Cisco 76-ES+XT-2TG3CXL
7600 ES+XT, LAN/WAN PHY, OTN/G.709, 2x10GE, XFP, DFC3CXL
Product Highlights
Service providers and large enterprises running Cisco 7600 Series routers need line cards that combine high-speed Ethernet connectivity with advanced transport capabilities — without sacrificing service intelligence or port density. The Cisco 76-ES+XT-2TG3CXL is a 2-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Ethernet Services Plus Extended Transport (ES+XT) line card that delivers exactly that.
Designed for IP-over-DWDM integration in Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS provider edge, WAN, and metropolitan area network (MAN) applications, this line card provides 20 Gbps of aggregate bandwidth through two XFP-based 10GE interfaces. It supports both LAN and WAN PHY modes and includes native OTN/G.709 framing with Forward Error Correction (FEC) and Enhanced FEC (EFEC), enabling optical links to span greater distances across dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) networks.
The integrated DFC3CXL (Distributed Forwarding Card 3CXL) enables wire-speed distributed forwarding directly on the line card, reducing the load on the supervisor engine and improving overall system performance. With support for hierarchical QoS, up to 16,000 VLAN IDs, VPLS, EoMPLS, Layer 3 IP/MPLS VPNs, and programmable interface processors operating at line rate, the 76-ES+XT-2TG3CXL is a versatile, carrier-grade module for demanding network environments. Note: this product is part of the Cisco 7600 Series (C7600), which has reached End-of-Life status.
Features & Benefits
Extended Transport with OTN/G.709
The ES+XT architecture supports G.709 framing and both standard FEC and Enhanced Forward Error Correction (EFEC) for back-to-back ES+XT connections. This enables optical links to span significantly greater distances across DWDM networks, making it ideal for long-haul and metro deployments where signal integrity is critical. OA&M capabilities in both OTN and WAN PHY modes provide real-time insight into link quality and data transmission health.
Distributed Forwarding with DFC3CXL
The integrated DFC3CXL offloads packet forwarding decisions from the central supervisor engine to the line card itself. This distributed architecture delivers wire-speed Layer 2, Layer 3, and Layer 4 processing, dramatically improving system throughput and reducing latency — especially important in chassis with multiple line cards competing for supervisor resources.
Carrier Ethernet Services at Scale
This line card uniquely combines native Ethernet Layer 2 switching, bridging, VPLS, Ethernet over MPLS (EoMPLS), and full Layer 3 IP/MPLS routing on a single module. With support for up to 16,000 locally significant VLAN IDs and hierarchical QoS, service providers can deliver differentiated voice, video, data, and wireless mobility services with granular traffic management.
Flexible 10GE Connectivity via XFP
Two XFP-based 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports support a wide range of optical transceivers for single-mode fiber connectivity at 1310 nm or 1550 nm wavelengths. The dual LAN/WAN PHY capability allows each port to operate in either LAN or WAN mode, providing deployment flexibility across diverse network topologies without requiring separate line cards.
Programmable & Investment-Protecting Architecture
The ES+XT line cards feature programmable interface processors that perform feature processing at line rate. This extensible design allows new capabilities to be enabled through software, protecting your hardware investment and reducing total cost of ownership as network requirements evolve.
Deployment Scenarios
Service Provider MPLS Provider Edge
Deploy the 76-ES+XT-2TG3CXL at the provider edge of an IP/MPLS network to deliver Layer 3 VPNs, VPLS, and EoMPLS services over 10GE uplinks. The integrated DFC3CXL ensures wire-speed forwarding under heavy multi-service traffic loads, while hierarchical QoS enables differentiated SLAs for enterprise customers.
Metro Ethernet / MAN Aggregation
Use the ES+XT line card in metropolitan area network aggregation nodes where 10GE density and advanced Carrier Ethernet features are required. G.709 OTN framing with EFEC extends optical reach across DWDM rings, reducing the need for intermediate regeneration equipment and lowering operational costs.
Data Center Interconnect (DCI) over DWDM
Connect geographically separated data centers over long-haul DWDM infrastructure using the OTN/G.709 transport capabilities. The dual 10GE XFP ports provide primary and redundant paths, while FEC/EFEC ensures reliable data transmission over extended fiber distances without external transponders.
Enterprise WAN Core / Backbone
Install in large enterprise 7600 Series routers serving as WAN backbone nodes. The combined Layer 2 and Layer 3 capability on a single card simplifies the network design, and the DFC3CXL ensures that forwarding performance scales independently of other modules in the chassis.
General
Interfaces & Performance
Forwarding & Processing
Features & Services
Compatibility
Compatibility Notes
Supported Chassis
- Cisco 7603-S, 7604, 7606, 7606-S, 7609, 7613
- Also supported on Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches (subset of features)
Supervisor Engine Requirement
- Supervisor Engine 720-3B or VS-S720
Minimum Software
- Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXJ1 or later
Optics
- Accepts 10GE XFP modules (sold separately). Refer to Cisco's compatibility matrix for supported XFP part numbers.
Licensing
- 76-ES+BASIC-LIC — Basic license (includes IPv6)
- 76-ES+ADVIP-LIC — Advanced IP license (adds L3VPN, additional routing features)
- OTN/G.709 features may require the 76-ES+OTN/G.709 license
Note: The Cisco 7600 Series (C7600) has reached End-of-Life. Verify current Cisco support and service contract availability before deployment.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 76-ES+XT-2TG3C | ES+XT 2-Port 10GE with DFC3C | Same 2x10GE ES+XT form factor but ships with DFC3C instead of DFC3CXL — lower forwarding table capacity |
| 76-ES+XT-4TG3CXL | ES+XT 4-Port 10GE with DFC3CXL | Doubles port density to 4x10GE (40 Gbps aggregate) with DFC3CXL — ideal when more 10GE interfaces are needed |
| 76-ES+XT-4TG3C | ES+XT 4-Port 10GE with DFC3C | 4x10GE ports with DFC3C — higher port count but without the extended forwarding tables of the DFC3CXL |
| 7600-ES+2TG3CXL | ES+ 2-Port 10GE with DFC3CXL | Standard ES+ variant (no XT) — lacks OTN/G.709 and EFEC transport capabilities but suitable for LAN-only deployments |