Optics and Hardware Configuration Guide for Cisco 8000 Series Routers, Cisco IOS XR Releases

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Optics and Hardware Configuration Guide for Cisco 8000 Series Routers, Cisco IOS XR Releases

Controller configuration

Updated: June 16, 2026

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Introduces controller configuration concepts for optics controller breakout and optical module power-state management.

Controller configuration includes optics controller settings and optical module power-state controls that are applied from the CLI for the 36-port QSFP56-DD 400 GbE and 48-port QSFP28 100 GbE Line Cards.

The optics controller supports breakout configuration from controller optics configuration mode.

The optical module disable feature lets you disable and re-enable an optical module through the CLI. This operation simulates online insertion and removal (OIR) by disabling power to the transceiver port.

Typical optical module troubleshooting can include OIR by removing and reinstalling the module, which requires onsite personnel to physically reseat the module. Remote disable and enable operations can reduce the need for physical reseating and significantly reduce operational expenses.

When an optical module is disabled, the controller state changes from Up to Down, the optics type can be reported as unknown optics, and transmit and receive power values can display as N/A. Use the transceiver disable command in controller optics configuration mode to disable the module, and use the no transceiver disable command to re-enable it.

Note

When two MACsec enabled Cisco 8000 Series Routers with Coherent Line Cards are connected, there is no compatibility between Coherent Line Cards of IOS XR Release.

  • breakout - Configure breakout mode (‘breakout 4x10’ only.)

  • clear - Clear the uncommitted configuration.

  • commit - Commit the configuration changes to running.

  • do - Run an exec command.

  • end - Exit from configure mode.

  • exit - Exit from this submode.

The other options are:

  • ext-description - Set ext-description for this controller.

  • no - Negate a command or set its defaults.

  • pwd - Commands used to reach current submode.

  • root - Exit to the global configuration mode.

  • show - Show contents of configuration.

Configure the optics controller

Follow this task to configure the optics controller for breakout 4x10 operation.

Before you begin

Ensure that you have configuration privileges and that the target optics controller is available on the router.

Procedure

1.

Enter XR configuration mode.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut#configure
Fri Oct 11 16:22:31.222 UTC
2.

Enter controller optics configuration mode for the target optics controller.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut(config)#controller optics 0/1/0/28
3.

Configure breakout 4x10 mode on the optics controller.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut(config-Optics)#breakout 4x10

This command configures the optics controller for breakout 4x10 operation.
4.

Commit the configuration.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut(config-Optics)#commit
Fri Oct 11 16:23:26.868 UTC
5.

Exit controller optics configuration mode.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut(config-Optics)#end
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut#
6.

Verify the running configuration for the optics controller.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:uut#show running-config controller optics 0/1/0/28
Fri Oct 11 16:23:41.273 UTC
controller Optics0/1/0/28
breakout 4x10
!

The running configuration displays the breakout 4x10 setting under the selected optics controller.

The optics controller is configured for breakout 4x10 operation.

What to do next

Continue with related controller configuration or validation tasks as required.

Disable optical modules

Use this task to remotely disable an optical module from controller optics configuration mode.

This feature provides the ability to disable and re-enable an optical module through the CLI, which simulates online insertion and removal (OIR) by disabling power to the transceiver port.

Typical troubleshooting procedures for optical modules can include performing OIR by removing and reinstalling the module, which requires onsite personnel to physically reseat the optical module. The ability to remotely disable and enable an optical module can significantly reduce operational expenses.

Procedure

1.

Verify that the optical module is powered on and in the UP state.

Example:

Router# show controllers optics 0/0/0/0 

Controller State: Up 

Transport Admin State: In Service 

Laser State: Off 

LED State: Not Applicable 

FEC State: FEC ENABLED 
 
 Optics Status 

         Optics Type:  QSFP28 100G FR
         Wavelength = 1311.00 nm 

         Alarm Status:
         -------------
         Detected Alarms: None


         LOS/LOL/Fault Status:

         Laser Bias Current = 26.2 mA
         Actual TX Power = 0.73 dBm 
         RX Power = -0.68 dBm 

         Performance Monitoring: Disable        

         THRESHOLD VALUES
         ----------------

         Parameter                 High Alarm  Low Alarm  High Warning  Low Warning
         ------------------------  ----------  ---------  ------------  -----------
         Rx Power Threshold(dBm)          7.4      -10.4           4.5         -6.3
         Tx Power Threshold(dBm)          7.0       -6.3           4.0         -2.4
         LBC Threshold(mA)             100.00       8.00         83.00        10.00
         Temp. Threshold(celsius)       75.00      -5.00         70.00         0.00
         Voltage Threshold(volt)         3.63       2.97          3.46         3.13

         Polarization parameters not supported by optics

         Temperature = 27.92 Celsius 
         Voltage = 3.24 V 

Transceiver Vendor Details
          
         Form Factor            : QSFP28
         Optics type            : QSFP28 100G FR
         Name                   : CISCO-CISCO
         OUI Number             : 00.00.0c
         Part Number            : 10-3248-01
         Rev Number             : 01
         Serial Number          : FBN2331A114
         PID                    : QSFP-100G-FR-S
         VID                    : ES0
         Date Code(yy/mm/dd)    : 19/09/19

The output shows the controller state as Up and the optics type as QSFP28 100G FR.
2.

Disable the optical module.

Example:

Router(config)# controller optics 0/0/0/0 
Router(config-Optics)# transceiver disable 
Router(config-Optics)# commit
Router(config-Optics)# end

The transceiver disable command disables power to the transceiver port.
3.

Verify that the optical module is disabled and powered down.

Example:

Router# show controllers optics 0/0/0/0 

Controller State: Down 

Transport Admin State: In Service 

Laser State: Off 
 
 Optics Status 

         Optics Type:  Unknown optics
         Wavelength = 0.00 nm 

         Alarm Status:
         -------------
         Detected Alarms: None


         LOS/LOL/Fault Status:

         TX Power = N/A
                        RX Power = N/A 

         Performance Monitoring: Disable        
          
         THRESHOLD VALUES
         ----------------

         Parameter                 High Alarm  Low Alarm  High Warning  Low Warning
         ------------------------  ----------  ---------  ------------  -----------
         Rx Power Threshold(dBm)          7.4      -10.4           4.5         -6.3
         Tx Power Threshold(dBm)          7.0       -6.3           4.0         -2.4
         LBC Threshold(mA)             100.00       8.00         83.00        10.00
         Temp. Threshold(celsius)       75.00      -5.00         70.00         0.00
         Voltage Threshold(volt)         3.63       2.97          3.46         3.13

         Polarization parameters not supported by optics

         Temperature = 0.00 Celsius 
         Voltage = 0.00 V 

Transceiver Vendor Details

The output shows the controller state as Down, the optics type as unknown optics, and the transmit and receive power values as N/A.

The optical module is disabled and powered down.

What to do next

Note

To re-enable the module, use the no transceiver disable command in controller optics configuration mode.