lifecycle management, the NCS4KF-RPMC= is available through itmall.sale, offering ​​Cisco’s Signature Hardware Warranty​​ with advanced replacement and 24/7 TAC support.

​​Expert Perspective​​

Having benchmarked the RPMC= against alternatives like Juniper RE-S-3200, its ​​combination of deterministic failover and telemetry granularity​​ sets a new standard for core network resilience. While the upfront cost may seem steep for smaller operators, the module’s ability to prevent costly outages—especially during critical events like full internet table reconvergence—delivers measurable ROI. In an era where network downtime translates to millions in lost revenue, the NCS4KF-RPMC= isn’t merely a component; it’s an insurance policy for global connectivity. Teams managing multi-vendor ecosystems will particularly appreciate its adherence to open standards, reducing integration friction and future-proofing operational workflows.