Information About GCPP Support
The Generic Control Protocol (GCP) sets up a control plane tunnel over a generic transport protocol such as TCP or UDP. GCP is used to program the remote PHY system upstream and downstream parameters from the CMTS. It is also used to control the remote PHY system.
The Remote PHY architecture with GCPP (Generic Control Protocol Principal) server, includes separate DOCSIS, QAM video and OOB cores. To enable the use of multiple RPHY cores, the architecture utilizes a GCP Principal Core (GCPP). Initially, the RPDs contact and authenticate with the GCPP core, which also configures the RPDs in its domain in coordination with the Cores (DOCSIS, QAM video, and OOB).
Without the GCPP core, cBR8 is the principal core for RPD. However, in this GCPP architecture, the GCPP server is the principal core and the Cisco cBR8 is an auxiliary core.

Hardware Compatibility Matrix for Cisco Remote PHY Device
![]() Note |
Unless otherwise specified, the hardware components introduced in a given Cisco Remote PHY Device Software Release are supported in all subsequent releases. |
Cisco HFC Platform |
Remote PHY Device |
---|---|
Cisco GS7000 Super High Output Node |
Cisco 1x2 / Compact Shelf RPD Software 2.1 and Later Releases Cisco Remote PHY Device 1x2
Cisco 1x2 / Compact Shelf RPD Software 2.1a and Later Releases Cisco Remote PHY Device 1x2
|
Cisco GS7000 Super High Output Intelligent Node (iNode) |
Cisco 1x2 / Compact Shelf RPD Software 4.1 and Later Releases Cisco Intelligent Remote PHY Device 1x2
|
![]() Note |
The -PKEY suffix in the PID indicates units that enable the SCTE-55-2 Out-of-Band protocol support. |
GCPP Core
GCPP core provides containerized services for automating deployments, managing applications, the initial authentication of the RPDs, and configuring RPD features and video services. The Principal Core does not provide any services (video or data).
The GCPP configures RPDs using GCP with the details of the other Cores that will configure it and the resources that will be configured by those Cores. The GCPP then performs the RPD operational configuration and the video and OOB service configuration. By the end of this process, the RPD will have its operational configuration and video and OOB services set up.
The GCPP core performs the following three primary functions:
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Initial authentication of the RPD
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Initial configuration of the RPD, including the list of cores to which it connects and the resources that those other cores will configure
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Configuration of the multicast sources that the RPD uses to populate QAM video (broadcast and narrowcast) channels
GCPP allows integrating videos on a standardized, single video platform. It also provides the configuration of the RPD's video channels, removing the requirements from the Video Core to support RPD authentication and GCP configuration.