1. Home
  2. Routers
  3. Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500) Reviews
  4. User Review of Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500)
Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System Review
Updated July 18, 2022

Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System Review

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500)

The Cisco 5500 NCS is a full-featured very versatile family of routers. There are currently 4 different chassis models that suit various network needs from Enterprise, to Data Center, to Service Provider edge and Service Provider core. We are currently using the Cisco NCS 5508 in various parts of the network due to its versatility.
  • It is versatile due to the diversity in models and form factors.
  • Low power consumption compared to similar models
  • Mature operating system code allowing for quick production installation and configuration.
  • The 5508 router may not be as capable as the equivalent ASR 9000 as an edge device.
  • QoS/TCAM memory and Forwarding capacity with the NCS on high-traffic load
  • Protection during amplified DDOS attacks could be another concern.
  • Cisco NCS 5500 series models offer a broad range of uses that can positively impact ROI if properly discovered and implemented.
  • The smaller chassis of the 5501 and 5502 require small rack space for installation, relatively low cost and low power consumption.
  • The Cisco NCS 5508 is capable of routing large amounts of traffic on a service provider or large enterprise network and by running mature IOS-XR code does not require a lot of investment in staff training if already familiar with the CLI.
The Cisco NCS 5500 series router continues the evolution of the network router. It can be used in similar parts of a network as the older Cisco 7500 and 12000 series routers, and it can either replace older or work in conjunction with ASR series routers. The smaller form factor NCS devices can replace older switch models with better port density and processor that will result in improved functionality.
Cisco support is always informative and reliable. Depending on the level of support you subscribe to, the techs and Cisco TAC are well versed in hardware and operating system of the NCS series routers. You can receive 24x7 support and either Next Business Day or 4-hour part replacement from Cisco if required.

Do you think Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500) delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500)'s feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500) live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500) go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500) again?

Yes

Cisco 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers (ASR 1000), Cisco 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers (ASR 9000), Cisco 5500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 5500)
The Cisco 5500 Series NCS appears to be well suited as a fairly simple core network device that doesn't require a lot of one-off configuration setup. It may have some restrictions if used as a peering and/or edge device due to control-plane protection design and QoS/TCAM memory and Forwarding capacity. The 5501 is well suited as a switch due to mature code and hardware capability.