Guided Cabling Overview

In a multichassis system with a number of interconnected routers, there are a large number of switching plane connections between the routers. Guided cabling reduces the complexity of correctly connecting these cables. It provides an easy method to correctly identify the ports on the two routers that need to be connected with the cables, both at the port level, and at a plane level. Corresponding CBL LEDs on the SIBs in the two routers blink simultaneously and help identify the correct port to be used for connecting the switching plane cables.

For example, a TX Matrix Plus router with 3D SIBs can have up to 160 switching plane cables, with CXP modules at either end of each cable, connected between the SIBs of the switch fabric chassis (SFC) and the line-card chassis (LCCs). In both the configurations, with eight T1600 LCCs or with four T4000 LCCs, you can connect up to 160 switching plane cables.

You can connect the cables either port-by-port or plane-by-plane.

When you enable port-by-port guided cabling, one pair of the CBL LEDs on the SIBs of both routers start blinking. After the switching plane cable is connected successfully between the blinking ports, the next unconnected pair of CBL LEDs start blinking.

When you enable plane-by-plane guided cabling, all the CBL LEDs of the unconnected ports in the specified plane start blinking. After you start connecting the ports, the successfully connected port CBL LEDs turn green. Unconnected ports continue to blink. After all the switching plane cables are successfully connected, the next set of CBL LEDs on the ports in the next plane start blinking.