Cisco NCS-55A1-36H-S vs NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S
Posted by Aqif Kapertoni on Aug 28th 2025
What is the diference between these two Cisco models: Cisco NCS-55A1-36H-S vs NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S
Cisco NCS-55A1-36H-S vs NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S
Core Differences
| Feature | NCS-55A1-36H-S (Base) | NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S (Scale Enhanced) |
|---|---|---|
| Routing Capacity | Up to 1 million FIB entries | Up to 4 million FIB entries |
| ASIC & TCAM Architecture | Jericho+ without NG eTCAM (smaller LPM) | Jericho+ with NG eTCAM (large-scale LPM) |
| Power Consumption | Typical: ~1100 W; Max: ~1450 W | Typical: ~1300 W; Max: ~1700 W |
| Other Specs | Same: 36×100G QSFP28 ports, MACsec, 3.6 Tbps, 1 RU, IOS XR |
Key Insights
1. Routing Scale
The NCS-55A1-36H-S supports up to 1 million FIB entries, which is sufficient for many high-performance routing use cases.
The NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S supports up to 4 million FIB entries, making it suitable for massive-scale deployments, global routing tables, and service provider backbones.
2. ASIC & eTCAM Capability
The base model uses the Jericho+ ASIC without next-generation eTCAM, which limits large-scale routing table capacity.
The SE-S variant integrates Jericho+ with next-generation eTCAM, enabling significantly greater scale and efficiency for route storage and lookups.
3. Power Consumption
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NCS-55A1-36H-S: Typical ~1100 W; Maximum ~1450 W
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NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S: Typical ~1300 W; Maximum ~1700 W
The enhanced model requires more power, reflecting its additional capabilities and larger routing scale.
4. Shared Features
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Ports: Both provide 36 × QSFP28 ports, supporting 100 G and 40 G, with breakout options for 25 G and 10 G.
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MACsec: Both models support full line-rate encryption across all ports.
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Throughput: Each delivers up to 3.6 Tbps system throughput.
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Form Factor: Both are compact 1 RU chassis with the same physical design.
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Software: Both run Cisco IOS XR, with support for automation, telemetry, and modern programmability.
Summary: Which Should You Choose?
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NCS-55A1-36H-S: Best for enterprises or regional providers that need strong performance but do not require multi-million route scale.
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NCS-55A1-36H-SE-S: Best for service providers, large data centers, or backbone networks where extremely large routing tables and long-term scalability are required.