The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms, also known as the Catalyst 8300, embody Cisco’s secure and cloud-centric Catalyst SD-WAN solution tailored for branch offices. Designed from the ground up for peak performance and seamless integration of SD-WAN services, these platforms offer unparalleled flexibility to deploy both security and networking functionalities either from the cloud or on-site. Boasting enhanced WAN port density and redundant power supply, the Catalyst 8300 Series caters to a diverse range of interface requirements, spanning from low to high module densities, while ensuring backward compatibility with various existing WAN, LAN, voice, and compute modules.
Leveraging Cisco IOS XE, a fully programmable software architecture, and robust API support, these platforms empower large-scale automation, enabling zero-touch IT operations during cloud migrations. Furthermore, the integration of Trustworthy Solutions 2.0 infrastructure fortifies the platforms against cyber threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring integrity verification and swift threat remediation.
Ideal for medium to large enterprise branch offices seeking high-performance WAN IPSec capabilities coupled with integrated Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN services, the Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms represent the pinnacle of modern networking solutions.
Product highlights
Product feature
Benefits and description
Multicore processors
● 8 or 12 core CPU with 8-GB memory default (up to 32 GB memory upgrade)
● High-performance multicore processors support high-speed WAN connections.
● Dynamic core allocation architecture that can leverage data plane cores for I/O and service plane as per-user configuration.
Embedded IPsec VPN hardware acceleration
● Up to 9.3 Gbps of IPSec Internet Mix (IMIX) traffic
● Increases scalability for IPSec throughput needs for medium- and large-sized branches
● SSL and crypto hardware acceleration
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports
● Provides 6 built-in Layer 3 Ethernet ports for WAN or LAN with port speeds ranging from 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1Gbps and up to 10Gbps, depending on platform model
● All platforms have at least 2 Ethernet ports that can support Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP or SFP+) based connectivity in addition to 4 RJ-45 connections, enabling fiber or copper connectivity.
DRAM
● All Catalyst 8300 platforms have 8GB default DRAM and can be upgraded to 16GB and 32GB for higher scale and performance.
Flash memory support
● All Catalyst 8300 platforms have an integrated on-board 8GB flash and it is not upgradeable. M.2 storage provides upgrade options for additional storage.
M.2 storage
● All the Catalyst 8300 models ship with default 16GB M.2 USB for SD-WAN logging and additional storage on the platform. It can be upgraded to 32GB M.2 USB and to 600GB or 2TB M.2 Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)
Default dual power supplies
● All Catalyst 8300 platforms ship with dual power supplies for redundancy.
● AC Power over Ethernet (PoE), DC and Reversed-airflow DC (NEBS) options are available on all models.
● Enabling PoE ports on Network Interface Modules (NIM) or on Service Modules (SM) requires at least one PoE supporting PSU to be installed
Modularity and form factor
● 1RU and 2RU form factor
● Supports SM, NIM, and Pluggable Interface Module (PIM) slots
Integrated 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
Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series specifications
Model
Description
10G port density
1G port density
Slots
Memory (DRAM) default
Storage (M.2 SSD) default
C8300-2N2S-4T2X
C8300 2RU w/ 10G WAN
(2 SM and 2 NIM slots, and 2 x 10-Gigabit Ethernet and 4 x 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports)
2
4
2 SM
2 NIM
1 PIM
8 GB
16 GB
C8300-2N2S-6T
C8300 2RU w/ 1G WAN
(2 SM and 2 NIM slots, and 6 x 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports)
–
6
2 SM
2 NIM
1 PIM
8 GB
16 GB
C8300-1N1S-4T2X
C8300 1RU w/ 10G WAN
(1 SM slot and 1 NIM slot, and 2 x 10-Gigabit Ethernet and 4 x 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports)
2
4
1 SM
1 NIM
1 PIM
8 GB
16 GB
C8300-1N1S-6T
C8300 1RU w/ 1G WAN
(1 SM slot and 1 NIM slot, and 6 x 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports)
–
6
1 SM
1 NIM
1 PIM
8 GB
16 GB
Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Catalyst SD-WAN performance
Feature
C8300-2N2S-4T2X (2RU w/ 10G WAN)
C8300-1N1S-4T2X (1RU w/ 10G WAN)
C8300-2N2S-6T (2RU w/ 1G WAN)
C8300-1N1S-6T (1RU w/ 1G WAN)
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (1400Bytes)
Up to 18.8Gbps
Up to 17Gbps
Up to 2Gbps
Up to 2Gbps
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput with IQDF** (1400Bytes)
Up to 18.8Gbps
Up to 17Gbps
Up to 2Gbps
Up to 2Gbps
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (IMIX*)
7.6Gbps
6.3Gbps
1.8Gbps
1.8Gbps
SD-WAN IPsec Throughput with IQDF** (IMIX*)
5.6Gbps
5.5Gbps
1.7Gbps
1.7Gbps
SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels scale
6000
6000
6000
6000
* IMIX is average packet size of 352 Bytes packet size
** IQDF traffic pattern: IPSec + Quality of Service (QoS) + Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) + Flexible Netflow (FNF)
Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Catalyst SD-WAN, Multi-layer security performance use cases*
Kayden (verified owner) –
The product is firmly packed.
Leo (verified owner) –
Very well worth the money.
Isaac (verified owner) –
Very fast delivery.