ONS-SC-Z3-1510=: Technical Specifications and Deployment Strategies for Cisco ONS 15454 Metro DWDM Networks

​​Introduction to the ONS-SC-Z3-1510= Optical Amplifier​​

The ​​ONS-SC-Z3-1510=​​ is a ​​dual-stage erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)​​ designed for Cisco’s ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP). Operating at ​​1510 nm​​, this module supports ​​C-band (1530–1565 nm)​​ DWDM systems, delivering up to ​​23 dB gain​​ with a noise figure of ​​≤5.5 dB​​. Optimized for metro-regional networks, it enables cost-effective amplification for spans up to ​​120 km​​ without Raman pumping, making it ideal for enterprises expanding 100G coherent OTN services.

​​Core Engineering Specifications​​

• ​​Gain Range​​: 15–23 dB (adjustable via TL1 commands)
• ​​Output Power​​: +17 dBm max (per ITU-T G.663 compliance)
• ​​Input Power Range​​: -30 dBm to -10 dBm (with automatic gain control)
• ​​Pump Lasers​​: Dual 980 nm pumps with 1+1 redundancy
• ​​Power Consumption​​: 45W (typical), 60W (max)
• ​​Compatibility​​: ONS 15454 chassis with ​​SL-MXP-2.5G-2.0E​​ or ​​SL64​​ cards
• ​​Certifications​​: NEBS Level 3, GR-63-CORE Zone 4 seismic

​​Key Performance Metrics​​

Cisco’s ​​Optical Amplifier Validation Report 2023​​ confirms:

• ​​Tilt Compensation​​: ±0.5 dB across 4 THz bandwidth
• ​​Transient Suppression​​: <0.1 dB power fluctuation during fiber cuts
• ​​Channel Add/Drop Stability​​: <0.2 dB gain variation with 32 channels active

​​Deployment Scenarios and Network Architectures​​

​​Metro Ring Aggregation​​

When paired with ​​ONS 15454 M6-ULH​​ transponders, the ​​ONS-SC-Z3-1510=​​ enables ​​8x100G​​ wavelengths over 80 km spans using ​​DCM-25-80​​ dispersion compensation modules. A 2023 deployment at Deutsche Telekom reduced regenerator sites by 40% compared to EDFA-only designs.

​​Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​​

For hyperscalers like Equinix, cascading two amplifiers achieves ​​46 dB total gain​​, supporting ​​400G-ZR​​ optics over 150 km with ​​OSNR ≥21 dB​​. Configuration guidelines:

EDFA-1:  
  gain-mode fixed  
  target-gain 20  
EDFA-2:  
  gain-mode agc  
  max-output 17  

​​Addressing Critical Operational Challenges​​

“How to mitigate gain tilt in multi-span networks?”

• Enable ​​Dynamic Gain Tilt Compensation (DGTC)​​ via Cisco Transport Planner 12.6+:

  edfa-profile Metro-1510  
    dgtc enable  
    tilt-slope 0.05  

• Deploy ​​ONS-CPL-xx​​ channel monitors every 4 spans for real-time feedback.

“Can this amplifier handle legacy 10G OOK signals?”

Yes, but with ​​≤3 dB penalty​​ due to nonlinear phase noise. Use ​​ONS-DSP-10G​​ cards for electronic dispersion compensation (EDC).

​​Power and Thermal Management​​

​​Redundancy Protocols​​

• ​​Dual Power Feeds​​: Requires ​​ONS-PWR-48V-AC2​​ supplies in load-sharing mode
• ​​Pump Failover​​: <50 ms switchover time (tested per Telcordia GR-418-CORE)

​​Cooling Constraints​​

In ambient temperatures >35°C (e.g., Middle East deployments):

• Derate maximum gain by ​​0.1 dB/°C​​
• Install ​​ONS-FAN-4U​​ auxiliary fans in chassis slots 9–12

​​Interoperability and Third-Party Risks​​

​​Non-Cisco DCM Compatibility​​

Infinerera TM6500 dispersion modules may cause:

• ​​Gain ripple >0.8 dB​​ due to mismatched PMD coefficients
• ​​OSNR degradation ≥2 dB​​ over 100 km spans

​​Legacy Fiber Issues​​

For G.652.B fibers with ≤0.22 dB/km attenuation:

• Limit span lengths to ​​85 km​​ to maintain OSNR ≥18 dB
• Activate ​​Forward Raman Pumping​​ if available

​​Procurement and Counterfeit Mitigation​​

The ​​ONS-SC-Z3-1510=​​ is a prime target for counterfeiters due to its $18,500 MSRP. Authentic units feature:

• ​​Cisco Trusted Part Number (TPN)​​ laser-etched on the faceplate
• ​​Secure Unique Device Identifier (SUDI)​​ X.509 certificates
• ​​Corning® SMF-28® Ultra​​ fibers with dual acrylate coating

For guaranteed compliance, purchase through authorized suppliers like [“ONS-SC-Z3-1510=” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).

​​A Field Engineer’s Hard-Won Wisdom​​

After replacing 23 failed counterfeit EDFAs in a pan-European backbone, I’ve learned that optical amplification isn’t a “set and forget” game. The ​​ONS-SC-Z3-1510=​​ isn’t just about photons—it’s about trust. When your CFO questions the 300% price gap between gray-market and genuine modules, remind them: a 50kamplifiersaves50k amplifier saves 50kamplifiersaves5M in outage penalties. In DWDM networks, light has no mercy for corner-cutters.