Predictika · Optical transport

An AI sales agent's Ekinops360 WDM shelf, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an Ekinops360 WDM transport shelf for a network operator: the chassis, the modules in it, the services the customer needs to carry, the site conditions (temperature, power source, rack space, airflow) and the slot count and 10G ports it states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures Ekinops publishes and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Ekinops360 WDM shelves: C200HC, C200HC-ETR, C600HC and C700HC chassis with eleven published modules: slots, site temperature, extended temperature range, power source, airflow, rack space and client ports. See everything this validator covers

This validator models one Ekinops360 shelf configuration at a time (with any number of identical shelves), based on the public Ekinops360 chassis data sheet (08/2025), the Ekinops360 portfolio brochure (12/2025) and the module data sheets (read October 2026), not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Chassis — C200HC (2 RU, 6 slots), C200HC-ETR (2 RU, 6 slots, -40 to +65 degrees Celsius, -48 VDC), C600HC (7 RU, 20 slots) and C700HC (7 RU, 20 slots, front-to-back airflow), with their published operating temperature.
  • Modules — PM_400FRS04 (3 slots), PM_100HDF01, PM_100G-EMUX, PM_1001RR, PM_404, PM_1604 (1 slot each), PM_O5005MP, PM_O5005MP-ETR, PM_100G-AGG, PM_100G-XPONDER-MP and PM_OAC20 (2 slots each), each with its published slot count and 10G and 100G client ports.
  • Checks — slots used against the chassis, the extended temperature chassis taking only extended temperature modules, the extended temperature management card and -48 VDC power, site temperature against the chassis range, rack space, front-to-back airflow (C700HC only), at most 2 PM_100G-AGG in a C200HC, the 10G and 100G services the customer needs against the client ports in total, and the stated slots and 10G ports against the computed ones. A C600HC on AC power, or an extended temperature module in a standard chassis, goes to a person.

Any Ekinops360 shelf that touches these chassis and modules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: power budgets (the chassis fully loaded ratings and the modules' maximum power are published, but this validator does not check them against each other), prices (Ekinops does not publish list prices, so this page shows no price build-up), other Ekinops360 modules (PM_800FR04, PM_600FRS06, PM_400FR05, PM_200FRS02, PM_CRYPTO, PM_O1008MP, ROADM, amplifier and passive filter units), optics and transceivers, software and support, and OneAccess and Compose products.

The AI sales agentBuilds the shelf from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Slots used against the chassis, with modules of one to three slotsOnly with care
Each module has its own slot count and the chassis has 6 or 20, so a roll-up and a rule per chassis work, but the slot figures have to be kept in step with the data sheets.		Slots are summed from the modules and compared with the chosen chassis on every call.
The extended temperature chassis: only extended temperature modules, its own management card, DC power onlyOnly with workarounds
It is a compatibility matrix in both directions plus a power source rule, and the module list changes whenever a new extended temperature module appears.		Chassis, modules, management card and power source are compared together, in any order.
Site facts that are not on the quote: temperature, rack space, airflow, power sourceOnly with workarounds
These are properties of the site, not of a product, so a rules-based CPQ needs extra fields and rules that a rep can leave unfilled.		They arrive in the request and are compared with the chosen chassis on every call.
Limits that depend on the chassis, such as at most 2 PM_100G-AGG in a C200HCOnly with care
A per-module, per-chassis limit is a rule of its own, easy to miss when a new chassis or module is added.		The limit is checked with the other rules, whatever order the choices arrive in.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The modules use 21 slots in each chassis; the chosen chassis has 20.
2The modules use 7 slots in each chassis; the chosen chassis has 6.
3The extended temperature chassis needs extended temperature range modules; the quote has 1 that is not.
4The extended temperature chassis needs the extended temperature management card.
5The extended temperature chassis is powered from -48 VDC only; the site supplies AC.
6The extended temperature module is listed on its data sheet with the extended temperature chassis only; a person should confirm it in a standard chassis.
7The site runs from -5 to 30 C; the chosen chassis operates from 0 to 50 C.
8The site runs from 20 to 51 C; the chosen chassis operates from 0 to 50 C.
9The site runs from -40 to 66 C; the chosen chassis operates from -40 to 65 C.
10Every chassis needs a management card and the quote has none.
11The C600HC is powered from -48 VDC and its AC option is external to the chassis; a person should confirm the external AC power unit is quoted.
12The customer needs front-to-back airflow, which only the C700HC chassis provides.
13The chosen chassis is 7 RU high; the site has 2 RU available.
14The data sheet lists the C200HC with 2 PM_100G-AGG modules at most; the quote has 3.
15The customer needs 11 10G services; the quoted modules give 10 10G client ports in total.
16The customer needs 15 100G services; the quoted modules give 14 100G client ports in total.
17The quote states 10 slots used in each chassis; the quoted modules use 12.
18The quote states 12 10G client ports in total; the quoted modules give 10.
19The chassis has no modules; a transport shelf needs at least one.
20The quote has 0 chassis; at least 1 is needed.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Metro node on a C600HC: Six 400G muxponders and a 10G aggregation module on a C600HC

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C600HC chassis carrying 6 PM_400FRS04, 1 PM_100G-EMUX and 1 PM_100G-AGG with the standard management card. The customer needs 21 100G services and 10 10G services. The site runs from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius on -48 VDC power with 7 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is not required. The quote states 19 slots used in each chassis and 20 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Slots over the chassis limit. The modules use 21 slots in each chassis; the chosen chassis has 20.
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  • Stated slots do not match. The quote states 19 slots used in each chassis; the quoted modules use 21.
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2. Metro node on a C600HC: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C600HC chassis carrying 6 PM_400FRS04 and 1 PM_100G-EMUX with the standard management card. The customer needs 21 100G services and 10 10G services. The site runs from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius on -48 VDC power with 7 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is not required. The quote states 19 slots used in each chassis and 10 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Shelf summary. 1 chassis, 19 of 20 slots used in each, 10 10G client ports and 24 100G client ports in total.
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3. Outdoor cabinet backhaul: Three standard 10G transponders in a standard C200HC at a cold outdoor site

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C200HC chassis carrying 3 PM_O5005MP with the standard management card. The customer needs 15 10G services. The site runs from -30 to 55 degrees Celsius on -48 VDC power with 2 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is not required. The quote states 6 slots used in each chassis and 15 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Site temperature outside the chassis range. The site runs from -30 to 55 C; the chosen chassis operates from 0 to 50 C.
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4. Outdoor cabinet backhaul: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C200HC-ETR chassis carrying 3 PM_O5005MP with the standard management card. The customer needs 15 10G services. The site runs from -30 to 55 degrees Celsius on -48 VDC power with 2 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is not required. The quote states 6 slots used in each chassis and 15 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Only extended temperature modules in an ETR chassis. The extended temperature chassis needs extended temperature range modules; the quote has 3 that are not.
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  • ETR chassis needs the ETR management card. The extended temperature chassis needs the extended temperature management card.
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5. Outdoor cabinet backhaul: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 2 Ekinops360 C200HC-ETR chassis, each carrying 2 PM_O5005MP-ETR with the extended temperature management card. The customer needs 15 10G services. The site runs from -30 to 55 degrees Celsius on -48 VDC power with 2 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is not required. The quote states 4 slots used in each chassis and 20 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Shelf summary. 2 chassis, 4 of 6 slots used in each, 20 10G client ports and 0 100G client ports in total.
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6. Data center node: A data center node on a C600HC with AC power and an airflow requirement

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C600HC chassis carrying 6 PM_100HDF01 and 2 PM_100G-AGG with the standard management card. The customer needs 6 100G services and 20 10G services. The site runs from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius on AC power with 7 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is required. The quote states 10 slots used in each chassis and 20 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Front-to-back airflow. The customer needs front-to-back airflow, which only the C700HC chassis provides.
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  • C600HC on AC power. The C600HC is powered from -48 VDC and its AC option is external to the chassis; a person should confirm the external AC power unit is quoted.
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7. Data center node: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C700HC chassis carrying 6 PM_100HDF01 and 2 PM_100G-AGG with the standard management card. The customer needs 6 100G services and 20 10G services. The site runs from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius on AC power with 7 RU of rack space, and front-to-back airflow is required. The quote states 10 slots used in each chassis and 20 10G client ports in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Shelf summary. 1 chassis, 10 of 20 slots used in each, 20 10G client ports and 6 100G client ports in total.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an Ekinops360 WDM transport shelf for a network operator: the chassis, the modules in it, the services the customer needs to carry, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures Ekinops publishes and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote 1 Ekinops360 C600HC chassis carrying 6 PM_400FRS04, 1 PM_100G-EMUX and 1 PM_100G-AGG with the standard management card. The customer needs 21 100G services and 10 10G services. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The modules use 21 slots in each chassis; the chosen chassis has 20. The quote states 19 slots used in each chassis; the quoted modules use 21.
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  6. The validator returned two blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for slots used against the chassis, with modules of one to three slots, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the stated 10G client ports in total as to 10. It removes the PM 100G-AGG in each chassis.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. Both earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Two problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.