Cisco Agile Services Networking
Cisco Agile Services Networking is an architecture evolution of Cisco Converged SDN Transport (CSDN-T) that is focused on converging network infrastructure in multiple dimensions to change the way networks are built. The Metro solution considers edge as a set of functions which can be enabled anywhere in the network.
Cisco Agile Metro
Cisco Agile Metro is a dynamic and flexible edge solution that is part of Cisco Agile Services Networking. The solution introduces new Silicon One A100, K100, and P100-based fixed and centralized routers and line cards to deliver improved experiences for residential, business and mobile services with a network that is simpler and more cost-effective to build, operate, and scale from locations closer to end-users.
The Agile Metro architecture focuses on these key aspects:
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Enhanced scale and resiliency through distributed networking
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Simplified packet transport and overlay services
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Simplified and converged business, residential, and transport infrastructure
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Enhanced automation
Benefits of Agile Metro
These are the key benefits of Agile Metro:
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Technology benefits:
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High-capacity edge silicon
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Convergence of network service functions
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Flexible network design and systems to fit any size location in the network
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Business benefits:
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Deliver services closer to users and applications
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Cost savings
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Sustainability benefits
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Operational benefits:
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Improved services resilience
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Network efficiency
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Enhanced operations through network automation and orchestration
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What's new in Agile Metro
What's new in Agile Metro, Release 1.1
Cisco Agile Metro Release 1.1 continues to enhance the Agile Metro solution. The release introduces the 8011-4G24Y4H-I fixed aggregation router, powered by Cisco Silicon One, thereby enhancing hardware capabilities. Additionally, the solution integrates updated versions of Cisco Crosswork suite of network automation products, offering expanded capabilities to efficiently manage and assure large-scale networks.
For details on the latest version of various Agile Metro components, see the Agile Metro components section.
Hardware introduced
Hardware introduced in Agile Metro, Release 1.1
|
Hardware |
Release introduced |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Cisco IOS XR Software Release 25.1.1 |
Powered by the Cisco Silicon One A100 ASIC, the Cisco 8010 Series Large Density Fixed Routers offer Class C timing support and end-to-end encryption, enabling seamless network growth and scalability. They offer versatile Ethernet interface options, ranging from 1G and 25G to 100G and 400G. Built on the robust Cisco IOS XR operating system, these routers are designed for use in dense metro access and pre-aggregation deployments, delivering both Capital Expenditure (CapEx) savings and enhanced operational simplicity. |
Agile Metro architecture
The Metro network evolution is driven by increasing bandwidth demands, resulting in network functions distributed in the network closer to the end user. This evolution is driving a consequent network architecture evolution. The classical split between access, pre-aggregation, aggregation, and edge leaves room for a more homogeneous network without distinct boundaries between the domains.
Metro Edge Fabric
This section details the new disaggregated Metro Edge Fabric, including its components and distributed control plane.
The Metro Edge Fabric is a component of Agile Metro architecture that is designed to provide scalable edge services termination. The Metro Edge Fabric is designed to enhance network efficiency and scalability by separating network functions into distinct physical layers. Cisco Fabric-based Edge solution is a composition of multiple routers in a leaf-spine architecture to accommodate required functionality and scale that cannot be met in a standalone multi-service edge (MSE) model.
Edge Fabric leaf
Leaf nodes are the routers that are used for network service termination use cases. You can split the specific services across a set of leaf devices based on the design and network services. The leaf nodes may be collapsed into a universal leaf for all functions or split between different network or even VPN service type. All Cisco IOS XR platforms can be used as a leaf in the deployment depending on the feature requirements and feature scale.
Edge Fabric spine
The Edge Fabric aggregation routers or spines are the nodes that provides underlay connectivity to all leaf nodes that include service termination nodes, core networking connecting nodes, edge DC connecting nodes, and so on. These spine nodes act as L3/SR-MPLS switch that carry overlay services across leaf nodes. Spine nodes have advanced policy-based traffic management functionalities to support end-to-end QoS for selective overlay services.
Fabric interconnect
The fabric interconnects are the links connecting leaf nodes to spine nodes. Each leaf node must be connected to every spine node to provide maximum resiliency and load balancing across the fabric. It is recommended to standardize local interconnects to one type—copper (CU) or active optical cables (AOC) being the most cost-effective method. Interconnects may also utilize WAN connectivity in the case of remote leaf devices. Longer distances can be covered using Routed Optical Networking components such as ZR/ZR+, DP04QSDD-ER1, and QSFP-DD 100G ZR coherent optics.
Fabric control plane
The Fabric uses standard routing protocols; it does not use proprietary communication between the elements. This allows providers to easily insert any type of node, including third-party node, into the fabric.
Network technologies and protocols
The table gives a comparison of the common network technologies and protocols that are used in legacy networks vs. the Agile Metro.
|
Network technology and protocol |
Legacy network |
Agile Metro |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
xVPN Services |
LDP |
BGP |
BGP for all L2VPN, and L3VPN |
|
IP Network Scaling |
BGP-LU |
Segment Routing |
|
|
Traffic Engineering Fast Reroute |
RSVP-TE |
||
|
MPLS Overlay Protocol |
RSVP-TE |
LDP |
|
|
IPv6 Transport Overlay |
None |
||
|
IP to DWDM Transition |
Transponder or Muxponder |
Routed Optical Networking |
|
|
Grey Router Interface |
|||
|
Private Line Services |
Dedicated OTN |
Dedicated Ethernet over DWDM |
Private Line Emulation |
|
Subscriber BNG |
Physical Integrated BNG |
Cisco CUPS using Cloud Native BNG |
|
|
PON Access |
Dedicated PON Equipment |
Cisco Routed Passive Optical Networking |
|
Key pillars of Agile Metro architecture
These are the key pillars of Agile Metro architecture:
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Wide range of supported interfaces:
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1/10/25/50/100/400GE and beyond on unified family of Metro devices
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Any speed user–network interface (UNI) with any service
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High speed network-to-network interfaces (NNI) and Routed Optical Networking
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Simplified connectivity model and protocols:
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Segment Routing IPv6 (SRv6) and SR-MPLS underlay networks; SRv6-TE and SR-MPLS TE for advanced Traffic Engineered use cases
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Secured infrastructure using Trusted Cisco platforms and advanced distributed DDoS protection
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Co-existence with legacy underlay and overlay technologies
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Business, residential, and mobile subscriber services:
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EVPN and L3VPN in services layer
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Private Line Emulation (PLE) for bit-transparent transport of Ethernet and non-Ethernet (OTN, SONET, Fiber Channel)
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Next-generation subscriber edge using control plane and user plane separation (CUPS)
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Converged business and subscriber access using Cisco Routed PON
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High performance end-to-end timing and synchronization
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Automation across all components in the architecture covering provisioning, monitoring, and service assurance
High-level use cases of Agile Metro
The Agile Metro architecture covers these high-level use cases:
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Next-generation residential subscriber networks deployments
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Enterprise business services
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Mobile network IP transport
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Centralized and edge data center connectivity including networks that are built to support artificial intelligence
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Internet peering, content delivery, and cloud connectivity
Agile Metro components
Main components of Agile Metro
The table lists the main hardware and software components of Agile Metro and their compatible versions.
|
Agile Metro component |
Hardware or software component |
Component version (Agile Metro 1.0) |
Component version (Agile Metro 1.1) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cisco routers |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
|
|
NOS for Cisco ASR 9000, NCS 540, NCS 5500, NCS 5700, Cisco 8000, and Cisco 8700 Series Routers |
Cisco IOS XR Software |
24.4.1 |
25.2.1 |
|
NOS for Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms |
Cisco IOS XE Software |
17.15 |
17.15 |
|
Edge Fabric Management |
Metro Fabric Manager Function Pack |
1.0 |
1.0 |
| DDoS Controller |
Cisco Secure DDoS Edge Protection |
24.07.09.2976 |
25.02.01.3261 |
|
IP Controller |
7.0.1 |
7.1.0 |
|
|
Multi-Layer Controller |
9.0 |
11.0 |
|
|
Network Services Orchestrator |
6.1.11.2 |
6.4.1.1 |
|
| Workflow Management | Cisco Crosswork Workflow Manager |
1.2 |
2.0 |
| SD-WAN Controller | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager |
17.15.1 |
17.15.1 |
|
Provider Connectivity Assurance Sensor Management |
CPCA Sensor Control CPCA Orchestrator |
22.x |
22.x |
| PON Management | Cisco Routed PON Manager |
5.0 |
5.0 |
|
CUPS Control Plane |
2024.04.0 with Cloud Native Deployment Platform (CNDP) 24 |
2025.02.0 with Cloud Native Deployment Platform (CNDP) 25 |
|
|
CUPS User Plane |
Cisco Cloud Native BNG (cnBNG) User Plane: Cisco ASR 99XX modular chassis with Cisco ASR 9000 5th generation High Density Ethernet line cards: |
24.4.1 |
25.2.1 |
|
CnBNG CFP for Day-0 and Day-1 Management |
CNBNG SMI-NSO CFP |
2024.04.0 |
2025.02.0 |
Supported Cisco IOS XR OS products for Agile Metro
The table lists the supported Cisco IOS XR OS products for Agile Metro and the introduced release.
| Product | Product ID |
Introduced Agile Metro release |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco ASR 9000 Series Routers |
ASR 9902 ASR 9903 |
1.0 |
|
Cisco 8000 Series Routers (Q200-based) |
8201-24H8FH 8201-32FH 8202-32FH-M |
1.0 |
|
Cisco 8608 (Centralized): 86-MPA-14H2FH-M 86-MPA-24Z-M 86-MPA-4FH-M |
1.0 |
|
|
Cisco 8000 Series Routers (P100-based) |
8711-32FH-M 8212-48FH-M |
1.0 |
|
Cisco 8000 Series Routers (K100-based) |
8712-MOD-M |
1.0 |
|
Cisco 8000 Series Routers (A100-based) |
8011-4G24Y4H-I |
1.1 |
| Cisco NCS 5500 Series Routers |
NCS 55A1: NCS-55A1-24Q6H-S NCS-55A1-24Q6H-SS (MACsec) |
1.0 |
|
Cisco NCS 55A2 Series Routers Cisco NCS 57C3 Series Routers |
NCS-55A2-MOD-SE NCS-57C3-MOD-SE-S NCS-55A2-MOD-S NCS-57C3-MOD-S |
1.0 |
| Cisco NCS 5700 Series Routers |
NCS-57B1-5DSE-SYS NCS-57B1-6D24-SYS NCS-57D2-18DD NCS-57C1-48Q6-SYS |
1.0 |
| Line cards for Cisco NCS 5500 Series Routers |
NC57-48Q2D-S NC57-48Q2D-SE-S NC57-36H6D-S |
1.0 |
| Cisco NCS 540 Series Routers |
N540-24Z8Q2C-SYS N540-ACC-SYS N540-24Q8L2DD-SYS N540X-16Z4G8Q2C-D/A N540-28Z4C-SYS-D/A |
1.0 |
| Cisco IOS XRv 9000 Router | Cisco IOS XRv 9000 |
1.0 |
| Cisco IOS XRd virtual router | Cisco IOS XRd vRouter |
1.0 |
Automation components of Agile Metro
The table lists the main automation components of Agile Metro and their compatible versions.
|
Automation component |
Component version (Agile Metro 1.0) |
Component version (Agile Metro 1.1) |
|---|---|---|
|
7.0.1 |
7.1 |
|
|
9.0 |
11.0 |
|
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6.1.3.1 |
6.4.1.1 |
|
|
1.2 |
2.0 |
|
|
2024.04.0 with Cloud Native Deployment Platform (CNDP) 24 |
2025.02.0 with Cloud Native Deployment Platform (CNDP) 25 |
|
| Cisco Cloud Native BNG NSO SMI Deployer |
2024.04.0 |
2025.02.0 |
|
Crosswork Planning |
7.0.1 |
7.1.0 |
|
Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance |
24.2 |
24.2 |
|
CX Fabric Manager |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Caveats
To know about the open caveats associated with the Cisco Agile Metro components, see the product Release Notes for the respective release.
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