Cisco NCS 1010 and NCS 1020 Datapath Configuration Guide, IOS XR Releases 26.x.x

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Cisco NCS 1010 and NCS 1020 Datapath Configuration Guide, IOS XR Releases 26.x.x

Multidegree ROADM networks with NCS1010 OLT devices

Updated: June 19, 2026

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A multidegree ROADM network is a network capability that enables a single ROADM node to establish more than two degrees of connection.

A degree is a bidirectional physical fiber connection between two nodes in a network.

NCS 1010 multidegree ROADM express

ROADM express refers to the pass-through wavelengths that travel directly from one fiber degree to another inside a ROADM node, bypassing local add/drop without optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversion.

NCS1010 OLT devices support up to eight degrees of ROADM express through NCS1K-BRK-8 (BRK-8) modules. The BRK-8 modules help in MPO breakout for express interconnect. For a multidegree network, use as many BRK-8 modules and OLT devices as there are degrees. The BRK-8 modules help NCS 1010 nodes to achieve multidegree capability.

BRK-8 modules are essential for scaling network degrees and supporting express interconnects in advanced optical networking scenarios.

Three-degree ROADM network using NCS 1010 devices

In this example, a three-degree ROADM network established an express interconnection among three different point-to-point multispan optical networks. The three point-to-point topologies are:

  • OLT-C_1A to OLT-C_1

  • OLT-C_2A to OLT-C_2

  • OLT-C_3A to OLT-C_3

The three OLT nodes (OLT-C_1, OLT-C_2, OLT-C_3) are each connected using three BRK-8 modules. Each module must link to the other two, providing the necessary express interconnect. ptical cross-connects in each OLT ensure signals can traverse to any of the three endpoints, even across multiple spans including intermediate ILA nodes.

The three-degree ROAMD network with NCS 1010 devices contains

  1. OLT-C_1, OLT-C_2, and OLT-C_3 nodes connected to each other using three BRK-8 modules.

  2. Each BRK-8 module is connected to each of the other BRK-8 modules for express interconnect that enables multidegree support.

  3. Each OLT device has optical cross-connection to each other to enable the signal to reach the target OLT.

Figure 1. Typical 3-Degree topology
Figure representing typical 3-degree topology

Types of NCS 1010 sample topologies

This section describes three sample topologies of specific hardware deployments.

Colored multidegree topologies

A colored multidegree topology is a network design pattern that

  • interconnects sites using multiple optical degrees,

  • supports optical channels from transponders with low transmit (TX) power such as ZR or ZR+ pluggable modules, and

  • operates with channel TX power spectral density between -21 dBm/12.5 GHz and -14 dBm/12.5 GHz.

Topology components

This topology typically requires:

  • Cisco NCS 1010 devices

  • NCS1K-MD32E-C modules

  • NCS1K-MD32O-C modules

  • NCS1K-BRK-8 modules

  • Cisco 8201 routers

  • QDD-400G-ZR-S transceivers

  • LC/LC cables

  • MPO cables

Figure 2. Colored solution
A diagram representing the colored multidegree topology with devices and port connections

Colorless multidegree topologies

A colorless multidegree topology is a network design pattern that

  • uses multi-degree site interconnections with flexible wavelength assignment,

  • supports optical channels from high TX power transponders like 1.2T line cards or CFP2-400G-DCO trunk interfaces, and

  • requires channel TX power spectral density not lower than -7 dBm/12.5 GHz.

Components required

Deployment typically includes:

  • Cisco NCS 1010 devices

  • NCS1K-BRK-8 modules

  • NCS1K-BRK-24 modules

  • CFP2-400G-DCO transceivers

  • Cisco NCS 1004 devices

  • NCS1K4-2-QDD-C-K9 line card

  • LC/LC cables

  • MPO cables

Figure 3. Colorless solution
A diagram representing the colorless multidegree topology with devices and port connections

Hybrid multidegree topologies

A hybrid multidegree topology is a network design pattern that

  • interconnects sites using both colored and colorless optical channels,

  • accommodates a mix of high- and low-TX power transponders within the same deployment, and

  • leverages the channel TX power spectral density ranges required for both colored and colorless topologies.

Components required

Supported hardware includes:

  • Cisco NCS 1010 devices

  • NCS1K-MD32E-C modules

  • NCS1K-MD32O-C modules

  • NCS1K-BRK-8 modules

  • NCS1K-BRK-24 modules

  • Cisco 8201 routers

  • QDD-400G-ZR-S transceivers

  • CFP2-400G-DCO transceivers

  • Cisco NCS 1004 devices

  • NCS1K4-2-QDD-C-K9 line card

  • LC/LC cables

  • MPO cable

Figure 4. Colorless solution
A diagram representing the hybrid multidegree topology with devices and port connections

Point-to-point topologies

A point-to-point topology is a network design pattern that

  • connects two network sites directly using optical links,

  • limits the number of degrees per site to two or fewer, and

  • enables simple deployment with minimal hardware requirements.

Components for point-to-point topology

To build this topology, you need these hardware components.

  • Cisco NCS 1010 devices: OLT-R-C for and ILA-2R-C for inline amplication

  • NCS1K-MD32E-C modules: Multiplex and demultiplex C-band signals in even channels.

  • NCS1K-MD32O-C modules: Multiplex and demultiplex C-band signals in odd channels.

  • NCS1K-BRK-24 modules: 24-degree MPO breakout modules for express interconnection.

  • QDD-400G-ZR-S transceiver: QSFP-DD transceiver module, coherent DCO, 400G-ZR for transmiting 400G payload at 16QAM modulation

  • MPO/MPO cables: Used for fiber-optic connectivity between NCS 1010 devices and BRK-24 modules.

  • LC/LC cables: Used for fiber-optic connectivity between BRK-24 and mux/demux modules.

This image shows the point-to-point topology.

Figure 5. Point-to-point topology
A diagram representing the point-to-point topology with the devices and port connections