High-Performance Enterprise Edge Platform

The Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC is a compact 1RU edge platform engineered for enterprise WAN aggregation, SD-WAN, SASE, cloud connectivity and high-performance routing. It combines Cisco's third-generation QuantumFlow Processor 3.0 data-plane architecture with a multicore Intel x86 control processor and 16GB of default memory.

The platform supports high-density 1G, 10G, 40G and 100G connectivity, allowing organizations to build flexible WAN and campus-edge architectures while maintaining high throughput and advanced security capabilities.

High-Density 1G, 10G, 40G and 100G Connectivity

The C8500-12X4QC provides 12 × 1/10GE SFP+ ports, 2 × 40GE QSFP+ ports and 2 × 40/100GE QSFP28 ports. This interface combination provides flexible connectivity for enterprise WAN aggregation, data center edge, cloud interconnection and high-speed backbone environments.

Depending on the operating mode and configuration, the platform can provide up to 240Gbps of simultaneously enabled port bandwidth. The 40GE QSFP ports can also be configured using breakout cables for additional 10GE interfaces in supported autonomous-mode configurations.

• 12 × 1/10GE SFP+ ports
• 2 × 40GE QSFP+ ports
• 2 × 40/100GE QSFP28 ports
• Flexible 1G / 10G / 40G / 100G interface configurations
• Up to 240Gbps of enabled port bandwidth

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Performance

Built for high-performance Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN deployments, the C8500-12X4QC provides up to 96Gbps of SD-WAN IPsec throughput with 1400-byte clear-text traffic. It can also deliver up to 31.9Gbps of SD-WAN IPsec performance using IMIX traffic.

The platform supports up to 8,000 SD-WAN overlay tunnels, making it suitable for large enterprise environments with numerous branch, campus and cloud connections.

High-Performance Routing and IPsec

In autonomous routing mode, the C8500-12X4QC provides up to 197Gbps of IPv4 forwarding throughput and up to 135Gbps of IPsec throughput at 1400-byte packet size. These capabilities make it suitable for high-volume WAN aggregation and secure enterprise routing environments.

• Up to 197Gbps IPv4 forwarding throughput
• Up to 135Gbps IPsec throughput
• 4,000 IPsec SVTI tunnels
• Up to 4 million IPv4 routes
• Up to 4 million IPv6 routes

Cisco QuantumFlow Processor 3.0

The C8500-12X4QC is powered by Cisco's third-generation QuantumFlow Processor 3.0 architecture. Hardware-accelerated cryptographic processing enables high-throughput IPsec and WAN MACsec operations while supporting demanding routing and security services.

The platform combines the dedicated data-plane processing capabilities of QFP 3.0 with a multicore Intel x86 control processor for efficient handling of routing protocols, management processes and advanced software services.

16GB Memory and Flexible Storage

The Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC includes 16GB of DDR4 memory as standard and supports memory upgrades to 32GB and 64GB. Higher memory configurations can support larger routing tables and demanding control-plane applications.

The platform includes 32GB eUSB storage and supports an optional 480GB M.2 SATA SSD for additional local storage requirements.

• 16GB DDR4 default memory
• 32GB and 64GB memory upgrade options
• 32GB eUSB storage
• Optional 480GB M.2 SATA SSD

Integrated Enterprise Security

Cisco IOS XE provides a comprehensive security and networking software architecture with IPsec, firewall, NAT, ACL, application visibility, QoS and other enterprise services.

Hardware-accelerated encryption, Secure Boot and Secure Unique Device Identification (SUDI) help strengthen the platform's security posture for enterprise and service-provider deployments.

• IPsec VPN
• WAN MACsec
• Zone-Based Firewall
• Network Address Translation
• Access Control Lists
• Secure Boot and SUDI
• Application Visibility and Control

Enterprise-Scale Routing and Sessions

The C8500-12X4QC is designed for large-scale routing environments. It supports up to 4 million IPv4 and IPv6 routes, 16 million NAT sessions, 6 million firewall sessions and 8,000 VRFs.

• Up to 4M IPv4 routes
• Up to 4M IPv6 routes
• Up to 16M NAT sessions
• Up to 6M firewall sessions
• Up to 8,000 VRFs
• Up to 4,000 ACLs
• Up to 380K IPv4 ACEs
• Up to 256K queues

Cisco IOS XE Software

The C8500-12X4QC runs Cisco IOS XE, a programmable software platform supporting traditional routing as well as Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN. It provides support for enterprise protocols and technologies such as BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS, MPLS, IPsec, QoS, NAT, ACL, EVPN, VXLAN and application visibility.

Cisco specifies IOS XE Software Release 17.3.2 as the minimum software requirement for the C8500-12X4QC.

deal Applications

The Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC is suitable for organizations requiring high-performance routing, secure WAN connectivity and scalable SD-WAN infrastructure.

• Enterprise WAN aggregation
• Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN deployments
• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
• Cloud edge connectivity
• Data center edge routing
• High-speed campus backbone
• Service-provider edge environments
• Large enterprise branch aggregation
• High-bandwidth IPsec VPN deployments

Product Lifecycle Notice

Why Choose Cisco Catalyst C8500-12X4QC?

The C8500-12X4QC combines high-density 1/10GE connectivity with 40GE and 100GE interfaces in a compact 1RU platform. Its QFP 3.0 architecture, high routing throughput, IPsec acceleration, large routing scale and Catalyst SD-WAN capabilities make it a powerful platform for enterprise edge and WAN aggregation.

• High-density 1/10G SFP+ connectivity
• 40G and 100G high-speed uplinks
• Up to 197Gbps IPv4 forwarding
• Up to 135Gbps IPsec throughput
• Up to 96Gbps SD-WAN IPsec throughput
• 16GB expandable DDR4 memory
• Advanced Cisco IOS XE software
• Enterprise-grade security and routing
• Compact 1RU form factor