Cisco Catalyst 8500

The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are high-performance fixed-form-factor routers designed for enterprise edge, SD-WAN, service provider aggregation, and colocation environments. Combining advanced routing capabilities with secure cloud connectivity, these platforms deliver scalable performance, automation, and enhanced security in compact 1RU and 3RU designs.

High-Performance Routing and SD-WAN Infrastructure

Powered by Cisco IOS XE and the third-generation Cisco QuantumFlow Processor (QFP) ASIC, Catalyst 8500 platforms provide hardware-accelerated forwarding, integrated Layer 2 services, and high-throughput IPsec encryption. The series supports flexible connectivity options including 1GE, 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE interfaces to meet evolving network demands. Available models include the C8500-12X4QC with up to 200 Gbps throughput, C8500-12X delivering up to 120 Gbps, C8500L-8S4X supporting up to 20 Gbps, and the high-capacity C8500-20X6C providing up to 500 Gbps aggregate Cisco Express Forwarding performance.

Secure, Programmable Network Edge

Built for modern software-defined networking, Catalyst 8500 Series platforms support SD-WAN, automation APIs, software redundancy, and cloud-scale architectures. Advanced security features include hardware-accelerated IPsec and MACsec encryption, Secure Boot, and Cisco Secure Unique Device Identification (SUDI) technology.

Enterprise-Ready Design

With redundant AC or DC power options, removable fan assemblies, and flexible rack-mounting support, Cisco Catalyst 8500 platforms provide reliable deployment options for demanding network environments. Designed as the next generation of Cisco ASR 1000 Series aggregation routers, they deliver significant performance improvements while supporting modern secure edge networking requirements.