Infinian Technology Dealer, Distributor and Partner of Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform Series Router in India – Bangalore, Chennai for Price/Cost Call: 9739091119

The Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series is a high-performance SD-WAN edge routing platform designed for data centers, regional hubs, and large branches. It’s built to handle multigigabit throughput, cloud-first networking, and next-gen WAN aggregation — and is often seen as the successor to the ASR 1000 and ISR high-end series.

📦 Catalyst 8500 Models

ModelThroughputInterface PortsNotes
C8500-12X4QCUp to 20–40 Gbps+12x 10GE (SFP+), 4x 40GE (QSFP+)Most common model, flexible WAN core
C8500L-8S4XUp to 10 Gbps8x GE SFP, 4x 10GE SFP+Compact, fixed, lower-cost model
C8500-20X6C100+ Gbps capable20x 10GE + 6x 100GE (QSFP28)SP/core-level performance
C8500-12X4QC-A“A” model = App hostingApp hosting support built-inSD-WAN + VNF use cases

These platforms are built from the ground up for services, with inline crypto, multi-threaded parallel processing, and per-port classification and accounting. They support MACsec, IPsec, and advanced QoS, making them a top-tier choice for organizations with demanding networking needs.

🔧 Key Features

FeatureDetails
Performance10 Gbps to 200+ Gbps (model-dependent)
Built onCisco QuantumFlow Processor 3.0 (QFP 3.0)
Interface OptionsFixed ports + modular expandability (in C8500-12X4QC)
Security & SD-WANFull Cisco SD-WAN, advanced threat protection, Umbrella integration
Cloud ConnectivityOptimized for AWS, Azure, GCP, and multicloud architecture
High AvailabilityRedundant PSU, fans, carrier-grade reliability

🧠 Software & Architecture

  • Runs Cisco IOS XE with a single software image
  • Supports both traditional routing and SD-WAN mode
  • Fully programmable with API support for automation
  • Built-in application hosting on select models (e.g., C8500-12X4QC-A)

Recommendations

  • Need ultra-high throughput (100 Gbps+)? The C8500-20X6C is your go-to for scalable, energy-efficient edge aggregation.
  • Balanced performance and modularity in 1RU? Choose the C8500-12X4QC—great port flexibility and strong SD-WAN throughput.
  • Cost-effective small-to-medium edge? The C8500-12X or C8500L-8S4X offer solid options, with trade-offs in performance and security features.

🏢 Ideal Use Cases

  • Enterprise HQs: High-throughput routing and security
  • Data Centers: Aggregation and cloud edge connectivity
  • Service Providers: Multi-tenant edge routing
  • Campus Networks: Secure, scalable SD-WAN deployments

Advantages / What They Do Well

  • Very high performance, especially for WAN-edge / cloud-edge aggregation.
  • Good port flexibility: you can pick a model closer to your required link speeds; you get a mix of 1/10/40/100GE depending on model.
  • Strong hardware offload via QFP 3.0 for encryption etc, which helps with low latency, higher throughput with security.
  • Built for scale: supports many IPsec tunnels, many routes etc. Good for large branches, regional hubs, cloud connectivity.
  • Modern management, better feature set (SD-WAN, telemetry, automation) via IOS-XE.
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