Configuration Guide for Cisco NCS 1001, IOS XR Release 25.x.x

OTS controllers

Updated: July 27, 2026

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This topic explains Optical Transport Section controllers and the hardware capabilities that determine which optical parameters can be enabled, displayed, or configured.

An Optical Transport Section (OTS) controller is an optical interface controller that

stores the optical parameters for the OTS interfaces,
exposes parameters based on hardware capabilities such as photodiode, variable optical attenuator (VOA), amplifier, optical channel monitor (OCM), and
supports receive and transmit section parameters when the hardware supports them.

When an OTS controller is created, each hardware capability is enabled or disabled. For example, when a photodiode is present, the OTS controller can read the total optical power.

You can configure OTS parameters such as low power threshold, VOA attenuation set point, amplifier gain range, amplifier tilt, amplifier gain set point, channel power, and safety control mode. OTS interface descriptions cannot be added in the same way as descriptions on the optical amplifier module.

Configuration parameters of OTS controller

Table 1. Configuration parameters of OTS controller
Parameter	Description	Hardware capability	Range	Default	Notes
rx-low-threshold (0.1 dBm)	Low receive power threshold.	Photodiode	-400 to +300	-40.0
tx-low-threshold (0.1 dBm)	Low transmit power threshold.	Photodiode	-400 to +300	-20.0
rx-voa-attenuation (0.1 dBm)	RX VOA attenuation set point.	VOA	0 to 200	0.0
tx-voa-attenuation (0.1 dBm)	TX VOA attenuation set point.	VOA	0 to 200	0.0
ampli-control-mode	Amplifier control mode.	Amplifier	automatic, manual	automatic	The automatic value is compatible only when the grid is specified through the hw-module configuration.
ampli-gain-range	Amplifier gain range.	Amplifier	normal, extended	normal	The amplifier gain range is configurable only when the controller is in shutdown state.
ampli-gain (0.1 dBm)	Amplifier gain set point.	Amplifier	0 to 500	0.0	The actual range depends on the amplifier gain range.
ampli-tilt (0.1 dBm)	Amplifier tilt.	Amplifier	-50 to +50	0.0
channel-power-max-delta (0.1 dBm)	Maximum difference among measured channel powers.	Amplifier	0–200	3.0
ampli-channel-power (0.1 dBm)	Amplifier per-channel power set point.	Amplifier	-400 to +300	0.0
osri	Optical safety remote interlock.	Amplifier	on, off	off	When OSRI is enabled, the laser is deactivated. When OSRI is disabled, the laser is activated.
safety-control-mode	Safety control mode.	Amplifier	auto, disabled	auto	When safety control mode is disabled, amplifier optical power is less than 20 dB for safety.

Configure an OTS controller

Configure OTS controller parameters when the optical interface hardware supports the required capability.

Use the controller identifier in Rack/Slot/Instance/Port format. For parameter ranges and defaults, see OTS controllers.

Procedure

	1.	Enter configuration mode. configure
	2.	Use the controller ots command to enter the OTS controller configuration mode. controller ots rack/slot/instance/port
	3.	Configure the required OTS parameters. Use the commands that apply to the hardware capability in this sequence. rx enable rx-low-threshold value tx enable tx-low-threshold value rx-voa-attenuation value tx-voa-attenuation value ampli-control-mode `{` automatic `\|` manual`}` ampli-gain-range `{` normal `\|` extended`}` ampli-gain value ampli-tilt value ampli-channel-power value channel-power-max-delta value osri `{` on `\|` off`}` safety-control-mode `{` auto `\|` disabled`}` Example: In this sample, the amplifier gain range is set to extended and amplifier gain set point is set to 29.0 dB. `configure controller ots 0/3/0/0 ampli-gain-range extended ampli-gain 290 commit end` In this sample, the safety control mode of the pre-amplifier is set to auto. `configure controller ots 0/3/0/0 safety-control-mode auto commit end` In this sample, the safety control mode of the booster amplifier is set to disabled. `configure controller ots 0/3/0/1 safety-control-mode disabled commit end`
	4.	Commit the configuration. commit
	5.	Exit configuration mode. end

The OTS controller uses the configured optical parameter values.

Display OTS controller parameters

The show controllers command displays all the configuration parameters, performance monitoring thresholds, and alarms if no optional keyword is provided. If you include the summary keyword, the command displays receive and transmit power values and minimal information to understand port status.

Procedure

Display the OTS controller parameters.

show controllers controller-type rack/slot/instance/port [ summary]

Use * as a wildcard to display all the controllers associated with a slot, such as show controllers ots 0/1/0/* summary .

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show controllers ots 0/3/0/1

Wed Aug 23 09:08:27.962 UTC

 Controller State: Up

 Transport Admin State: In Service

 Port Type: Line

 Laser State: Off

 Optics Status::


 Alarm Status:
 -------------
 Detected Alarms:
 RX-LOC

 Alarm Statistics:
 -----------------
 LOW-RX-PWR = 0
 LOW-TX-PWR = 0
 RX-LOS-P = 0
 RX-LOC = 1
 AMPLI-GAIN-DEG-LOW = 0
 AMPLI-GAIN-DEG-HIGH = 0
 AUTO-LASER-SHUT = 0
 AUTO-POW-RED = 89
 AUTO-AMPLI-CTRL-DISABLED = 0
 AUTO-AMPLI-CFG-MISMATCH = 0
 SWITCH-TO-PROTECT = 0
 AUTO-AMPLI-CTRL-RUNNING = 0

 Parameter Statistics:
 ---------------------
 TX Power = -40.00 dBm
 RX Power = -40.00 dBm
 Ampli Gain = -1.00 dB
 Ampli Tilt = 0.00
 Total TX Power = -40.00 dBm
 Total RX Power = -40.00 dBm

 Configured Parameters:
 -------------
 Rx Low Threshold = -25.0 dBm
 Tx Low Threshold = -20.0 dBm
 Ampli Gain = 1.00 dB
 Ampli Tilt = 0.00
 Ampli Channel power = 0.00 dBm
 Channel Power Max Delta = 3.00 dBm
 Ampli Control mode = Manual
 Ampli Gain Range = Normal
 Ampli Safety Control mode = auto
 Osri = OFF

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show controllers ots 0/1/0/1


Controller State: Down

Transport Admin State: In Service

Port Type: Line

Laser State: Apr

Optics Status::


         Alarm Status:
         -------------
         Detected Alarms:
                 AUTO-POW-RED

         Alarm Statistics:
         -----------------
         LOW-RX-PWR = 0
         LOW-TX-PWR = 0
         RX-LOS-P = 0
         RX-LOC = 1
         AMPLI-GAIN-DEG-LOW = 0
         AMPLI-GAIN-DEG-HIGH = 0
         AUTO-LASER-SHUT = 0
         AUTO-POW-RED = 1
         AUTO-AMPLI-CTRL-DISABLED = 0
         AUTO-AMPLI-CFG-MISMATCH = 0
         SWITCH-TO-PROTECT = 0
         AUTO-AMPLI-CTRL-RUNNING = 0

         Parameter Statistics:
         ---------------------
         TX Power = -40.00 dBm
         RX Power = -11.90 dBm
         Ampli Gain = -1.00 dB
         Ampli Tilt = -90.00
         Total TX Power = 7.99 dBm
         Total RX Power = -11.90 dBm
         Ampli Gain Range = Normal
         Ampli Safety Control mode = disabled
         Osri = OFF
         TX Enable = Enabled
         RX Enable = Enabled
         RX Span Loss = N/A
         TX Span Loss = N/A
         Rx Low Threshold Current = -25.0 dBm
         Back Reflection = -6.40 dBm

         Configured Parameters:
         -------------
         Rx Low Threshold = -25.0 dBm
         Tx Low Threshold = -20.0 dBm
         Ampli Gain = 12.00 dB
         Ampli Tilt = 0.00
         Ampli Channel power = 0.00 dBm
         Channel Power Max Delta = 3.00 dBm
         Ampli Channel Psd = 31.250 nW/MHz
         Rx Low Threshold Psd = 0.099 nW/MHz
         Ampli Control mode = Manual
         Ampli Safety Control mode = disabled
         Osri = OFF
         TX Enable = Enabled
         RX Enable = Enabled

The Back Reflection parameter, in 0.1 dBm, is raised only on port 1. This parameter is raised on the line TX port of the booster amplifier.

The command output shows OTS controller state, alarms, statistics, and configured parameter values.

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