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Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

How do Excel imports differ from single-node onboarding?
What verifies topology and inventory after node discovery?
Which logs help troubleshoot Cisco ONC operations?

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Cisco Optical Automation Solution for Protected Point-to-Point Managed Optical Fiber Network

How do Excel imports differ from single-node onboarding?
What verifies topology and inventory after node discovery?
Which logs help troubleshoot Cisco ONC operations?

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Deploy the Cisco Optical Automation Solution in Seven Steps

Optical Automation Solution

Plan Your Network with Cisco Optical Network Planner

Cisco Optical Network Planner prerequisites and user management
Plan your NCS1001 Network

Reference a sample day-0 network configuration

Bring Up Your NCS 1000 Devices

NCS 1014 overview
NCS 1004 overview
NCS 1001 overview
Install Cisco NCS 1014, NCS 1004, and NCS 1001 hardware
NCS 1001 setup and initial configuration

Manage Your Sites with Cisco Optical Site Manager

Cisco Optical Site Manager
Cisco Optical Site Manager installation workflow
Onboarding models for Cisco Optical Site Manager
Outcome

Operate Your Network with Cisco Optical Network Controller

Cisco Optical Network Controller
Install Cisco Optical Network Controller
Operating Cisco Optical Network Controller
Outcome

Import Your Live Network and Plan Future Expansion with Cisco Optical Network Planner

Import a live network into Cisco Optical Network Planner
Collect troubleshooting data for live network import

Update Your Cisco Optical Automation Solution with Software Maintenance Updates

Cisco Optical Network Planner software maintenance update
Cisco IOS XR and Cisco Optical Site Manager software maintenance update
Install a Cisco Optical Network Controller service pack

Upgrade Your Optical Network with Cisco Optical Network Controller

Prepare for Cisco Optical Network Controller rollback scenarios
Upgrade a standalone Cisco Optical Network Controller deployment
Upgrade a mixed-device optical network
Recover from an incomplete optical network upgrade

Install Cisco Optical Network Controller

Updated: October 26, 2026

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Prepare for Cisco Optical Network Controller rollback scenarios

Use this procedure to download Cisco Optical Network Controller installation files, install the controller, and plan a geo-redundant deployment. It helps you complete the related Cisco Optical Network Controller workflow and verify the expected result.

The installation establishes the controller platform for user management, node onboarding, and circuit provisioning and monitoring.

Before you begin

Verify that you have a Cisco account and a valid license agreement to download images.
Identify whether this is a new deployment or a geo-redundant deployment.

Follow these steps to install Cisco Optical Network Controller.

Procedure

Download these installation files from Software Download.
- Download the .ova image for a new installation.
- Download the .tar system pack image for upgrading Cisco Optical Network Controller to a newer version.
- Download the .tar service pack image for updating an existing Cisco Optical Network Controller installation with bug fixes and enhancements.
For details about installation requirements, see Installation Requirements.
Install Cisco Optical Network Controller using the OVA workflow.
1. Review the deployment prerequisites in the installation guide.
2. Deploy the OVA in VMware vSphere and complete the installation wizard.
For details about the OVA workflow, see Install Cisco Optical Network Controller in a standalone mode .
Plan for the installation and deployment of geo-redundant Cisco Optical Network Controller.
1. Review Install and deploy geo-redundant Cisco Optical Network Controller.
2. Review Upgrade a standalone deployment to a geo-redundant deployment.
For details about switching active and standby roles, see Perform a switchover in a geo-redundant Cisco Optical Network Controller deployment.

Cisco Optical Network Controller is installed and ready for the required deployment model.

Need help?

Open a support case

(Requires a Cisco Service Contract)

Bias-free language

The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.