Cisco C8300-2N2S-6T Router

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms are best-of-breed, 5G-ready, cloud edge platforms designed for accelerated services, multi-layer security, cloud-native agility, and edge intelligence to accelerate your journey to cloud.

Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms (Catalyst 8300) with Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software deliver Cisco’s secure, cloud-scale Catalyst SD-WAN solution for the branch. The Catalyst 8300 Series is purpose-built for high performance and integrated SD-WAN Services along with flexibility to deliver security and networking services together from the cloud or on premises. It provides higher WAN port density and a redundant power supply capability. The Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms have a wide variety of interface options to choose from—ranging from lower and higher module density with backward compatibility to a variety of existing WAN, LAN, voice, and compute modules. 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 8300 Series Edge Platforms also come with Trustworthy Solutions 2.0 infrastructure that secures the platforms against threats and vulnerabilities with integrity verification and remediation of threats.

The Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms are well suited for medium-sized and large enterprise branch offices for high WAN IPSec performance with integrated Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN services.

Product overview

Product highlights

Table 1.        Product highlights

Platform details

Models and configurations

Figures 1 through 4 highlight the different models included in the Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms.

C8300-2N2S-4T2X is a 2RU platform with 2 SM and 2 NIM slots plus 2 x 10Gbps and 4 x 1Gbps embedded Layer3 Ethernet ports

C8300-2N2S-6T is a 2RU platform with 2 SM and 2 NIM slots plus 6 x 1Gbps embedded Layer3 Ethernet ports

C8300-1N1S-4T2X is a 1RU platform with 1 SM slot and 1 NIM slot plus 2 x 10Gbps and 4 x 1Gbps embedded Layer3 Ethernet ports

C8300-1N1S-6T is a 1RU platform with 1 SM slot and 1 NIM slot plus 6 x 1Gbps embedded Layer3 Ethernet ports

Tables 2 and 3 detail platform specifications and performance, respectively.

Table 2.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series specifications

Platform Performance

Traffic patterns and use cases

Table 3.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Catalyst SD-WAN performance

Catalyst SD-WAN Multi-layer security performance use cases

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge platforms connect branch offices to the Internet and cloud, with industry-leading protection against major web attacks. Table 3b below provides test results for three common Multi-layer Security use cases in Catalyst 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 4.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Catalyst SD-WAN, Multi-layer security performance use cases^*

Table 5.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series autonomous mode (non SD-WAN) performance specifications

Table 6.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series autonomous mode (non SD-WAN) system scalability

Overall platform benefits

Dynamic core allocation

Dynamic core allocation architecture will allow you to tailor the Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge platform’s multicore resources to fit your business needs. You can choose between two core allocations.

●     Service-oriented core allocation has the platform’s Multicore resources set to balance throughput with providing adequate resources for containerized services. Choose this if integrated, container based, services are required. It will allow for KVM and/or Docker container-based applications on up to 5 cores, depending on platform. This is the factory default core allocation with which all C8300 platforms are shipped.

●     Data plane heavy core allocation has the platform’s Multicore resources optimized for high traffic throughput. Choose this architecture when throughput is of higher priority, A Data plane heavy architecture will on 8-core platforms completely remove resources for containerized services, whereas on the 12-core platform, C8300-2N2S-4T2X, it will reduce service plane resources from 5 to 4 cores.In order to maximize the platforms performance and your investment, it’s recommended to change into a Data plane heavy core allocation when container-based services are not being required.

Accelerated services with Cisco 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.

SD-Routing

Simplifying traditional routing deployment and workflows with Cisco Software-Defined Routing

Cisco SD-Routing enables Cisco routing devices to be managed through Cisco Catalyst^™ SD-WAN Manager, bringing operational simplicity and agility to traditional routing deployments by avoiding truck rolls for routine operational tasks. It also reduces OpEx by leveraging Catalyst SD-WAN Manager as the unified management platform for Catalyst SD-WAN as well as routing deployments.

SD-Routing enables customers to manage their routing devices in a flexible manner through on-premises controllers and will also be offered through cloud-delivered controllers in the near future.

Operationally, Cisco SD-Routing provides intuitive device lifecycle orchestration workflows for secure device onboarding as well as secure device software upgrades. By leveraging the rich monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities of Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, administrators can quickly isolate and resolve network problems.

Application performance optimization

Ensure that Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN networks meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) and maintain strong performance, even if network problems occur. With branch multi-cloud access, you can accelerate your SaaS applications with a simple template push from the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN controller. Features like Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) optimization, forward error correction, and packet duplication help application performance for a better user experience.

Application visibility

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 8300 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 the Cisco Catalyst 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.

Multi-layer security

You can now move your traditional and complex WAN networks to a more agile software-defined WAN with integrated security. The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge platforms connect branch offices to the Internet and cloud, with industry-leading protection against major web attacks. Secure Direct Internet Access (DIA) to the branches helps optimize branch workloads for improved performance, specifically for cloud-hosted applications. At the same time, DIA ensures your branch is protected from external threats.

Unified communications

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Edge platforms offer rich voice services in both Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN and traditional IOS-XE software feature stacks. Cisco is the only SDWAN vendor to natively integrate analog/digital IP directly into single CPE reducing Capex and Opex costs. In SD-WAN mode, the Catalyst 8300 Series also prevent internal and external outages using SRST enabling Branch router to assume role of call control PBX for Telephony survivability. They also continue to support the long list of traditional IOS-XE voice use cases like Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) Session Border Controller (SBC), Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CUCME), Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), ISDN and Voice over IP.

Cloud-native agility with a programmable software architecture

Cisco continues to offer a feature-rich traditional IOS-XE routing stack on the Cisco Catalyst 8300 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 IOS XE. And easily move from one to the other when you choose to do so.

LTE and 5G Wireless WAN

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms are built 5G networks. With the higher throughputs provided by CAT18 LTE and 5G, wireless WAN connections become feasible as primary transports for different use cases. These platforms support both integrated pluggable modules as well as external cellular gateways with LTE or 5G capability for improved throughputs that address all those use cases. Based on a specific branch’s direct line of sight and cellular coverage, this solution provides the flexibility of either using integrated PIM module or an external gateway. The integrated module can work in tandem with a cellular gateway for Active-Active redundancy.

Interface flexibility

Layer 2 LAN (Switched) and Layer 3 WAN (Routed) ports

The Catalyst 8300 Series continues Cisco’s support for a flexible single-box solution with both switching and routing. The NIM based Layer 2 LAN modules provide 4 and 8-port switching with optional PoE capability for up to 1Gbps. The NIM based Layer 3 WAN modules provides extended Layer 3 port density for up to 10Gbps with full Layer 3 feature parity to the six embedded Layer 3 ports.

LANWAN – Flexible Layer 2 Switching and Layer 3 Routing

In addition to a wide range of NIM based Ethernet modules for a flexible and scalable combination of switched L2 ports and routed L3 ports, the Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms also offer a new LANWAN module series which combines both capabilities. These new NIM based modules offer combined Layer 2 & Layer 3 connectivity with full Layer 3 feature parity to the embedded Layer 3 ports. LANWAN modules are offered as 8-port RJ45 modules ranging from 100Mbps up to 2.5Gbps mGig with 90 PoE capacity, plus a 4-port SFP+ NIM module with capacity for up to 10Gbps. In addition, LANWAN modules also support LAN MACsec for all ports operating in Layer 2 mode and WAN MACsec for all ports operating in Layer 3 mode. The introduction of LANWAN series modules offer unprecedented flexibility for the branch through higher density of Layer 3 ports, with options for higher PoE capacity and with HW-based MACsec for secure connections.

High-density Switching

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms support high-density Unified Access Data Plane (UADP)-based 22-port and 50-port Layer 2 switch modules. This allows the edge platform to operate as a branch-in-a-box solution with 1G, Cisco Multigigabit Technology (mGig), and 10G ports for downstream switches and devices. The 22-port Layer-2 module is a single-wide module that can be used on both the 1RU and 2RU platforms. The 50-port Layer-2 module is a double-wide module that can be used on the 2RU platforms.

Cisco UCS-E compute

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms will support the Cisco UCS-E M3 modules as well as the new Cisco UCS-E M6 module for branch compute needs. We support both Cisco and third-party Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) on the Cisco Enterprise NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) hypervisor running on the UCS-E compute blade server. Cisco UCS-E M3 modules have 6-, 8-, and 12-core options to choose from based on the number of VNFs that need to be run at the branch. The Cisco UCS-E M6 module is a new, fully up-to-date, compute module built for today’s more demanding compute applications. It comes with 3GHz clocked 10-core architecture and 2x 10Gbps connections both internally as well as externally. This will support very effective compute operations while also eliminating any bottlenecks for traffic flowing between the module and the host router.

Voice modules

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms will continue to support a variety of voice modules for the different voice needs at the branch. Voice module examples include Foreign Exchange Station (FXS), Foreign Exchange Office (FXO), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), etc.

NEBS (Network Equipment-Building System)

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms 2RU versions can be made NEBS compliant by choosing the optional PWR-CC1-650WDCR power supplies with reverse airflow. This will automatically include C8300-FAN-2R-R, the NEBS compliant fan assembly, which will make the C8300 system NEBS compliant.

Sustainability

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms are designed ground-up with sustainability in mind. These platforms are standardized on highly efficient power supplies and common form factors for sharing tooling & accessories. We have eliminated use of plastic bezels as well as the need for wet paint, thereby reducing hazardous chemicals, and facilitating recyclability.

All platforms are designed for maximizing efficient use of PCBs and material in motherboard designs and for employing common modules across platforms. Over 70% of the ISR4000 platform family’s modules are being reused by the Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms.

We standardize on integration of features to a single, very power effective, System on a Chip (SoC) architecture across the platform portfolio with dynamic power management plus added power and thermal management capabilities on modules. All platforms furthermore include a barometer to sense atmospheric pressure and estimate installation altitude. Fan speeds can thereby be reduced in installations at lower altitudes, yielding significant energy savings.

Throughput Efficiency (Gbps per Watt)

The use of a single, effective, SoC architecture in the he Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge family provides significantly higher performance per consumed wattage than its predecessors with up to 75% reduction in power per Gbps compared to equivalent ISR4k platform.

Supported modules

Table 7.        Modules supported on Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms

Memory, storage, and accessory options

Table 8.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series memory, storage, and accessory options

The fan tray is shipped default with the Cisco Catalyst 8300 Edge Series Platforms.

Optics and transceivers modules

Find a full list of optics and transceivers here.

Resiliency and high availability

Platform redundancy is critical for branch operations, as any downtime has direct impact to a customer’s business. To address that priority, Cisco makes a dual power supply default on all the Catalyst 8300 platforms to ensure that there is always a backup power supply module in case the primary power supply fails.

Power supplies

Important notice:

To address the precarious component situation during the pandemics, Cisco shipped PWR-CC1-400WAC as a temporary substitute power supply in place of the current 250-watt power supply, PWR-CC1-250WAC, used on our Catalyst 8300 1RU platforms. PWR-CC1-400WAC is no longer shipped with our Catalyst 8300 1RU platforms but retains the same support as the PWR-CC1-250WAC power supply.

For more information this, previous, temporary measure, please visit https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/routers/catalyst-8300-series-edge-platforms/catalyst-8300-series-pb.html.

Table 9.        Cisco Catalyst 8300 1RU edge platform power supply specifications

Table 10.     Cisco Catalyst 8300 2RU edge platform power supply specifications

Table 11.     Cisco Catalyst 8300 Edge platform Typical power consumption

RFID tags: Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms have an embedded RFID tag that holds Serial Number and Product ID for easy asset and inventory management using commercial RFID readers. The RFID tag is external and can be easily removed if needed or can be unselected at the time of ordering.

Software requirements

Cisco DNA Software for the Catalyst 8300 Series offers comprehensive solutions for enterprise branch networks.

Table 12.     Catalyst 8300 Series minimum software requirements

Software features

Catalyst 8300 Series features for autonomous mode and for Catalyst SD-WAN.

Table 13.     Catalyst 8300 Series Software features and protocols for autonomous mode

Table 14.     Catalyst 8300 Series Software features and protocols for controller (Catalyst SD-WAN) mode

Licensing

The Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms are offered only with a Cisco DNA Software subscription, Enterprise Agreement, and Managed Service Licensing Agreement (MSLA). For more details, refer to this licensing guide.

Cisco DNA Subscriptions offered with the Catalyst 8300 Series

●     Catalyst Routing Essentials

●     Cisco DNA Essentials

●     Cisco DNA Advantage

Cisco Smart Licensing

Cisco Smart Licensing is a flexible licensing model that provides you with an easier, faster, and more consistent way to purchase and manage software across the Cisco portfolio and across your organization. And it’s secure – you control what users can access. With Smart Licensing you get:

●     Easy Activation: Smart Licensing establishes a pool of software licenses that can be used across the entire organization—no more PAKs (Product Activation Keys).

●     Unified Management: Cisco License Central (CLC) provides a complete view into all of your Cisco products and services in an easy-to-use portal, so you always know what you have and what you are using.

●     License Flexibility: Your software is not node-locked to your hardware, so you can easily use and transfer licenses as needed.

Specifications

Table 15.     Mechanical specifications

Table 16.     Safety and compliance

For more information

For more information about the Cisco Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms, visit https://www.cisco.com/go/C8300 or contact your local Cisco account representative.