Overview

Welcome to our comprehensive FAQ for the ZTE ZXA10 C300 Optical Line Terminal (OLT), a carrier-grade platform widely deployed in FTTx networks for GPON, EPON, and 10G PON access. This guide answers critical technical questions network architects and engineers ask daily, from CLI backup commands to hardware specifications and redundancy mechanisms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How do I backup the configuration file of a ZTE C300 OLT via FTP and TFTP?

To backup the configuration of a ZTE C300 OLT, use the 'backup configuration' command in config mode, specifying the format and server type. For FTP, the syntax is backup configuration format (gz/txt) ftp . For TFTP, use backup configuration format (gz/txt) tftp . After executing the command, the device will confirm with 'Start backup configuration files' and 'The backup is successful'. This process saves the running config to an external server for disaster recovery and migration purposes.

Q2: What is the maximum switching capacity and backplane throughput of the ZTE C300?

The maximum switching capacity of the ZTE ZXA10 C300 varies depending on the control board installed, ranging from 480 Gbps up to a massive 2.8 Tbps backplane throughput . The system supports 400Gbps of redundant throughput with 20Gbps of bandwidth per subscriber slot, placing it at the forefront of FTTP OLT platforms . This non-blocking architecture ensures line-rate forwarding across all service modules, making it suitable for dense residential and enterprise access scenarios .

Q3: What are the main differences between the ZTE C300 and the newer ZTE C600 OLT?

The ZTE C600 is the high-capacity next-generation platform, while the C300 is a legacy medium-density OLT. Key differences include the backplane capacity (C600 offers 8 Tbps vs. C300's 480 Gbps-2.8 Tbps) and native support for XGS-PON and Combo PON, which the C300 lacks (C300 supports GPON and EPON only) . Additionally, the C600 supports 100GE uplinks and In-Service Software Upgrades (ISSU) for zero-downtime maintenance, whereas the C300 is limited to 10GE uplinks and requires a reboot for major upgrades . Choose the C600 for new high-density 5G backhaul and 10G PON builds; the C300 remains suitable for smaller, existing FTTH networks.

Q4: Does the ZTE C300 OLT support PON protection, and what types are available?

Yes, the ZTE C300 supports robust hardware-level failover through four types of PON protection mechanisms: Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D . Type B provides OLT-side redundancy, backing up the PON ports and the backbone fiber to the splitter . Type C and Type D extend protection to the ONU side, with Type D offering full duplex protection of OLT PON ports, ONU PON ports, splitters, and all fibers . These mechanisms ensure service continuity by automatically switching traffic to standby paths in the event of fiber cuts or hardware failures.

Q5: How can I troubleshoot redundant power supply failover on the ZTE C300?

The ZTE C300 uses the PRWG power board supporting dual -48V DC inputs in a 1+1 redundant configuration . If one power feed fails, the other seamlessly assumes the entire electrical load without dropping packets . To troubleshoot a failover event, first verify the status of both power modules using the 'show power' CLI command to check for voltage anomalies. If a module is faulty, ensure it is hot-swapped with a replacement unit; the system will automatically rebalance the load. Additionally, monitor alarms via SNMP for 'Power Supply Failure' traps to quickly identify hardware degradation in the DC plant .

Q6: What are the key specifications for GPON and 10G uplink interfaces on the C300?

The ZTE C300 supports multiple uplink interface configurations, including 4x10GE (SFP+), 2x10GE+2xGE, and 4xGE (optical/electrical) uplink boards . For GPON access, line cards like the GTGO (8 ports) and GTGH (16 ports) comply with G.984.x standards, offering Class C+ optics with typical RX power ranges of -8 to -28 dBm . The platform supports a maximum logical distance of 60 km and a splitting ratio of up to 1:128, enabling versatile deployment topologies for both urban and rural FTTx rollouts .

Q7: What are the standard CLI steps to configure a VLAN and PON port on the ZTE C300?

Basic CLI configuration for a ZTE C300 involves three essential steps. First, create the service VLAN in configure terminal mode: vlan 100 smart . Second, enter the GPON port interface and provision the ONU: interface gpon-olt_1/1/1 then onu 1 type ZTEG type-class . Third, bind the VLAN to the service port: service-port 1 vlan 100 gpon-olt_1/1/1 onu 1 eth_1 . Always commit the running configuration to startup memory using the 'write' or 'write file' command to ensure the configuration persists after a reboot.

Q8: Is the ZTE C300 compatible with third-party ONUs from vendors like Huawei or Nokia?

Standard-compliant interoperability with third-party ONUs is limited on the ZTE C300. While the OLT adheres to ITU-T G.984 and G.988 standards, ZTE generally requires proprietary OMCI management for full provisioning, including DBA profiles, firmware upgrades, and VLAN mapping . Some third-party ONUs may work in a 'transparent' mode for basic connectivity, but advanced features are not guaranteed . For carrier-grade stability and full feature support, it is highly recommended to use ZTE-authorized ONUs or request custom interoperability code from ZTE support.