CHAPTER 4
Connect Router to the Network
• Port Connection Guidelines , on page 79
• Connecting a Console to the Router, on page 80
• Connect the Management Interface, on page 81
• Install and Remove Transceiver Modules, on page 82
• Connect Interface Ports, on page 92
• Maintain Transceivers and Optical Cables, on page 92
Port Connection Guidelines
Depending on the chassis and installed line cards, you can use Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus
(QSFP+), QSFP28, SFP, SFP+, CFP2, CFP-DCO, and RJ-45 connectors to connect the ports on the line cards
to other network devices.
To prevent damage to the fiber-optic cables, Cisco recommends that you keep the transceivers disconnected
from their fiber-optic cables when installing the transceiver in the line card. Before removing a transceiver
from the router, remove the cable from the transceiver.
To maximize the effectiveness and life of your transceivers and optical cables, do the following:
• Wear an ESD-preventative wrist strap that is connected to an earth ground whenever handling transceivers.
The router is typically grounded during installation and provides an ESD port to which you can connect
your wrist strap.
• Do not remove and insert a transceiver more often than is necessary. Repeated removals and insertions
can shorten its useful life.
• Keep the transceivers and fiber-optic cables clean and dust free to maintain high signal accuracy and to
prevent damage to the connectors. Attenuation (loss of light) is increased by contamination and should
be kept below 0.35 dB.
• Clean these parts before installation to prevent dust from scratching the fiber-optic cable ends.
• Clean the connectors regularly; the required frequency of cleaning depends upon the environment.
In addition, clean connectors when they are exposed to dust or accidentally touched. Both wet and
dry cleaning techniques can be effective; refer to your site's fiber-optic connection cleaning
procedures.
• Do not touch the ends of connectors. Touching the ends can leave fingerprints and cause other
contamination.
Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco NCS 5500 Series Modular Routers
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