Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms
Build a smarter network edge

Overview:

Designed for security, built for scale. Create a superior network edge with accelerated aggregation services, multicloud networking, and edge intelligence.

The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are high-performance cloud edge platforms designed for accelerated services, multi-layer security, cloud-native agility, and edge intelligence to accelerate your journey to cloud.

Foundation for Software-Defined WAN

Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms (Catalyst 8500 and Catalyst 8500L) with Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software deliver Cisco’s secure, cloud-scale SD-WAN solution for aggregation sites. The Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms feature the all-new third-generation Cisco Quantum Flow Processor (QFP), the Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are built for services from the ground up. The Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform features an x86 based platform architecture that is purpose built to continue delivering the same experience as an ASR1000 platform. The Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are compact 1RU or 3U (Catalyst C8500-20X6C) devices with flexible interface options, including 1GE, 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE ports. Powered by Cisco IOS XE, fully programmable software architecture, and API support, these platforms can facilitate automation at scale to achieve zero-touch IT capability while migrating workloads to the cloud.

Cloud-scale WAN performance in a compact form factor

Expedite your cloud journey with accelerated services, multilayer security, and edge intelligence.

Product highlights:

Table1: Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform Product highlights

Product feature	Benefits and description
All-new third-generation Quantum Flow Processor (QFP) ASIC	Inline hardware-accelerated encryption for high-throughput IPsec and MACsec High-performance routing and SD-WAN with services
IPsec	Up to 5X higher IPsec throughput than 2nd Gen QFP devices
Multicore control processor	Intel x86 CPU with 16 GB memory default (up to 64 GB memory) for high-speed control plane processes
Interface flexibility	Options for 1GE, 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE ports
DRAM	All Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms have 16 GB default DRAM and can be upgraded to 32 GB and 64 GB for higher scale. C8500-20X6C has 64GB of DRAM by default (Maximum possible).
SSD storage	Default 32-GB eUSB for storage with optional 480-GB SSD upgrade. C8500-20X6C has 480-GB-SSD as default (Maximum available).
Redundancy	High-efficiency dual power supplies by default for power supply redundancy N+1 redundancy High-efficiency power supplies by default for power supply redundancy on the C8500-20X6C All Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms support software redundancy with 2 Cisco IOS processes running on a single device (IOS XE routing mode)
Form factor	Compact 1RU form factor on the C8500-12X and C8500-12X4QC Enhanced 3RU form factor C8500-20X6C
Integrated security	Hardware-anchored Secure Boot and Secure Unique Device Identification (SUDI) support for Plug and Play to verify the identity of the hardware and software

Table2: Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform Product highlights

Product feature	Benefits and description
x86 Based Platform Architecture	Advanced flow based forwarding reduces overhead for stateful features Dynamic core allocation architecture that can leverage data plane cores for I/O and service plane as per-user configuration. Higher performance routing and SD-WAN with services
IPsec	Double the IPsec throughput compared to ASR1001-X 11Gbps (double the ASR1001-X IPSEC performance at 4.5 Gbps)
High Performance Control Plane	Intel x86 CPU with multiple cores allocated to control plane with 16 GB memory default (up to 64 GB memory) for high-speed control plane processes
Interface flexibility	Includes 1G and flexible 1G/10G interfaces
DRAM	All Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms have 16 GB default DRAM and can be upgraded to 32 GB or 64 GB for higher scale
Flash storage	Default 32-GB eUSB for storage for additional storage on the platform
SSD Storage	Optional SSD M.2 NVMe 2TB upgrade for additional storage on the platform
Redundancy	High-efficiency dual power supplies by default for power supply redundancy All Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms support software redundancy with 2 Cisco IOS processes running on a single device (IOS XE routing mode)
Form factor	Compact 1RU form factor
Integrated security	Hardware-anchored Secure Boot and Secure Unique Device Identification (SUDI) support for Plug and Play to verify the identity of the hardware and software

Specifications:

Description	Specification
Part number	C8500-20X6C	C8500-12X4QC	C8500-12X	C8500L-8S4X
Dimensions (H x W x D)	26.85” L x 17.25” W x 5.22” H	1.73 in. x 17.50 in. x 18.46 in.	1.73 in. x 17.50 in. x 18.46 in.	1.73 x 17.50 in x 16.25 in
Rack Units (RU)	3RU	1RU	1RU	1RU
Chassis weight with 2x AC power supplies and fan tray	77.5 lbs	20.75 lbs	20.25 lbs	17 lbs
Input voltage	AC: 90-264 V DC: 40-72V	AC: 85 to 264 VAC DC: -40 to 72V; 48V nominal		AC: 100 to 240 VAC DC: -40 to -60 VDC HVAC: 100 to 277 VAC HVDC: 240 to 380 VDC
Operating temperature	32° to 104°F (0° to 40°C)
Storage temperature	-40° to 150°F (-40° to 70°C)
Relative humidity operating and nonoperating noncondensing	Ambient (noncondensing) operating: 10 to 85% Ambient (noncondensing) nonoperating and storage: 5% to 95%
NEBS criteria levels	GR-1089 and GR-63
Altitude	-500 to 10,000 feet (152 to 3048 meters)
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)	Available upon request	146,700 hours	156,200 hours	240,200 hours
Safety certifications	UL 60950-1 CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1 EN 60950-1 IEC 60950-1 AS/NZS 60950-1 GB4943
EMC (Emissions)	47 CFR Part 15 Class A ICES 003 Class A AS/NZS CISPR 32 Class A CISPR 22/CISPR 32 Class A EN55022/EN55032 Class A VCCI Class A CNS-13438 Class A KN32 Class A IEC/EN 61000-3-2: Power Line Harmonics IEC/EN 61000-3-3: Voltage Fluctuations and Flicker
EMC (Immunity)	IEC/EN-61000-4-2: Electrostatic Discharge Immunity IEC/EN-61000-4-3: Radiated Immunity IEC/EN-61000-4-4: Electrical Fast Transient Immunity IEC/EN-61000-4-5: Surge AC, DC, and Signal Ports IEC/EN-61000-4-6: Immunity to Conducted Disturbances IEC/EN-61000-4-11: Voltage DIPS, Short Interruptions, and Voltage Variations KN35
EMC (ETSI/EN)	EN300 386: Telecommunications Network Equipment (EMC) EN55022: Information Technology Equipment (Emissions) EN55032: Multimedia Equipment (Emissions) EN55024: Information Technology Equipment (Immunity) EN55035: Multimedia Equipment (Immunity) EN50082-1/EN-61000-6-1: Generic Immunity Standard

Documentation:

Download the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms Data Sheet (PDF).