Cisco NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 Full Official Technical Specification Document

1. Product Overview

Official Full Designation

Core Definition

SKU Naming Breakdown

1. NIM: Network Interface Module, standard single-wide expansion form factor exclusive to Cisco ISR 4000 Series and Catalyst 8200/8300 edge routers
2. 4: Four independent physical RJ48C balanced trunk ports integrated on a single NIM module
3. MFT: Multi-Flex Trunk, flexible arbitrary DS0 timeslot partitioning to support mixed voice, data and TDM cross-connect workloads on each trunk port
4. T1/E1: Universal dual-standard trunk support; each RJ48 port is software-selectable between ANSI T1 and ITU-T E1 operation without hardware jumper adjustments
5. =: Standard spare part suffix for brand-new standalone replacement kits (NIM-4MFT-T1/E1=)
6. -RF: Cisco Refresh certified refurbished spare SKU variant (NIM-4MFT-T1/E1-RF)

Product Lifecycle Notice

• Official Global Release Year: 2013
• End-of-Sale (EoS) Status: Discontinued; Cisco permanently ceased production of brand-new NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 hardware units
• Direct Upgrade Replacement Models: NIM-8MFT-T1/E1 eight-port high-density MFT NIM for large contact center deployments, SM-X-2MFT-T1/E1 SM-X service module for ISR 4000 high-capacity unified communications gateways
• Minimum Supported IOS XE Software Version: Cisco IOS XE Release 3.9S; full voice conferencing/transcoding and circuit emulation features require IOS XE 3.11S or later; Catalyst 8200/8300 edge routers require IOS XE 17.3+Cisco
• Software Maintenance Status: Only critical security vulnerability patches are released for customers holding active Cisco DNA Services contracts; no new media processing or trunk feature enhancements will be developed
• Legacy Status: End-of-sale legacy hardware; certified refurbished spare modules, validated IOS XE firmware images and 24×7 Cisco TAC engineering technical support remain available through authorized Cisco distribution partners

Supported Router Platform Compatibility

1. Cisco ISR 4300 Series: 4321, 4331, 4351
2. Cisco ISR 4400 Series: 4431, 4451, 4451-X, 4461
3. Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Routers: C8200-1N-4T
4. Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Routers: C8300-1N1S-6T
5. Cisco 5400 Series Enterprise Network Compute System (ENCS) (supported starting from NFVIS Release 3.9)Cisco

Deployment Restrictions

1. OIR operational requirement: Online Insertion and Removal hot-swap functionality operates fully only when the router runs the minimum required IOS XE release (3.9S or newer); older IOS XE versions require a full chassis power cycle for module installation or replacementCisco.
2. Voice DSP hardware dependency: All packet voice trunking, PRI/CAS signaling, echo cancellation and voice codec processing requires motherboard PVDM4 DSP modules; legacy PVDM2/PVDM3 DSP generations are not supported on ISR 4000 platforms.
3. Licensing requirements: Data-only fractional T1/E1 deployments require the IP Base technology package (included by default); voice trunking deployments require the Unified Communications (UC) RTU license for ISR 4000, or DNA Advantage subscription for Catalyst edge routersCisco.
4. Backplane bandwidth ceiling: Each NIM slot provides dedicated backplane bandwidth for quad-port T1/E1 traffic; concurrent multi-NIM TDM and IP traffic will share the router’s internal Multigigabit Fabric bus.
5. Balanced trunk cable limitation: RJ48C ports require standard 100Ω (T1) / 120Ω (E1) balanced twisted-pair trunk cabling; standard unbalanced RJ45 Ethernet patch cables fail impedance matching and trigger persistent trunk signal errors and bit loss.
6. Unframed G.703 E1 mode not supported: The NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 MFT series modules do not support unstructured unframed E1 G.703 operation, only channelized framed T1/E1 trunk modes.

Standard Factory Complete Bundle Contents

1. NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 quad-port universal T1/E1 Multi-Flex Trunk NIM expansion card with front-panel four RJ48C balanced trunk ports and dedicated CARRIER/ALARM dual status LED indicators per port
2. Anti-static ESD handling storage bag and protective foam packaging
3. Quick-start hardware installation guide covering ESD static protection protocols, NIM slot OIR insertion/removal procedures, balanced RJ48 trunk cabling specifications, IOS XE T1/E1 port mode switching configuration, DS0 timeslot partitioning, TDM drop-and-insert cross-connect setup, fractional data channel-group and PRI/CAS voice trunk configuration command examples
4. Global regulatory compliance, safety, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) certification documentation packet

Core Integrated Functional Capabilities

1. Four Independent Software-Selectable T1/E1 Balanced Trunk Ports: Four separate RJ48C trunk ports, each fully configurable via IOS XE CLI for ANSI T1 (1.544 Mbps, 24 DS0 timeslots) or ITU-T E1 (2.048 Mbps, 32 DS0 timeslots, TS0 reserved for framing synchronization) operation, eliminating separate hardware SKUs for North American and European global branch deployments. Each port supports independent clock source selection for mixed voice/data TDM workloads, a key enhancement over third-generation VWIC3 legacy cards.
2. Onboard Integrated Fully Managed CSU/DSU Line Termination Hardware: Built-in channel service unit circuitry removes the requirement for standalone external CSU/DSU devices deployed between the router and carrier trunk demarcation point. This reduces total branch rack hardware footprint, minimizes copper trunk cable interconnection points that introduce signal loss and fault points, lowers auxiliary telephony hardware capital expenditure, and enables centralized remote trunk diagnostics, loopback testing and bit error rate (BERT) analysis directly from the IOS XE router command line without on-site technician dispatchesCisco.
3. Flexible Multi-Flex DS0 Timeslot Partitioning Per Port: Arbitrary segmentation of all trunk DS0 timeslots into three distinct resource group types for concurrent multi-service workloads on a single physical trunk port:
   • Up to 2 independent fractional serial data channel-groups per port for HDLC, PPP, Frame Relay and Multilink PPP (MLPPP) leased-line WAN connectivity
   • One PRI/CAS ds0-group per port for ISDN packet voice PBX/PSTN trunk signaling (max 24 DS0 T1 / 31 DS0 E1 voice timeslots)
   • One TDM tdm-group cross-connect resource per port for hardware drop-and-insert DS0 timeslot bridging between any two trunk ports on the same NIM module, eliminating external standalone TDM multiplexers.
4. Native SAToP/CESoPSN Circuit Emulation Service Support for TDM-over-IP Modernization: Full compliance with industry-standard TDM-over-packet pseudowire protocols, allowing enterprises to migrate legacy T1/E1 PBX, industrial SCADA and proprietary TDM equipment backhaul traffic onto modern IP/MPLS and SD-WAN overlay transport networks, eliminating costly dedicated TDM carrier backbone circuits and reducing recurring monthly wide-area service expenses. Integrated G.8261-compliant adaptive clock recovery (ACR) hardware maintains precise TDM synchronization across latency-variable packet-switched WAN links, preventing voice clipping, fax signal corruption and industrial SCADA communication timing faults that impact critical business operations.
5. Comprehensive T1/E1 Trunk Diagnostic Toolset: Hardware-supported local/remote loopback testing, configurable BERT bit error rate test pattern generation (PRBS-15/20/23, QRSS), real-time trunk alarm monitoring (Loss of Signal, Out of Frame, AIS blue alarm, RAI remote alarm indication), programmable line build-out (LBO) signal attenuation for long-distance copper trunk runs, and hardware CRC error detection on all Layer 1 trunk framesCisco.
6. Full Unified Communications Voice Gateway Compatibility: Natively integrated with the complete Cisco IOS XE unified communications feature suite: Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CME), CUCM branch voice gateway, Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE), SIP/H.323/MGCP call control protocols, PRI/CAS PSTN trunk signaling, TCL/IVR voice application support and enterprise dial plan configuration.
7. Full IOS XE Security, Routing and QoS Feature Integration: Seamless compatibility with core enterprise edge router functionality: static/dynamic IP routing (RIP, EIGRP, OSPF), zone-based IOS firewall, NAT/PAT address translation, IPSec site-to-site VPN tunneling, AAA identity authentication, differentiated services QoS traffic prioritization and LLQ low-latency queuing for latency-sensitive voice and TDM circuit emulation streams.
8. SNMP MIB Remote Monitoring Support: Implements standard Cisco T1/E1 trunk interface SNMP MIBs for remote network monitoring of NIM module hardware operational status, trunk carrier/alarm fault status, aggregate ingress/egress TDM/IP traffic throughput, DS0 timeslot utilization counters, trunk bit error statistics and hardware fault alarm reporting, with SNMP trap generation triggered for all critical trunk alarm conditions.

2. Hardware & Performance Specifications

Core T1/E1 Trunk Transmission Performance

T1 Mode Specifications

• Standard: ANSI T1.403
• Line rate: 1.544 Mbps ±50 bps
• Total DS0 timeslots: 24 × 64 kbps
• Supported line coding: AMI, B8ZS
• Supported framing formats: D4 Super Frame (SF), Extended Super Frame (ESF)
• Configurable Line Build-Out (LBO): 0 dB, -7.5 dB, -15 dB
• Input signal receive range: +1 dB0 down to -24 dB0

E1 Mode Specifications

• Standard: ITU-T G.703 / G.704
• Line rate: 2.048 Mbps ±100 bps
• Total DS0 timeslots: 32 × 64 kbps (TS0 reserved for framing synchronization)
• Supported line coding: HDB3
• Supported framing formats: Double CRC4, Single CRC4, Unframed G.703 not supported
• Balanced trunk impedance: Software configurable 100Ω (T1) / 120Ω (E1) (no manual jumper adjustments required)

Universal Module Resource Limits (Per Single Port)

• Maximum fractional data channel-groups per port: 2
• Maximum PRI/CAS voice ds0-groups per port: 1
• Maximum TDM drop-and-insert tdm-groups per port: 1
• Supported WAN serial encapsulations: HDLC, PPP, Frame Relay, MLPPP
• Supported circuit emulation pseudowire standards: SAToP, CESoPSN
• Configurable voice packetization interval: 10ms to 60ms adjustable media packet size

Front Panel LED Indicator Definitions (Dual LED: CARRIER / ALARM per RJ48 port)

1. CARRIER LED Solid Green: Valid synchronized T1/E1 physical layer trunk link established with remote carrier/PBX equipment; steady receive signal detection active
2. CARRIER LED Off: No balanced trunk signal detected, broken trunk cable or remote equipment power-down fault condition
3. ALARM LED Solid Amber: Active critical trunk layer fault alarm detected (Out of Frame, Loss of Signal, AIS blue alarm, RAI remote alarm indication)
4. ALARM LED Off: No active trunk fault alarms; trunk framing and signaling operating normally

Electrical & Thermal Specifications

Power Consumption

• Typical operating power draw under mixed fractional data + medium voice trunk load across four ports: ~9.5 Watts typical total module power dissipation
• Maximum full-load power consumption with all DS0 timeslots active for concurrent data, voice and circuit emulation traffic on all four ports: ≤12 Watts maximum full-load thermal dissipation
• Power Delivery: Powered exclusively through the ISR 4000 / Catalyst 8000 router chassis NIM slot internal backplane bus; no external power supply connectors mounted on the NIM module hardware

Thermal & Environmental Operating Parameters

• Certified Continuous Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F) standard enterprise branch datacenter equipment room environment
• Extended Validated Short-Term Operating Temperature: -20°C to +65°C (-4°F to 148°F) non-operating storage temperature
• Operating Relative Humidity: 10% to 85% RH, non-condensing operating environment
• Storage Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% RH, non-condensing non-operating storage
• Operating Altitude: Certified operational range -150 m to 2,000 m (-500 ft to 6,500 ft); extended validated range up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft)
• Cooling Design: Passive thermal dissipation architecture without onboard cooling fans; cooling airflow supplied by the host ISR 4000 / Catalyst 8000 router’s internal chassis fan assembly
• Airflow Direction: Horizontal chassis airflow passing over the NIM module PCB for continuous thermal dissipation under full trunk load

Physical Form Factor & Weight

• Form Factor: Standard single-wide NIM network interface module expansion card form factor, designed exclusively for NIM dedicated expansion slots of Cisco ISR 4300/4400 and Catalyst 8200/8300 Series multiservice integrated services routers
• Bare NIM Module Net Weight (without balanced trunk twisted-pair cables and accessory packaging): Approximately 270 grams (0.6 lbs)
• Physical Dimensions (H × W × D): 3.18 × 8.89 × 18.39 cm (1.25 × 3.50 × 7.24 inches)

3. Regulatory & Compliance Certifications

1. Safety Standards: UL 60950-1, CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1, EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, GB 4943 Chinese national safety standard
2. EMC & EMI Standards: FCC CFR Title 47 Part 15 Class A, VCCI Class A ITE, EN55022 Class A, CISPR 22 Class A, ICES-003 Class A, CISPR 24, EN 61000 series electromagnetic immunity standards
3. Telecommunications & Trunk Line Compliance:
   • T1: ANSI T1.403, FCC Part 68, CS-03, Bellcore TR-NWT-000624
   • E1: ITU-T G.703, G.704, ETSI TBR2, TBR4, BS6301
4. Circuit Emulation & Voice Media Compliance: ITU-T G.8261 adaptive clock recovery standard, SAToP/CESoPSN IETF RFC pseudowire specifications, T.38 fax relay standard
5. Environmental Directive: EU RoHS hazardous substance restriction compliance
6. NEBS Compliance: NEBS Level 3, GR-1089-CORE surge tolerance 1.5kV/2kA for telco central office deployments

4. Core Deployment Advantages

1. Quad-Port Universal T1/E1 High-Density Architecture Reduces Hardware SKU Inventory and Chassis Slot Consumption: The NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 integrates four independent software-switchable T1 and E1 trunk ports on a single NIM hardware module, eliminating the need to stock multiple single-port or dual-port MFT NIM cards for multi-trunk global enterprise branch deployments. This design drastically reduces spare part inventory overhead and maximizes limited router chassis NIM expansion slot resources, leaving remaining slots available for Ethernet LAN/WAN modules and other service expansion cards, lowering overall router hardware capital expenditure for multi-PBX, multi-ISP and multi-carrier branch voice/data gateway deployments.
2. Integrated Onboard CSU/DSU Eliminates External Auxiliary Hardware: Built-in channel service unit circuitry removes the requirement for standalone external CSU/DSU devices deployed between the router and carrier trunk demarcation point. This reduces total branch rack hardware footprint, minimizes copper trunk cable interconnection points that introduce signal loss and potential fault points, lowers capital expenditure on auxiliary telephony hardware, and enables centralized remote trunk diagnostics and loopback testing directly from the IOS XE router command line without costly on-site technician dispatches to distributed branch locations.
3. Flexible Multi-Flex DS0 Timeslot Partitioning Supports Mixed Converged Voice & Data Workloads Simultaneously Across Four Trunks: The MFT architecture allows network administrators to arbitrarily split the full complement of DS0 timeslots on each of the four trunk ports between fractional serial WAN data circuits, PRI/CAS PBX voice trunking, and TDM drop-and-insert cross-connect bridging on the same physical trunk port. This enables simultaneous delivery of enterprise leased-line data services and packet voice PSTN trunk interconnection over multiple carrier copper trunks, maximizing trunk bandwidth utilization and reducing monthly carrier line subscription costs for distributed multi-service branch sites.
4. SAToP/CESoPSN Circuit Emulation Enables Large-Scale Legacy TDM Network Modernization over IP/MPLS SD-WAN: Native support for industry-standard TDM-over-packet pseudowire protocols allows enterprises to migrate large volumes of legacy T1/E1 PBX, industrial SCADA and proprietary TDM equipment backhaul traffic onto modern IP/MPLS and SD-WAN overlay transport networks, eliminating costly dedicated TDM carrier backbone circuits and reducing recurring monthly wide-area service expenses. Integrated G.8261-compliant adaptive clock recovery (ACR) hardware maintains precise TDM synchronization across latency-variable packet-switched WAN links, preventing voice clipping, fax signal corruption and industrial SCADA communication timing faults that impact critical business operations.
5. OIR Hot-Swap Support Minimizes Enterprise Branch Telephony & Data WAN Maintenance Downtime: Native Online Insertion and Removal (OIR) hot-swap functionality allows field technicians to replace or upgrade the NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 trunk module without powering down the entire ISR 4000 / Catalyst 8000 router chassis. This eliminates extended branch business service outages required for full chassis power cycles during trunk module spare part replacement or capacity upgrade maintenance operations, drastically improving availability for business-critical enterprise multi-PBX telephony, SD-WAN data and industrial SCADA backhaul services.
6. Unified IOS XE Feature Suite Compatibility for All Converged Multi-Trunk Branch Workloads: The NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 trunk module natively integrates with the complete portfolio of core Cisco IOS XE enterprise edge router features: IP routing, stateful zone-based firewall, NAT/PAT address translation, IPSec site-to-site VPN tunneling, differentiated services QoS traffic prioritization, ACL security filtering, AAA user authentication, unified communications SRST/CME PBX telephony and encrypted remote network management. All T1/E1 trunk interface configuration, timeslot partitioning, trunk signaling and telephony policy management is centralized within a single consistent IOS XE command-line interface, eliminating disjointed separate management systems for branch data routing and multi-PBX telephony infrastructure.
7. Passive Fanless Thermal Design Delivers High Reliability and Low Long-Term Maintenance Costs: The NIM-4MFT-T1/E1 module utilizes a fully passive thermal dissipation architecture without any onboard rotating cooling fans. This eliminates mechanical hardware failure risks associated with fan motor wear, dust accumulation and fan power supply faults, enabling stable 24/7 continuous unattended operation in remote unmanned enterprise branch datacenter equipment closets, industrial field sites and off-grid branch office locations with minimal long-term on-site maintenance requirements. Low idle and full-load power consumption reduces overall router chassis energy draw and enterprise branch site cooling operational energy costs over multi-year hardware service lifecycles.

Supplementary Product Specification Notes

UNSPSC Classification Code

K9 Security Compliance Note

Factory Hardware Warranty Terms