Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System - Why it makes sense
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
The Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System scales to 400 GbE, and in my experience, it is utilized at various large service providers where critical bandwidth is necessary. The Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System also provides Software Defined Networking, which is a major plus in applying networking in a virtualized manner. In any managed service provider, you are responsible for handling a very large number of clients in an enterprise solution, and scales down for mid-tier MSP's. Segment routing is also enhanced with cloud enhanced IOS XR, which is Cisco's operating system. This aids in creating unique networking experiences that can be tailored to specific needs/wants.
Pros
- Provides functionality to both Top of Rack (TOR) and Spine and Leaf role models
- High Port densities
- Deep packet buffering
- Ultra low power consumption
Cons
- Learning Curve for employees not versed on Cisco Technology
- Expensive
- Port Upgrades can become very pricey based on the number of ports being added
- Maintenance costs can be very expensive, especially when renewals come up
Most Important Features
- Integrated Interface – 1GE/10GE/25GE/40GE/100 Gigabit Ethernet support
- Industry leading carrier-class Cisco IOS XR Software
- Flexible platform along with packaging components
Return on Investment
- Upgrade flexibility, if you move up to the 5700 you only need to replace the line cards and the fabric card
- Positive experience moving from standard routers to SDN routers, simplistic in nature
- Maintenance and port upgrade/additions are expensive
Alternatives Considered
Juniper 7000
Other Software Used
SolarWinds Hybrid Cloud Observability, New Relic, Dynatrace
