Optical Support in the 38xx Routers

[cnowland]

I was just about to order some 3800 series routers when I deiscovered that they don't support (yet?) any optical interfaces. Does anyone have an idea when they will change this? Will it be an IOS upgrade or a hardware change? Any thoughts...

[thisisshanky]

When you mean optical interface, you are referring to OC-3, 12 etc type of interfaces ?? I dont think Cisco meant these products to be used at such higher speeds. You will have to look for a high end platform like the 7200s or 7300s to do this.

[cnowland]

Yes, I was refering to the OC-3 and above interfaces. I thought 3800 series were, in a way, upgrade from the 3700 series, which supports the optical interfaces.

[thisisshanky]

I was wrong. Atleast the 3800's will start supporting ATM OC3 modules by 2005. Thats what the following link says.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5855/products_qanda_item0900aecd8016a953.shtml

The ATM OC3 network modules were supported by 3600's and 3700's. So I would think with a new version of IOS Cisco will bring back support for these modules. But these will be ATM OC3 modules and not regular OC3.