Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

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Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

Plan your NCS1001 Network

Updated: October 26, 2026

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Use these planning inputs when you model a protected point-to-point MOFN network with Cisco NCS 1001 devices in Cisco Optical Network Planner.

The reference topology is a point-to-point MOFN network with section protection by using the Cisco NCS 1001 PSM card. Use the topology to plan Cisco NCS 1001 bringup, Cisco Optical Site Manager configuration, and Cisco Optical Network Controller provisioning.

Use these software release values when you create the network model:

  • NCS 1001: 25.4.1

  • NCS 1014: 26.1.1

  • NCS 1004: 26.1.1

Before you create the network plan, consider the fiber type, fiber loss values, fiber length calculation method, optical subnet spectral density, circuit and service count, card type, and required add/drop type. Apply these inputs according to your network design requirements.

Figure 1. MOFN topology

Design the topology in Cisco Optical Network Planner

Use this procedure to create a Cisco Optical Network Planner model that matches the physical design for a new region or pilot network.

The output is a topology file that you can use for Cisco Optical Site Manager exports and downstream bill of materials validation.

The sample node names (Genova and Novara) correspond to the reference network and should be adapted as necessary.

Consider these inputs before you create the network plan. Apply them according to your network design requirements.

  • Create the number of circuits based on the channel plan and use the appropriate card type for each circuit.

  • Force the add/drop type according to the design requirements. For details about add/drop configuration, see Modify Network Properties.

  • Plan two terminal nodes with section protection, two fibers between the terminal sites, NCS 1014 and NCS 1004 service properties, and any forced wavelength or add/drop settings required by the topology.

Before you begin

  • Confirm licensing for Cisco Optical Network Planner and verify that your account can create and save projects.

  • Gather topology notes: number of ROADM sites, fiber lengths, and circuit/service requirements.

  • Confirm the system release values and section-protection topology details. For more information, see NCS 1001 planning inputs in Cisco Optical Network Planner.

  • Clarify whether the design needs colored or colorless add/drop behavior per site.

Follow these steps to design the topology.

Procedure

  1. Create the base network in Cisco Optical Network Planner.

    1. Log in to the Cisco Optical Network Planner home page with a valid user id.
    2. Choose File, then click New.
    3. In Create New Network dialog box, set L0 Network Platform to NCS 1001 and Band Type to C-Band and use these system release values: NCS 1001 25.4.1, NCS 1014 26.1.1, and NCS 1004 26.1.1.

    Name the network consistently with your deployment tracker (for example, REGION_TOPOLOGY_MMDD).

    A new, empty network canvas opens with the drawing tool enabled.

  2. Follow these steps to add sites, fibers, circuits, and services with the drawing tool.

    1. Click the Drawing Tool icon (pencil and ruler).
    2. Add two terminal nodes to the map.
    3. For each terminal node, in the C-band section, choose Site > Structure, and then choose Terminal-Section from the drop-down list. By default, Terminal is selected.
    4. Use the Fiber tool to connect sites following the target topology.

      By default, fibers are 1 km. Enable Use Coordinates Distance under Network Properties if you want lengths derived from coordinates.

    5. Create two fibers between the terminal nodes to model the working and protect paths.
    6. Click the source site and then the destination site in the map to select Circuit (purple) to add demands.

      Both Alien and NCS1000 TXP Trunk to Trunk demands can be created with this option.

    7. Select Service (green) to create client services of native NCS1000 TXP.

      The service automatically creates a trunk-to-trunk circuit.

      Note

      For the specified topology, create a circuit, a service, or both. Define at least one before you run an analysis.

    The visual topology reflects the required sites, fibers, circuits, and services.

  3. Follow these steps to set site properties using Entity Editor.

    1. Choose Network, then click Entity Editor.
    2. Drill down into Fibers to update Fiber Type, Aging Loss, and SOL Loss values.
    3. Update the fiber values in Properties.
    4. Click Show Advance properties to update advanced parameters.
    5. Expand Subnet, then click OpticalSubnet and adjust spectral density (for example, Flexgrid-SD-81%).

    Keep a change log of any forced parameters so installers know which passives to deploy.

    Sites, fibers, and subnet properties match the physical design data.

  4. Optional: To select specific colored Add/drop MD-32-E/MD-32-O Mux/Demux patch panels based on the topology, set these properties.

    Note

    If you do not force this setting and leave it set to Auto, Cisco Optical Network Planner automatically selects the default Add/drop.

    1. Choose Network, click Entity Editor, and then click the Service tab.
    2. In the left tree panel, expand the circuit that connects to the site where the patch panel is connected, and then drill down to the trail properties.
    3. Click Select Similar to apply the properties in bulk to all the trails.
    4. Under the trail properties, set Add/Drop Type to Colored.
    5. Click Update.
    6. Click the Site tab.
    7. Click Select Similar to apply the properties in bulk to all the add/drops.
    8. Expand the ROADM site interface, drill down to the Add/Drop properties of the side, or drill down to C-Band > Edge (A) > C-Band, and then under General, set Colored Add/Drop to MD-32-Even or MD-32-Odd as per the topology.
    9. Click Update.

  5. Create a service between Site-1 and Site-2.

    1. Click the Drawing Tool icon, and select Service (green).
    2. Add the service between the sites on the map by clicking the source site and then the destination site.

  6. To add NCS 1014 (NCS1K14-2.4T-K9=), set these properties in the left tree panel:

    1. Expand the service that connects to the site where NCS 1014 (NCS1K14-2.4T-K9=) is connected in the left tree panel, and then drill down to the service properties.
    2. Under Service Properties, in Primary Channel Source, set Card Type to NCS1K14-2.4T-X-K9 and TXP Chassis to NC1014.
    3. Click Update.
    4. If trunk port 7 of the TXP is connected to port 12 of the MD-32 Odd add/drop module, go to Entity Editor > Service and set the wavelength to 1542.94 nm and the client port to 4 for the service.
    5. Click Show Advance Properties, and set Src Add/drop Type and Dst Add/drop Type to Colorless/Colored.
      Figure 2. Cisco Optical Network Planner advanced property forcing
      Note

      If Show Advance Properties is not displayed, check whether a service is selected in the left panel. If a service is selected, clear the selection, and then click the service again.

    6. Click Update.

  7. To add NCS 1004 (NCS1K4-QXP-K9=), set these properties in the left tree panel:

    1. Expand the service that connects to the site where NCS 1004 (NCS1K4-QXP-K9) is connected in the left tree panel, and then drill down to the service properties.
    2. Under Service Properties, in Primary Channel Source, set Card Type to NCS1K4-QXP-K9 and TXP Chassis to NCS1004.
    3. Click Update.
    4. Click Show Advance Properties, and set Src Add/drop Type and Dst Add/drop Type to Colorless/Colored.
    5. Click Update.

  8. Choose File, then click Save to store the project.

    Alternatively, you can click Cisco Optical Network Planner Excel import/export workflow to create a network. For more details, see Import a network using an Excel sheet

    The project file captures the designed topology and is ready for analysis.

You now have a fully defined Cisco Optical Network Planner network that aligns with physical requirements and can proceed to Analyze and Cisco Optical Site Manager export stages. The Cisco Optical Network Planner model includes the protected section design, terminal nodes, fibers, services, and platform-specific service properties.

What to do next

Analyze the network

To analyze the designed sample network and check its feasibility using the Cisco Optical Network Planner Web Interface.

After a successful network analysis, you can validate the design by reviewing various reports available in Cisco Optical Network Planner, including Layout, NFV, BOM, and Optical Reports. These reports provide detailed information about hardware placement, interconnections, inventory, and circuit feasibility.

Figure 3. CONP Analyzed Network

Before you begin

Ensure you have access to the Cisco Optical Network Planner Web Interface and have a sample topology network created.

Follow these steps to analyze the network.

Procedure

  1. Log in to Cisco Optical Network Planner Web Interface.

  2. Click File, then click Open.

    The Select Network To Open dialog box appears.

  3. Click the sample topology network that you have created, from the list of networks.

  4. Click Network, then click Analyze.

    The Cisco Optical Network Planner analysis progress indicator indicates the analysis status.

    Table 1. Analysis Status

    If...

    Then...

    After successful analysis

    The network goes to Analyze Mode.

    If there is any failure in the analysis stage

    A pop-up window appears with the message, “Analysis Failed.”

  5. Choose the Elements > Messages tab to see the list of error details in the analyzed network.

    • By default, it shows only the key messages when the Critical Only toggle button is enabled.

    • If you want to view the entire network message, disable the Critical Only toggle button.

  6. If you find an error message under the Messages tab, resolve the error and analyze the network again. Repeat this step until all errors are resolved.

  7. Validate the design by navigating to the Network View and reviewing these reports:

    1. Layout Tab: View hardware placement, rack level details, and site interconnections (via Node Diagram in the left panel).
      Figure 4. CONP Layout
    2. Node Diagram: View the site interconnections.
      Figure 5. CONP Node Functional View
    3. BOM Tab: See the inventory list for each site.
    4. Results (including Optical Reports, Installation Parameters, and Cabling Report): Validate circuit feasibility and other design parameters.

      For more details about the report parameters, see Optical Report.

The network should be in an analyzed state, and you should have validated the design using the CONP reports.

What to do next

Refer to the Troubleshoot section in CONP Analysis Troubleshooting for understanding common analysis errors.

Generate Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML Files

Generate and prepare Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML files from Cisco Optical Network Planner.

After the network has undergone analysis and validation, it is necessary to export the configuration data from Cisco Optical Network Planner in a Netconf XML format.

The exported files are packaged into a Zip archive, and each file within this archive corresponds to a specific site, identified by its unique naming convention.

Figure 6. Export device configuration from Cisco Optical Network Planner

Before you begin

Ensure that the network has been thoroughly analyzed and validated.

Follow these steps to generate Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML files.

Procedure

  1. Export the Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML file from Cisco Optical Network Planner.

    Refer to Export Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML File for detailed instructions on the export process.

    Figure 5 illustrates the Cisco Optical Network Planner export interface: Export → Device Configuration → Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML.

    A Zip file with a specified name is downloaded.

  2. Identify the individual site configuration files within the downloaded Zip file.

    The Zip file contains a list of files, where each file represents a distinct site. The file name helps to identify the individual site using the format: 
    <NetworkName-SiteName>
    .

  3. Upload each individual site file into Cisco Optical Site Manager after it is operational.

    For details, see Import Cisco Optical Network Planner XML.

The Cisco Optical Site Manager Netconf XML files are successfully generated, extracted, and prepared for Day1 device configuration in Cisco Optical Site Manager.

What to do next

Bring up the platform and Cisco Optical Site Manager, and then configure the Day 1 device settings in Cisco Optical Site Manager by using the uploaded files.

Troubleshooting and log collection

Collect the network export and component logs required by engineering support.

Figure 7. Cisco Optical Network Planner logs collection
To resolve any issues encountered during installation, see Troubleshooting Guide.

Before you begin

  • Ensure you have administrator access to Cisco Optical Network Planner.

  • Verify the target network project is available in the Cisco Optical Network Planner workspace.

Follow these steps to collect troubleshooting logs for engineering support.

Procedure

  1. Open the network in Cisco Optical Network Planner, select Export, then click CPZ to export the CPZ file of the network.

  2. Export the component logs.

    1. Click Logs, then click Component Logs.
    2. Collect these logs: BE (CONP Backend log), GENE (NCS1010 and NCS1000 TXP Analysis Engine), ODE (NCS4k Analysis Engine), and PCE (NCS1010 Path Computation & Simulation Engine).