Cisco has recently announced a completely new series of routers!
And the line-up is…
- Catalyst 8300 Edge Platforms
- Catalyst 8500 Edge Platforms
- Catalyst 8000v Edge Virtual Routers
- Catalyst Cellular Gateway
What?
The Catalyst is a well-known name for:
- Switches
- Access Points
- Wireless controllers
Yes – that’s true. And now routers will have the privilege to carry the Catalyst brand too.
Catalyst 8300 edge Platforms
These brand new routers are designed for the WAN, running either traditional IOS-XE multifeatured software or SDWAN as a cEdge router.
They come with the Unified IOS-XE images, which contains both feature set described above, and which can be selected and changed by the customer.
Let’s have them on the CATwalk …
Figure 1 – C8300-2N2S-4T2X
Figure 2 – C8300-2N2S-6T
Figure 3 – C8300-1N1S-4T2X
Figure 4 – C8300-1N1S-6T
Where do these platforms fit in?
These routers are positioned as WAN routers sized for medium or large size branches – or even smaller Campus or datacenters.
Dependent upon traffic profile, these routers are capable of providing up to 15-20 Gbps of plain IP throughput or up to 5 Gbps of IPSec traffic (all IMIX figures). All is dependent on licensing, hardware model and port number and type.
So these routers aim for the segment that Cisco’s current ISR 4400 routers fulfill today, with some additional horsepower – so performance-wise they will be able to enter the sweet spot – somewhere between ISR-4400 and the Cisco ASR1001-X/ASR1002-X routers.
Model overview
| Model | RU | # 1G ports | # 10G ports | # SM slots **) | # NIM slots ***) | # PIM slots ****) |
| C8300-1N1S-4T2X | 1 | 4 (RJ-45) | 2 (SFP+) *) | 1 (S.Wide) | 1 | 1 |
| C8300-1N1S-6T | 1 | 4 (RJ-45) + 2 (SFP) | 0 | 1 (S.Wide) | 1 | 1 |
| C8300-2N2S-4T2X | 2 | 4 (RJ-45) | 2 (SFP+) *) | 2 (S.Wide) or
1 (D.Wide) |
2 | 1 |
| C8300-2N2S-6T | 2 | 4 (RJ-45) + 2 (SFP) | 0 | 2 (S.Wide) or
1 (D.Wide) |
2 | 1 |
*) Capable of running 1GE by inserting a SFP instead
**) SM slots: Service Module Slots
- “S.Wide” – Single Wide
- “D.Wide” – Double Wide (can be used as one Double Wide or two Single Wide)
- Not all (older) SM-X modules are supported
- – but the next generation UADP switch modules are supported
- UCS E-Series M3 modules are supported
***) NIM slots: Network Interface Modules
Most of the existing NIM modules (from ISR400 series) are supported.
****) PIM slots: Pluggable Interface Modules
LTE (CAT4, CAT6 and CAT18) modules supported.
Additional specs:
All models come with:
- Dual redundant power supplies per default (AC or DC)
- Redundant fans (for cooling) per default
- RFID tags (can be de-selected upon ordering)
- Serviceability LED (Blue beacon)
- Possibility to add additional storage
- Multicore Intel CPU architecture
- WAN MACSEC is supported on platforms with built-in front panels 10GE ports (on those ports)
- For models without 10 GE front-panels, a NIM module can be installed to utilize WAN MACSEC (product ID: C-NIM-1X)
- Default RAM is 8GB – upgradable to 16 or 32 GB
- Can be ordered with PoE power supplies, which in conjunction with PoE switch module can provide POE+ or even UPOE (only on the new Ethernet switch modules)
When?
Orderability is now. First customer shipments are expected late November.
What about software?
Cisco IOS-XE long-lived release 17.3.2 is required and installed initially on the box.
Catalyst 8500 edge Platforms
These new routers are designed for the WAN as well, just like the Catalyst 8300 series, but positioned for datacenters or co-located HUBs with high bandwidth requirements.
They can serve as a hub/aggregation router, both in traditional WAN deployments and in SD-WAN deployments.
They come with the Unified IOS-XE images, which contains both feature set described above, and which can be selected and changed.
And now entering the scene…
Figure 5 – C8500-12X4QC
Figure 6 – C8500-12X
Where do these platforms fit in then?
These routers are positioned as WAN HUB/aggregation devices in the datacenter or co-location hub, capable of handling multiple interfaces at high-speed.
Dependent upon traffic profile, these routers are capable of providing up to 190 Gbps of plain IP throughput or up to 32 Gbps of IPSec traffic (both IMIX figures). All is dependent on licensing, hardware model and port number and type.
These routers can be viewed as a replacement or substitute for Cisco’s current ASR1000 fixed X-models (ASR1001-X, ASR1002-X, ASR1001-HX and ASR1002-HX), with a significant throughput upgrade.
Model overview
| Model | RU | # 10G ports | # 40G ports | # 40/100G ports |
| C8500-12X4QC **) | 1 | 12 (SFP+) | 2(QSFP) | 2 (QSFP) |
| C8500-12X | 1 | 12 (SFP+) | 0 | 0 |
**) Not all ports can be activated at max speed simultaneously:
- Up to 240 G combined!
- Not all combinations are possible (some ports will be disabled, when enabling others)
Additional specs:
All models come with:
- Dual redundant power supplies per default (AC or DC)
- Redundant fans (for cooling) per default
- RFID tags (can be deselected upon ordering)
- Serviceability LED (Blue beacon) possibilities
- Possibility to add additional storage
- Third Generation QFP ASIC (2nd gen. known from ASR1000 series) processor complex
- WAN MACSEC is supported on all ports
- Default RAM is 16GB – upgradable to 32 or 64 GB
When?
Orderability is now. First customer shipments are expected late November.
What about software?
Cisco IOS-XE long-lived release 17.3.2 is required and installed initially on the box.
Catalyst 8000v Edge Virtual Router
This is a rebranding of the current CSR1000v (Cloud Services Router).
It will serve exactly the same function as CSR1000v, namely in:
- Public Cloud deployments, like: AWS, Azure, GoogleCloud etc. running IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
- Private Cloud deployments in your own datacenter or in a co-located hub
Acting as a gateway into your own applications, under your control, whether you are using SDWAN or a more traditional WAN technology.
Sorry to disappoint you … but there is nothing to show on the Stage here 😉
When?
Orderability is basically now, but please see note on software availability below.
What about software?
Cisco IOS-XE software release 17.4 is requires and expected to be available on December 2020.
There is one additional product waiting behind the curtain:
So, if you are tired of having problems getting LTE/5G coverage in you server room?
This unit will allow you to place the Cellular WAN antennas where the coverage is better, and connect it to the router, using standard Ethernet Cabling.
It can be powered through PoE or through an external Power Supply.
Supports LTE/Cat 18 speeds (4G) but is backward compatible with Cat4 and CAT6 technologies.
It has dual SIM support.
This unit is not solely for Catalyst 8000 Edge platforms, but it will be able to work in conjunction with other IOS-XE routers, like ISR 4000 & ISR1000 series routers, which has an (available) WAN Ethernet port.
Licensing information:
All these new platforms have the mandatory DNA 3 level licensing model, which also is present for:
- Catalyst 9000 series switches
- ISR and ASR routers running SDWAN
Naming of the 3 levels follow the structure of the above:
- DNA Essentials
- DNA Advantage
- DNA Premier
But the content is different, and for non-SDWAN deployments it can be perpetual,
Where to go next for more information:
For the Catalyst 8000 edge series, please visit:
https://www.cisco.com/go/cat8000
Product information for the Catalyst Cellular WAN Gateway can be found here:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/routers/catalyst-cellular-gateways/index.html
Please contact your Conscia Account manager for additional information.