The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.
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.
Platforms and configurations
The C8500-20X6C platform (Figure 1) allows all ports to be enabled simultaneously. It offers:
● 20x 1/10GE ports
● 6x 40/100GE ports
The C8500-12X4QC platform (Figure 2) allows for a maximum of 240GE ports to be enabled simultaneously. It offers:
● 12x 1/10GE ports (can increase to 24x 1/10GE if using 4x10GE breakout from QSFP 40G ports when not in SD-WAN mode)
● 2x 40/100GE ports
The C8500-12X platform (Figure 3) offers 12x 1/10GE ports.
The C8500L-8S4X platform (Figure 4) offers 4x 1/10GE and 8x 1GE ports.
C8500-12X with 12x 1/10GE ports
C8500L-8S4X with 4x 1/10GE and 8x 1GE ports
Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms refer to C8500-12X, C8500-12X4QC and C8500-20X6C.
Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform refers to C8500L-8S4X.
Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms refer to Catalyst 8500 and Catalyst 8500L Edge Platforms together.
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 3RU (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.
Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform Product highlights
Table 1. Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform Product highlights
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 Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN with services ● Up to 5X higher IPsec throughput than 2nd Gen QFP devicesMulticore 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● 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).
● High-efficiency dual power supplies by default for power supply redundancy● N+1 redundancy (Option N+2 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 C8500-20X6CIntegrated 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
Table 2. Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform Product highlights
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● Up to 2.5X higher IPsec throughput compared to ASR1001-X/ASR1002-X, 19 Gbps (1400 bytes, clear text)
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● 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 16G eUSB for storage and can be upgraded 32G eUSB for additional storage on the platformSSD Storage
● Optional SSD M.2 NVMe 2TB upgrade for additional storage on the platform ● 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 factorIntegrated 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
Table 3 provides details on each platform’s configurations and port density. Table 4 shows the maximum port configurations for the Cisco Catalyst C8500-20X6C and Table 5 shows the maximum port configurations for the Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC platform.
Table 3. Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series configurations and port density
Max 100GE ports
20-port 1/10GE,
6-port 40/100GE
C8500-12X4QC **
12-port 1/10GE,
2-port 40/100GE,
2-port 40GE
4-port 1/10GE,
8-port 1GE
*** By using 4x10GE breakout cables for the QSFP 40G ports, a total of 24 10GE interfaces can be configured. This is not supported in SD-WAN mode.
Table 4. Maximum ports configurations for Cisco Catalyst C8500-20X6C (All ports can be enabled)
Max 40 GE + 10 GE
Max 100 GE + 10 GE
Max 40/100 GE + 10 GE
Max 40/100 GE + 10 GE
Table 5. Maximum ports configurations for Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC
Max 40 GE + 10 GE
Max 100 GE + 40 GE
Max 100 GE + 40 GE + 10 GE
1x100GE + 1x40GE + 8x10GE
Max 100 GE + 10 GE
Max 10 GE + 40 GE
* When Bay 1 is set up in 100GE mode, no other ports available in Bay 0 or Bay 1.** By using 4x10GE breakout cables for the QSFP 40G ports, a total of 24 10GE interfaces can be configured. This is not supported in SD-WAN mode.
Figures 5 and 6 are a series of images that highlight the Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC platform’s port options in each of its bays.
Bay 0 + bay 1 port options
Bay 2 port options
Table 5a. Cisco controller mode (Catalyst SD-WAN) performance specifications
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (1400Bytes, clear text)
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (IMIX * , clear text ** )
SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels scale
[1] IOS XE 17.12.1, 20.12.1SD-WAN Multi-layer security performance use cases for Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform
The Cisco Catalyst 8500L Edge platform connects to branch offices to the Internet and cloud, with industry-leading protection against major web attacks. Table 1 below provides test results for common Multi-layer Security use cases in SD-WAN.
● The first use case is with 50% of the traffic encrypted in IQDF traffic pattern (IPSec + Quality of Service (QoS) + Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) + Flexible Netflow (FNF) and another 50% of unencrypted Direct Internet Access (DIA) traffic protected by advanced security features. This protection includes NG-FW, IPS, URLF (URL-Filtering) and AMP (Advanced Malware Protection).
● The third use case is with 100% unencrypted DIA traffic protected by the same advanced security features as in the second use case.
Table 5b. Cisco Catalyst 8500L Series SD-WAN, Multi-layer security performance use cases*
50% IQDF * + 50% (DIA w. NAT + NGFW + IPS + URLF + AMP)
DIA w. NAT + NGFW + IPS + URLF + AMP
* Tested with IOS XE release 17.12.2. All NGFW + UTD tests with Firewall EMIX traffic profileTable 5c. Cisco autonomous mode (non SD-WAN) performance specifications
IPv4 Forwarding Throughput
IPsec Throughput
(1400 bytes, clear text ** )
Number of IPsec SVTI Tunnels
Table 5d. Cisco autonomous mode (non SD-WAN) system scalability
Number of ACLs per system
Number of IPv4 ACEs per system
Number of IPv4 Routes
7M w/ default 64GB
(16M w/ default 64GB [1] )
4M w/ default 16GB
4M w/ default 16GB
4M w/ default 16GB
Number of IPv6 Routes
7M w/ default 64GB
(16M w/ default 64GB [1] )
4M w/ default 16GB
4M w/ default 16GB
4M w/ default 16GB
Number of Queues
Number of NAT Sessions
Number of Firewall Sessions
* IMIX is average packet size of 352 Bytes packet size. ** Based on clear text traffic measurement from traffic generator. [1] Starting in IOS XE 17.15.1, 20.15.1Overall platform benefits
Accelerated services with Cisco Catalyst Software-Defined WAN
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is a set of intelligent software services that allow you to connect users, devices, and branch office locations reliably and securely across a diverse set of WAN transport links. Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Edge Platforms can dynamically route traffic across the “best” link based on up-to-the-minute application and network conditions for great application experiences. You get tight control over application performance, bandwidth usage, data privacy, and availability of your WAN links—control you need as your branches conduct greater volumes of mission-critical business with both on-premises and cloud controllers.
Ensure that your Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN networks meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) and maintain strong performance, even if network problems occur. With multi-cloud access, you can accelerate your SaaS applications with a simple template push from the SD-WAN controller.
You can now move your traditional and complex WAN networks to a more agile software-defined WAN with integrated security. The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms feature on-premises and cloud-based security options.
Applications and users are more distributed than ever, and the internet has effectively become the new enterprise WAN. As organizations continue to embrace internet, cloud, and SaaS, network and IT teams are challenged to deliver consistent and reliable connectivity and application performance over networks and services they don’t own or directly control.
The Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are integrated with Cisco ThousandEyes internet and cloud intelligence. IT managers now have expanded visibility, including hop-by-hop analytics, into network underlay, proactive monitoring of SD-WAN overlay, and performance measurement of SaaS applications. This granular visibility ultimately lowers the Mean Time to Identification of Issues (MTTI) and accelerates resolution time.
Cloud-native agility with programmable software architecture
Cisco continues to offer a feature-rich traditional IOS XE routing stack on the Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Edge Platforms. IP Routing, IPSec, Quality of Service (QoS), firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), Network-Based Application Recognition (NBAR), Flexible NetFlow (FNF), and many other features are part of Cisco IOS XE, a fully programmable software architecture with API support and a wide variety of protocols and configurations. With an integrated software image and a single binary file, you can now choose between Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN and Cisco IOS XE. And easily move from one to the other when you choose to do so.
The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are built for future 5G networks. These platforms support external cellular gateway modules with LTE/5G capability for improved throughput and latency.
Compact form factor
The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge platforms feature compact 1RU and 3RU platforms with rich interface options, including 1G, 10G, 40G, and 100G ports. Featuring the highly efficient third-generation QFP, the Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms are built without compromising on performance and ports.
Table 6. Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series C8500-20X6C memory, storage, and accessory options
C8500-FILTER-ASSY
Cisco NEBs level 3 filter
Note: MEM-C8500-64GB memory, SSD-M2SATA-480G SSD M.2 SATA 480 GB and C8500-ACCKIT3R-19 Cisco Mounting Brackets/accessory kit – 19 inches come standard as a default SKU.
Table 7. Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series C8500-12X and C8500-12X4QC memory, storage, and accessory options
MEM-C8500-32GB
Cisco C8500 32 GB memory
MEM-C8500-64GB
Cisco C8500 64 GB memory
SSD-M2SATA-480G
Cisco C8500 SSD M.2 SATA 480 GB
C8500-ACCKIT-19
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge accessory kit - 19 inches
C8500-ACCKIT-23
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge accessory kit - 23 inches
C8500-4PT-KIT
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge accessory kit – 4-post kit
Table 8. Cisco Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform memory, storage, and accessory options
MEM-C8500L-32GB
Cisco C8500L 32 GB memory
MEM-C8500L-64GB
Cisco C8500L 64 GB memory
SSD-M2NVME-2T
Cisco C8500L SSD M.2 NVMe 2TB
C8500L-RM-19-1R
Cisco Catalyst 8500L Edge accessory kit - 19 inches
C8500L-RM-23-1R
Cisco Catalyst 8500L Edge accessory kit - 23 inches
C8500L-4PT-KIT
Cisco Catalyst 8500L Edge accessory kit – 4-post kit
A full list of optics and transceivers is available at: https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/?si=C8500.
Platform redundancy is critical, as any downtime has direct impact to a customer’s business. The Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms ship with high-efficiency dual power supplies by default for power supply redundancy. All Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms support software redundancy with two IOS XE processes running on a single device (IOS XE routing mode) for additional control-plane resiliency.
Table 9. Cisco Catalyst 8500-20X6C Series power supply specifications
Power supply feature
Power maximum rating
