Configure a network with mixed Add/Drop multiplexers and demultiplexers

Updated: March 10, 2026

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Configure a network to support mixed wavelengths using combinations of colored, colorless, and contentionless Add/Drop multiplexers and demultiplexers.

Use this procedure to enable support for advanced optical networking scenarios by combining different types of Add/Drop (A/D) multiplexers and demultiplexers, allowing flexible wavelength management.

Before you begin

Table 1. Feature History
Feature Name	Release Information	Feature Description
Support for Mixed Add/Drop Configuration	Cisco ONP Release 4.2	You can configure different functionalities in the network created in Cisco ONP. Mixed wavelengths such as colorless and contentionless, colored and contentionless, can be added/dropped on the same side or direction. The following mixed configurations are supported: Colored (MD-48-ODD/MD-48-EVEN) and Contentionless (16-AD-CCOFS) without shared SMR port Colored and Contentionless (MD-64-C and 16-AD-CCOFS) Colored (MD-64-C) and Colorless (Direct SMR) Colored (MD-48) and Contentionless (16-AD-CCOFS) with Shared SMR Port Colorless and MD-48-ODD/MD-48-EVEN Colorless and 16-AD-CCOFS

Procedure

Create a network design. See Manually design a network using Cisco ONP.
Set the properties of the network under the Entity Editor for different combinations of the functionalities, as described in Supported and unsupported mixed configurations.

Note

You cannot mix the MF-6AD-CFS colorless configuration with any other configuration.

Supported and unsupported mixed configurations

This section describes the list of mixed configurations that are supported and unsupported by Cisco ONP.

Table 2. Supported mixed Configurations
Supported network type	Possible mixed configurations	Properties to be set
Non-SSON	Colored (MD-48-ODD/MD-48-EVEN) and Contentionless (16-AD-CCOFS) without shared SMR port	Add required number of contentionless sides. Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colored for one wave. Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Contentionless for the second wave created on the same site. Both wavelengths must add/drop in the same side or direction. By default, MD-48-ODD or MD_48-EVEN is added as the Colored Add/Drop in the BOM and layout when you set the Channel Type as Colored and when Shared SMR Port is disabled. By default, 16-AD-CCOFS is added in the BOM and layout when you set the Channel Type as Contentionless.
SSON	Colored and Contentionless (MD-64-C and 16-AD-CCOFS)	Add required number of contentionless sides. Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colored for one media channel. Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Contentionless for the second media channel created on the same site. Both channels must add/drop in the same side or direction. Colored Add/Drop―MD-64-C under the side.
SSON	Colored (MD-64-C) and Colorless (Direct SMR)	Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colored for one media channel. Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colorless for the second media channel created on the same site. Both channels must add/drop in the same side or direction. Enter the number of Colorless Ports under the Line Side properties. Colored Add/Drop―MD-64-C Colorless Add/Drop―Direct SMR
Non-SSON	Colored (MD-48) and Contentionless (16-AD-CCOFS) with Shared SMR Port	Add required number of contentionless sides. Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colored for one wave. Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Contentionless for the second wave created on the same site. Both wavelengths must add/drop in the same side or direction. Check the Shared SMR Port check box, under the Site properties. Colored Add/Drop―MD-48-ODD, MD-48-EVEN, or MD-48-ODD and MD-48-EVEN If you choose MD-48-EVEN, make sure to select an even wavelength for the Wavelength property under Trail.
Non-SSON	Colorless and MD-48-ODD/MD-48-EVEN	Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colorless for the wave. Enter the number of Colorless Ports under the Line Side properties. By default, MD-48-ODD/MD-48-EVEN is added as colored Add/Drop in the BOM and layout, when any colored demand is added in the non-SSON network.
SSON	Colorless and Contentionless (16-AD-CCOFS)	Add required number of contentionless sides. Channel Type―Set the Src Channel Type and Dst Channel Type to be Colorless for the wave or media channel. Channel Type―Colorless for one wave and Contentionless for another wave created on the same site. Both wavelengths must add/drop in the same side or direction.

Table 3. Unsupported mixed configurations
Network type	Mixed configurations
SSON	Colored (MD-64-C) and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
SSON	Contentionless and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
SSON	Colored (MD-64-C), Contentionless, and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
SSON	Colored (MD-64-C) and Layer-2 Contentionless
Non-SSON	Contentionless and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
Non-SSON	Colored (MD-48) and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
Non-SSON	Colorless (Direct SMR) and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)
Non-SSON	Colored, Contentionless, and Colorless (MF-6AD-CFS)

Note

Different Add/drop functionalities (Colored, Colorless, or Contentionless) at Source and Destination is not supported.

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