Network Convergence System 560 Series Routers

Software Features Enhanced and Introduced

To learn about features introduced in other Cisco IOS XR releases, select the release from the Documentation Landing Page.

Feature Description

Routing

Shorter minimum interval support for BFD over logical bundle

This feature reduces the minimum interval timer from 300 ms to 100 ms, enabling faster failure detection and quicker identification of system issues.

LSP Fast-Flooding on IS-IS Networks

You can now accelerate the rate at which Link State Packets (LSPs) are distributed across an IS-IS network. Faster LSP distribution means faster network convergence. This faster convergence ensures that the most accurate topology information is quickly available across all routers on the network, reducing the chances of routing loops or misrouting.

The feature introduces these changes:

CLI:

YANG Data Model:

  • Cisco-IOS-XR-um-router-isis-cfg

(see GitHub, YANG Data Models Navigator)

Segment Routing

Delay Measurement Using Software Timestamp

You can now identify performance issues caused by the network, disk I/O, processing, or other factors using software timestamping on your router by measuring the delay and loss of each network path, even if the existing hardware lacks timestamp support.

The feature introduces these changes:

CLI:

Network Synchronization

Performance Monitoring

You can now get statistical information with Performance Monitoring in PTP networks, such as clock accuracy, synchronization status, and network delays by defining Performance Monitoring Parameters and Port Specific Parameters.

This feature empowers operators with comprehensive performance monitoring and precise time-stamp analysis, offering enhanced granularity for time synchronization in telecommunication networks. By providing detailed insights, it enables operators to make well-informed decisions and take proactive actions to ensure optimal network performance.

The feature introduces these changes:

CLI:

  • performance-monitoring

  • show ptp platform performance-counters

  • show ptp dataset performance

YANG Data Models:

  • Cisco-IOS-XR-ptp-cfg.yang

  • Cisco-IOS-XR-ptp-oper.yang

  • Cisco-IOS-XR-um-ptp-cfg.yang

(see GitHub, YANG Data Models Navigator)

L2VPN and Ethernet Services

Layer 3 Support for ITU-T Y.1564 Service Activation Test

The ITU-T Y.1564 Ethernet Service Activation Test (SAT) is now supported on Layer 3 interfaces, enhancing the capability to conduct thorough testing and performance verification for IP-based network services. This capability ensures that the performance of Ethernet services can be validated with greater accuracy and reliability, guaranteeing that network services meet the required quality standards before deployment.

System Security

MAC Authentication Bypass

Based on the MAC address of the end device or the client connected to the router port, this feature enables port control functionality for your router. This functionality provides controlled access to network services for end devices that do not support other authentication methods such as IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication.

The feature introduces these changes:

CLI:

System Management

Concurrent Configuration Rebase during Commit

The router performs the commit and rebase operations simultaneously, ensuring that the commit operation remains unblocked during the rebase operation.

This removes the need to use the cfs check command to increase the commit count and the commit file diff size.

YANG Data Models Introduced and Enhanced

This release introduces or enhances the following data models. For detailed information about the supported and unsupported sensor paths of all the data models, see the Github repository. To get a comprehensive list of the data models supported in a release, navigate to the Available-Content.md file for the release in the Github repository. The unsupported sensor paths are documented as deviations. For example, openconfig-acl.yangprovides details about the supported sensor paths, whereas cisco-xr-openconfig-acl-deviations.yang provides the unsupported sensor paths for openconfig-acl.yang on Cisco IOS XR routers.

You can also view the data model definitions using the YANG Data Models Navigator tool. This GUI-based and easy-to-use tool helps you explore the nuances of the data model and view the dependencies between various containers in the model. You can view the list of models supported across Cisco IOS XR releases and platforms, locate a specific model, view the containers and their respective lists, leaves, and leaf lists presented visually in a tree structure.

To get started with using data models, see the Programmability Configuration Guide for Cisco NCS 560 Series Routers.

Hardware Introduced


Note


Before you install the Cisco router, you must prepare your site for the installation, for more details on site planning and environmental requirements, see Hardware Installation Guide.


Hardware

Description

Optics

This release launches the following new optics on selective hardware within the product portfolio. For details and other new supported transceivers, refer to the Transceiver Module Group (TMG) Compatibility Matrix.

Behavior Changes

  • From this release, the default order of authentication methods for SSH clients on Cisco IOS XR routers running Cisco IOS XR SSH is changed to: public-key, keyboard-interactive, and password.

    Prior to this release, the default order was: public-key, password, and keyboard-interactive.

  • Prior to Cisco IOS XR Release 7.2.1, a segment of an explicit segment list can be configured as an IPv4 address (representing a Node or a Link) using the index indexaddress ipv4 address command.

    Starting with Cisco IOS XR Release 7.2.1, an IPv4-based segment (representing a Node or a Link) can also be configured with the new index index mpls adjacencyaddress command. The configuration is stored in NVRAM in the same CLI format used to create it. There is no conversion from the old CLI to the new CLI.

    Starting with Cisco IOS XR Release 7.9.1, the old CLI has been deprecated. Old configurations stored in NVRAM will be rejected at boot-up.

    As a result, explicit segment lists with IPv4-based segments using the old CLI must be re-configured using the new CLI.

    There are no CLI changes for segments configured as MPLS labels using the index index mpls label label command.

  • If you are on a release before Cisco IOS XR Release 7.4.1, you can configure SR-ODN with Flexible Algorithm constraints using the segment-routing traffic-eng on-demand color color dynamic sid-algorithm algorithm-number command.

    Starting with Cisco IOS XR Release 7.4.1, you can also configure SR-ODN with Flexible Algorithm constraints using the new segment-routing traffic-eng on-demand color color constraints segments sid-algorithm algorithm-number command.

    From Cisco IOS XR Release 7.9.1, the segment-routing traffic-eng on-demand color color dynamic sid-algorithm algorithm-number command is deprecated. Previous configurations stored in NVRAM will be rejected at boot-up. (Performing In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) to Cisco IOS XR Release 7.9.1 will also be rejected.)

    Hence, for Cisco IOS XR Release 7.9.1, you must reconfigure all SR-ODN configurations with Flexible Algorithm constraints that use the on-demand dynamic sid-algorithm with the on-demand constraints command.

Restrictions and Limitations

  • The statistics collection may time out due to CPU overload during route churn. In such scenarios, statistics collection will resume when the CPU becomes available after the route churn is complete.

  • The standby RP may get into 'NOT READY' state intermittently due to some network churn, though the corresponding VM is up and running. But this is a transient state and shows that some data aren’t in sync between active and standby due to the network churn. After both active and standby are in sync with respect to all the parameters, then the standby RP comes into 'READY' state.

Caveats

Table 1. Cisco IOS XR NCS 560 Routers Specific Bugs

Bug ID

Headline

CSCwk73534

OC terminal-device target-output-power units/definition interpretation is wrong

CSCwk88520

Observed fia_driver crash in NCS560 node after Active RP reload

Release Package

This following table lists the Cisco IOS XR Software feature set matrix (packages) with associated filenames.

Visit the Cisco Software Download page to download the Cisco IOS XR software images.

Table 2. Release 24.3.1 Packages for Cisco NCS 560 Series Router

Composite Package

Feature Set

Filename

Description

Cisco IOS XR IP Unicast Routing Core Bundle

ncs560-mini-x-24.3.1.iso

Contains base image contents that includes:

  • Host operating system

  • System Admin boot image

  • IOS XR boot image

  • BGP packages

  • OS

  • Admin

  • Base

  • Forwarding

  • Modular Services Card

  • Routing

  • SNMP Agent

  • Alarm Correlation

Cisco IOS XR Manageability Package

ncs560-mgbl-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Telemetry, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Parser, and HTTP server packages, NETCONF, YANG Models, gRPC.

Cisco IOS XR OSPF package

ncs560-ospf-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Supports OSPF

Cisco IOS XR Security Package

ncs560-k9sec-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

k9sec is needed for IPsec or MACsec and Dot1x and for basic crypto services such as Decryption, Secure Shell (SSH), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), and Public-key infrastructure (PKI).

Multicast Package

ncs560-mcast-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Supports Multicast

Supports Automatic Multicast Tunneling (AMT), IGMP Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD), Multicast Label Distribution Protocol (MLDP), Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP) and PIM.

Cisco IOS XR ISIS package

ncs560-isis-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Supports Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS).

Cisco IOS XR USB Boot Package

ncs560-usb_boot-24.3.1.zip

Supports Cisco IOS XR USB Boot Package

Cisco IOS XR MPLS Package

ncs560-mpls-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

ncs560-mpls-te-rsvp-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Supports MPLS and MPLS Traffic Engineering (MPLS-TE) RPM. Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), MPLS Forwarding, MPLS Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM), Link Manager Protocol (LMP), Optical User Network Interface (OUNI) and Layer-3 VPN.

Cisco IOS XR MPLS-TE and RSVP Package

MPLS Traffic Engineering (MPLS-TE) and Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP).

Cisco IOS XR LI Package

ncs560-li-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

Lawful Intercept

Cisco IOS XR EIGRP Package

ncs560-eigrp-1.0.0.0-r2431.x86_64.rpm

(Optional) Includes EIGRP protocol support software

Determine Software Version

Log in to the router and enter the show version command.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:Router#show version
Cisco IOS XR Software, Version 24.3.1
Copyright (c) 2013-2024 by Cisco Systems, Inc.

Build Information:
 Built By     : swtools
 Built On     : Sun Sep  1 00:48:40 PDT 2024
 Built Host   : iox-ucs-078
 Workspace    : /auto/srcarchive11/prod/24.3.1/ncs560/ws
 Version      : 24.3.1
 Location     : /opt/cisco/XR/packages/
 Label        : 24.3.1-iso

cisco NCS-560 () processor
System uptime is 33 minutes

Determine Firmware Support

Log in to the router and enter the show fpd package command to know the release image.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:Router#show fpd package
=============================== ================================================
                                        Field Programmable Device Package
                                ================================================
                                               Req     SW      Min Req   Min Req
Card Type            FPD Description           Reload  Ver     SW Ver  Board Ver
=================== ========================== ====== ======= ======== =========
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA-8Z-L-CC     IMFPGA                     YES     1.50      1.50      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA8CS1Z-CC     IMFPGA                     YES     1.115     1.115     0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA8CS1Z-M      IMFPGA                     YES     1.115     1.115     0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA8Z           IMFPGA                     YES    17.05     17.05      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA8Z-CC        IMFPGA                     YES    17.05     17.05      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-IMA8Z-L         IMFPGA                     YES     1.50      1.50      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-PWR1200-A       DCA-PriMCU(A)              NO      0.11      0.11      0.0  
                     DCA-SecMCU(A)              NO      1.04      1.04      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-PWR1200-D       LIT-PriMCU(A)              NO      1.27      1.27      0.0  
                     LIT-SecMCU(A)              NO      1.27      1.27      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A900-PWR900-D2       LIT-PriMCU(A)              NO      1.82      1.82      0.0  
                     LIT-SecMCU(A)              NO      1.84      1.84      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A907-FAN-E           PSOC(A)                    NO      1.65      1.65      0.0  
                     PSOC(A)                    NO      1.66      1.66      0.4  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A907-FAN-H           PSOC(A)                    NO      1.65      1.65      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASR914-F2B-FAN       PSOC(A)                    NO     44.08     44.08      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-FAN-H         PSOC(A)                    NO    177.02    177.02      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-FAN-H-CC      PSOC(A)                    NO    177.02    177.02      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-FAN-H-R       PSOC(A)                    NO    177.02    177.02      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-PWR-FAN       PSOC(A)                    NO    177.08    177.08      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-PWR-FAN-CC    PSOC(A)                    NO    177.08    177.08      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-PWR-FAN-R     PSOC(A)                    NO    177.08    177.08      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-RSP4          ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.69      0.69      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-RSP4-CC       ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.69      0.69      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-RSP4E         ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.69      0.69      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-4-RSP4E-CC      ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.69      0.69      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-FAN-H           PSOC(A)                    NO      2.02      2.02      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA-8Q/4L       IMFPGA                     YES     1.27      1.27      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA1W           CFP2-D-DCO                 NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     CFP2-DE-DCO                NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     CFP2-DET-DCO               NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     CFP2-DETS-DCO              NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     CFP2-DS-DCO                NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     CFP2-DS100-DCO             NO     38.27397  38.27397   0.0  
                     IMFPGA                     YES     1.28      1.28      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA2C           IMFPGA                     YES     6.06      6.06      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA2C-CC        IMFPGA                     YES     6.06      6.06      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA2C-DD        IMFPGA                     YES     1.28      1.28      0.0  
                     QDD_100_BRT_FW_P0          NO     70.130    70.130     0.0  
                     QDD_100_BRT_FW_P1          NO     70.130    70.130     0.0  
                     QDD_100_FW_P0              NO     61.23     61.23      0.0  
                     QDD_100_FW_P1              NO     61.23     61.23      0.0  
                     QDD_400_ZRP_FW_P0          NO    161.24    161.24      0.0  
                     QDD_400_ZRP_FW_P1          NO    161.24    161.24      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-IMA2C-L         IMFPGA                     YES     1.28      1.28      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-PWR1200-D-E     QCS-PriMCU(A)              NO      1.82      1.82      0.0  
                     QCS-SecMCU(A)              NO      1.84      1.84      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-RSP4            ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.80      0.80      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N560-RSP4-E          ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.80      0.80      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCS4200-1T16G-PS     IMFPGA                     YES     1.115     1.115     0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCS4200-2H-PQ        IMFPGA                     YES     6.06      6.06      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCS4200-8T-PS        IMFPGA                     YES    17.05     17.05      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCS4216-F2B-FAN      PSOC(A)                    NO     44.08     44.08      0.0  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCS4216-RSP-800      ADM(A)                     NO      1.06      1.06      0.0  
                     IOFPGA(A)                  YES     0.02      0.02      0.0  
                     PRIMARY-BIOS(A)            YES     0.24      0.24      0.0  
                     SATA(A)                    NO      2.20      2.20      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR(A)                NO      1.30      1.30      0.0  
                     SATA_MAR_B4(A)             NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  
                     SATA_SMI(A)                NO      1.10      1.10      0.0  

Log in to the router and enter the show hw-module fpd command to know the current version.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:Router#show hw-module fpd
Auto-upgrade:Enabled
                                                                         FPD Versions
                                                                        ==============
Location   Card type             HWver FPD device       ATR Status    Running   Programd  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0/1        A900-IMA8CS1Z-M       0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT     1.115     1.115   
0/4        A900-IMA8Z            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT    17.05     17.05    
0/5        A900-IMA8Z            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT    17.05     17.05    
0/7        N560-IMA1W            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT     1.28      1.28    
0/9        N560-IMA2C            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT     6.06      6.06    
0/10       A900-IMA8Z            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT    17.05     17.05    
0/13       A900-IMA8Z            0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT    17.05     17.05    
0/15       A900-IMA8CS1Z-M       0.0   IMFPGA                CURRENT     1.115     1.115   
0/RP0      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   ADM                   CURRENT     1.06      1.06    
0/RP0      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   IOFPGA                CURRENT     0.80      0.80    
0/RP0      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   PRIMARY-BIOS          CURRENT     0.24      0.24    
0/RP0      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   SATA                  CURRENT     2.20      2.20    
0/RP1      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   ADM                   CURRENT     1.06      1.06    
0/RP1      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   IOFPGA                CURRENT     0.80      0.80    
0/RP1      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   PRIMARY-BIOS          CURRENT     0.24      0.24    
0/RP1      N560-RSP4-E           0.0   SATA                  CURRENT     2.20      2.20    
0/FT0      N560-FAN-H            1.0   PSOC                  CURRENT     2.02      2.02    

Important Notes

Licensing

Starting with Cisco IOS XR Release 24.1.1, Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP) is the default Licensing model. When you upgrade to the Cisco IOS XR Release 24.1.1 release or later, the Smart Licensing Using Policy is enabled by default.

You can migrate your devices to Smart Licensing with Policy model, see Migrating from Smart Licensing to Smart Licensing Using Policy, Smart Licensing Using Policy on Cisco IOS XR Routers.

We recommend that you update to the latest version of SSM On-Prem or Cisco Smart Licensing Utility.


Note


SSM On-Prem and CSSM both support SLP devices and SL devices. SLP devices and SL devices can coexist in a network. The Smart Licensing (SL) model is available in releases Cisco IOS XR Release 7.11.1 and earlier.


Upgrading Cisco IOS XR Software

For software installation and upgrades, refer to the respective upgrade/downgrade docs .tar files based on your 560 router varaint.

Cisco IOS XR Software is installed and activated from modular packages, allowing specific features or software patches to be installed, upgraded, or downgraded without affecting unrelated processes. Software packages can be upgraded or downgraded on all supported card types, or on a single card (node).

The upgrade document for Cisco NCS 560 router is available along with the software image in NCS560_Upgrade_MOP_24.3.1.tar file.

Production Software Maintenance Updates (SMUs)

A production SMU is a SMU that is formally requested, developed, tested, and released. Production SMUs are intended for use in a live network environment and are formally supported by the Cisco TAC and the relevant development teams. Software bugs identified through software recommendations or Bug Search Tools are not a basis for production SMU requests.

For information on production SMU types, refer the Production SMU Types section of the IOS XR Software Maintenance Updates (SMUs) guide.

Cisco IOS XR Error messages

To view, search, compare, and download Cisco IOS XR Error Messages, refer to the Cisco IOS XR Error messages tool.

Cisco IOS XR MIBs

To determine the MIBs supported by platform and release, refer to the Cisco IOS XR MIBs tool.