Cisco Optical Networking is a suite of products supporting data center networking, including the NCS 1000, 2000, 4000, 4200, and the Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (Cisco EPN Manager), as well as Cisco ONS 15000 series platforms and devices.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Sr. Prin. Sales Engineer in Sales at PacStar Communications / Curtiss-Wright (10,001+ employees employees)
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
My company sells embedded Cisco routers and switches. We build solutions for customers (primarily the DOD) to use at the edge. Building some of these solutions requires Cisco optics to operate on. The Cisco SFPs and SFP+s perform well in the temperature extremes our kits typically end up in.
Pros
They integrate into the Cisco line with no issues.
It is reliable.
provides assured information delivery.
Cons
Cost: Sometimes becomes an issue with Customers. They ask if they can use anything else that is compatible with the Cisco gear.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Verified User
Engineer in Engineering (1001-5000 employees employees)
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We have over 4000 equipment that uses Cisco Optical Networking. The SFPs eliminate lightning strikes and give us a sense of security on our network. Some of the equipment that we use are: Cisco switches, routers, and other third party devices. These small factor plug gable (SFPs) are also great because of its great receive levels and accuracy.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
network engineer in Engineering at Celeste (501-1000 employees employees)
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
The next Cisco ZR bright help use to simplify our optical network by limiting the number required device for our long haul links. Amplification is now inside in the optic.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology (10,001+ employees employees)
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We use Cisco Optical Networking solutions to manage high-capacity data transmission across our organization’s network infrastructure. The product plays a key role in ensuring reliable connectivity between data centers and remote sites, supporting both internal operations and customer-facing services.
Our primary use case involves leveraging Cisco’s dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technology to maximize bandwidth efficiency. This allows us to transmit large volumes of data over existing fiber infrastructure without the need for additional physical cabling. As a result, we’ve improved network scalability while controlling costs. The solution addresses several critical business problems, such as reducing downtime through enhanced redundancy and ensuring low-latency data transfer for performance-sensitive applications. It has also improved our ability to meet growing bandwidth demands without overhauling our core infrastructure.
Pros
Convergence of IP and optical networking
Port scalability especially using 400G ports
Packet optical solution
Cons
Bugs on software IOS XR
Migration from legacy gears
Cost of NCS and new gen is too steep compared to competitors
Most Important Features
Evpn superior convergence
End-to-end service orchestration
Recent QSFP-DD has helped with line card port density
Return on Investment
Reduced price/port has helped to increase capacity
Cheaper port cost has enhanced more redundancy and lesser downtime
Optical Network management has lowered man-power for maintenance
Usability
Alternatives Considered
Ciena Waveserver, Cisco 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute System (ENCS 5000) and Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS)
