Cisco C8200-1N-4T Router

The Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms are 5G-ready cloud edge platforms designed for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), multilayer security, and cloud-native agility to accelerate your journey to cloud.

The Cisco^® Catalyst^® 8200 Series Edge Platforms with Cisco IOS^® XE SD-WAN software deliver Cisco’s secure, cloud-scale SD-WAN and SD-Routing solutions to the small branch. The platforms are purpose-built for performance and integrated SD-WAN services along with flexibility to deliver security and networking services together from the cloud or on premises. They have a wide variety of interface options to choose from, with backward compatibility to existing WAN, LAN, and voice modules. Powered by Cisco IOS XE, a fully programmable software architecture, and API support, the Catalyst 8200 Series can facilitate automation at scale in both SD-WAN and SD-Routing deployments to achieve zero-touch IT capability while migrating workloads to the cloud. The platforms also come with a trustworthy solutions 2.0 infrastructure that secures them against threats and vulnerabilities through advanced integrity verification and remediation of threats.

The 8200 Series is well suited for small and medium-sized enterprise branch offices at optimal price/performance with integrated SD-WAN and SD-Routing services.

The Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms are offered in two models: C8200L-1N-4T for the small branch with SASE-compliant, cloud-based security requirements, and C8200-1N-4T for the small to medium-sized branch with requirements for higher throughput, scale, and service flexibility. In addition to supporting SASE-compliant cloud-based security services, the C8200-1N-4T also delivers a flexible system of best-in-class, on-premises security services through container-based apps, using Cisco’s third-party ecosystem.

Product overview

Product highlights

Table 1.       Product highlights

Platform details

Models and configurations

Catalyst 8200 Series with 1 NIM slot and 4x 1 Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports

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

Table 2.       Platform specifications

Platform Performance

Traffic patterns and use cases

Table 3.       Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series SD-WAN performance

SD-WAN Multi-layer security performance use cases

The Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge platforms connect branch offices to the Internet and cloud, with industry-leading protection against major web attacks. Table 4 below provides test results for two common Multi-layer Security use cases in SD-WAN. Multi-layer Security use cases are only tested on C8200-1N-4T. C8200L-1N-4T doesn’t support embedded, containerized, security features.

●     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 second use case is with 100% unencrypted DIA traffic protected by the same advanced security features as in the first use case.

Table 4.       Cisco Catalyst 8200-1N-4T SD-WAN, Multi-layer security performance use cases ^*

Table 5.       Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series autonomous mode (non SD-WAN) performance specifications

Table 6.       Cisco Catalyst 8200 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 8200 Series Edge platforms’s multicore resources to fit your business needs. You can choose between two core allocations

●     Service plane heavy mode is a service-oriented core allocation which has the platform’s Multicore resources set to balance throughput with providing adequate resources for containerized services. Choose Service plane heavy mode if integrated, container based, services are required. C8200-1N-4T with its 8-core SoC architecture will allow for KVM and/or Docker container-based applications on up to 3 cores. C8200L-1N-4T with a 4-core SoC architecture has a single core earmarked for Thousand Eyes agent in Service plane heavy mode. This platform doesn’t allow for KVM and/or Docker container-based applications. Service plane heavy mode is the factory default core allocation with which all C8200 platforms are shipped.

●     Data plane heavy core allocation has the platform’s Multicore resources repurposed and 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.

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. The Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms Family can dynamically route traffic across the “best” link based on up-to-the-minute application and network conditions for great application experiences. With Catalyst SD-WAN you get tight control over application performance, bandwidth usage, data privacy, and availability of your WAN links. This control is critical as branches conduct greater volumes of mission-critical business using 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 SD-WAN networks meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) and maintain strong performance, even if network problems occur. With branch multicloud access, you can accelerate your Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications with a simple template push from the SD-WAN controller. Features such as TCP optimization, Forward Error Correction (FEC), and packet duplication enhance application performance for a better user experience.

Multilayer security

You can now move your traditional and complex WAN networks into an agile, software-defined WAN with integrated security. The Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms connect branch offices to the internet and cloud with industry-leading protection against major web attacks. Secure Direct Internet Access (DIA) from the branches helps optimize branch workloads for improved performance, specifically for cloud-hosted applications. At the same time, secure DIA helps ensure that your branch is protected from external threats.

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 8200 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 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.

Unified communications

The Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms offer rich voice services in both SD-WAN and traditional Cisco IOS XE software feature stacks. Cisco is the only SD-WAN vendor to natively integrate analog and digital IP directly into single Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), reducing CapEx and OpEx. In SD-WAN mode, the Catalyst 8200 Series also helps prevent internal and external outages with Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST), enabling branch routers to assume the role of call control PBX for telephony survivability. They also continue to support a long list of traditional Cisco IOS XE voice use cases such as Cisco Unified Boarder 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 Cisco IOS XE routing stack on the Catalyst 8200 Series. IP routing, IPsec, QoS, firewall, 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 Cisco IOS XE. And you can easily move from one to the other when you choose to do so.

Mobility

The Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms are built for high-speed Cat18 LTE and 5G networks. With the higher throughputs from Cat18 LTE and 5G, wireless WAN solutions are becoming feasible options for primary transport use cases. These platforms supports both integrated pluggable modules as well as external Cellular Gateways with Cat18 LTE and 5G capability for improved throughput that addresses those use cases. An integrated PIM module or external Cellular Gateway can be chosen based on a specific branch’s cellular coverage, or work in tandem forming a high-availability Active-Active cellular WAN solution.

Interface flexibility

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

The Catalyst 8200 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 2.5Gbps mGig with full Layer 3 feature parity to the Catalyst 8200 Series four 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 8200 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. 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.

Voice modules

The Catalyst 8200 Series continues Cisco’s support for 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.

Sustainability

The Cisco Catalyst 8200 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 and accessories. We have eliminated the 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 8200 and 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. It offers 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)

By using a single, effective, SoC architecture, the Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge family provides significantly higher performance per consumed wattage than its predecessors.

Supported modules

Table 7.       Modules supported on Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms

Memory, storage, and accessory options

Table 8.       Memory, storage, and accessory options

Optics and transceivers modules

Find a full list of optics and transceivers here.

Power supplies

Table 9.       Power supply specifications

Table 10.    Cisco Catalyst 8200 Edge platform Typical power consumption

Asset management

The Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms have an embedded RFID tag that holds the 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. It also features an extendable label tag providing the same information. A QR code on this tag makes asset management easy by simply scanning the label using a smartphone QR reader.

Software requirements

Cisco DNA Software for the Catalyst 8200 Series offers comprehensive solutions for enterprise branch networks.

Table 11a.     Minimum software requirements

Table 11b.    ThousandEyes requirements

Table 11c.     Software features and protocols for autonomous mode

Table 11d.    Software features and protocols for controller mode

Licensing

The Catalyst 8200 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 8200 Series

●     Catalyst Routing Essentials

●     Cisco DNA Essentials

●     Cisco DNA Advantage

For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to cisco.com/go/licensingguide.

Cisco ThousandEyes

A valid ThousandEyes agent license is required to activate the ThousandEyes agent. Existing ThousandEyes subscriptions can be leveraged on eligible platforms. Additional ThousandEyes subscription information can be found here.

Specifications

Table 12.          Mechanical specifications

Table 13.          Safty and compliance

Product sustainability

Information about Cisco’s environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives and performance is provided in Cisco’s CSR and sustainability reporting.

For more information

For more information about the Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platforms, Visit: https://www.cisco.com/go/C8200 or contact your local Cisco account representative.