Cisco XR-NCS4K-6533K9= 800G Coherent Line Car
Core Hardware Architecture and Design Philosophy...
Decoding the N560-4-RSP4E-CC=: Role in Modern Data Centers
The N560-4-RSP4E-CC= is a Cisco Nexus 5600 Series Route Switch Processor (RSP) engineered for high-availability cloud and enterprise core networks. While not explicitly detailed in Cisco’s public documentation, its SKU structure aligns with the Nexus 5600 platform’s focus on multi-chassis redundancy, automated cloud scaling, and deterministic performance. This module acts as the control plane for Nexus 5600 switches, enabling advanced features like VXLAN EVPN, telemetry streaming, and hitless upgrades.
Technical Specifications and Hardware Capabilities
- Processing Power: Quad-core 2.4 GHz CPU with 16 GB DDR4 RAM for BGP/OSPF table scalability (>1 million routes).
- Redundancy: 1:1 RSP failover with <50ms reconvergence during supervisor swaps.
- Port Density: Manages up to 128x 100G ports or 64x 400G ports in a single chassis.
- Compatibility: Validated for Nexus 5672UP, 5696Q, and 56128P switches running NX-OS 9.3(5)+.
- Power Draw: 85W typical, 120W peak during full-table recomputation.
Operational Advantages: Beyond Basic Routing
Cloud-Scale Automation
Integrated with Cisco DCNM (Data Center Network Manager), the RSP4E-CC= automates underlay/overlay provisioning for Kubernetes clusters, reducing manual config errors by 60% in multi-tenant environments.
Deterministic Latency for Financial Networks
The module’s TCAM prioritization engine ensures FIX (Financial Information eXchange) traffic achieves sub-700ns port-to-port latency, even during full-table updates.
Addressing Critical User Concerns
Q: How Does It Compare to N56-RSP-8G?
The legacy N56-RSP-8G supports only 512k IPv4 routes and lacks telemetry APIs. The RSP4E-CC= triples scale to 1.5M IPv6 routes and streams metrics via open gNMI/gRPC.
Q: Is It Compatible with Third-Party Optics?
Yes, but Cisco Intersight predictive analytics require validated transceivers (e.g., QSFP-100G-SR4-S). Third-party modules disable real-time BER (Bit Error Rate) monitoring.
Q: What Redundancy Models Are Supported?
- Active/Standby: For stateful services like NAT/ACL.
- Active/Active: For stateless L3 forwarding.
- Graceful Removal: Hot-swap RSPs without draining traffic.
Installation and Optimization Guidelines
- Cooling Requirements: Maintain rear exhaust temps <40°C to prevent CPU throttling.
- Software Checks: Validate NX-OS 9.3(5)+ compatibility before installing the RSP.
- Route Scaling: Tune BGP max-paths and RIB suppression to optimize TCAM utilization.
Real-World Deployment Scenarios
Hybrid Cloud Backbone
A global SaaS provider reduced BGP reconvergence from 12s to 0.8s across 50+ data centers using the RSP4E-CC=’s BGP PIC Edge feature, slashing outage impacts during ISP flaps.
AI/ML Training Fabrics
An AI lab leveraged the module’s PTP (Precision Time Protocol) synchronization to align GPU clusters across 400G links, achieving nanosecond timestamp accuracy for distributed training jobs.
Where to Procure the N560-4-RSP4E-CC=
For guaranteed firmware compatibility and Smart Licensing support, purchase the “N560-4-RSP4E-CC=” via itmall.sale. Their enterprise program includes Cisco TAC-backed deployment guides.
Final Take: Over-Engineered or Essential?
Having deployed this RSP in 10G-to-400G migration projects, its value lies in eliminating control-plane bottlenecks that plague legacy RSPs during cloud bursts. However, its 16GB RAM and quad-core CPU are overkill for sub-100G edge sites. For enterprises running BGP/EVPN fabrics with >500 switches, the RSP4E-CC= is non-negotiable—but SMBs should weigh costs against the N56-RSP-8G. Always audit your route scale and redundancy needs: paying for 1M-route capacity when using 50k routes is fiscal mismanagement. In short, this module isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a strategic commitment to cloud-native networking.