Infinian Technology Dealer, Distributor and Partner of Cisco NCS Series: 520, 540,560, 5500 and 6000 Router in India – Bangalore and Chennai for Price/Cost Call: 9739091119
The Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) Series — Cisco’s modern high-performance platforms delivering edge-to-core routing across access, aggregation, metro, and optical domains:

📊 Quick Comparison Table
Series | Form Factor | Max Capacity | Typical Role | Special Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
NCS 520 | 1RU fixed | ~40–100 G | Access / Enterprise Edge (IOS XE) | Compact, simple, ASR XE alternative |
NCS 540 | 1RU fixed | ~100–400 G | Metro-edge / Mobile aggregation | Timing accuracy, hardened, coherent optics |
NCS 560 | 4RU or 7RU chassis | ~800 Gbps | Redundant aggregation & pre‑agg | Dual RSP, flexible optics, high availability |
NCS 5500 | Fixed & modular options | Hundreds of G to Tbps | WAN/Core-edge aggregation | High density 100/400G, automation, DDoS protection |
NCS 6000 | Large modular chassis | Multi‑Pbps | Metro/core packet‑optical convergence | Packet‑optical integration, massive scale |
🚀 Key Highlights of Cisco NCS Series
- Massive Scale & Port Density
- Supports 100G, 200G, and 400G Ethernet ports
- Ideal for metro aggregation, WAN core, and data center interconnect
- Modular & Fixed Platforms
- Choose between fixed systems for pre-aggregation and modular chassis for scalable deployments
- Examples include:
- NCS 5504: Up to 4 line cards
- NCS 5508: Up to 8 line cards
- NCS 5516: Up to 16 line cards
- Powered by Cisco IOS XR
- Cloud-enhanced OS with open APIs, automation, and telemetry
- Supports Segment Routing, EVPN, and programmable QoS
- Sustainability & Efficiency
- Power-efficient design (as low as 0.3 watts per gigabite
- Reduces manual operations through automation
- Security & DDoS Protection
- Integrated edge protection against malicious traffic
- Secure boot and trusted hardware modules
📦 Example Line Cards
Line Card Model | Ports | Features |
---|---|---|
NC55-36X100G | 36 × 100GE QSFP28 | 6 ASICs, 256K IPv4 routes, breakout support |
NC55-24H12F-SB | 24 × 100GE + 12 × 40GE | 4 ASICs, 2M IPv4 routes, high-scale FIB |
🔹 Key Benefits of Cisco NCS Series
- Scalability: Supports a wide range of port densities and configurations to meet the growing demands of modern networks.
- Programmability: Enables automation and programmability through support for NETCONF, YANG, and streaming telemetry.
- Security: Built-in security features such as MACSec, secure boot, and runtime defense mechanisms.
- Low Latency: Designed to provide ultra-low latency forwarding, essential for time-sensitive applications like 5G and IoT.
- Energy Efficiency: Optimized for low power consumption, contributing to reduced operational costs and environmental impact.
🔹 Use Cases
- Service Provider Networks: Ideal for core, metro, and aggregation layers, supporting high-speed data transport and service delivery.
- Enterprise WAN: Suitable for large-scale enterprise networks requiring high-performance routing and secure connectivity.
- Data Center Interconnect: Facilitates efficient and scalable interconnection between data centers.
- Mobile Edge: Supports 5G and IoT applications with low latency and high throughput requirements.