C8161-G2 – 2x1GE Combo WAN – 6x1GE LAN with 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ – 80W PoE Budget
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C8161-G2 Description
The C8161-G2 is the only Cisco 8100 Series router that sources power to endpoints. Its six LAN ports are documented as 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ positions with an output maximum of 80W, and that capability is why the model takes a 150W external supply where the rest of the series runs on 66W or less. Around the powered LAN it carries two 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo WAN ports, two Flex ports and a pluggable LTE or 5G slot. Cisco marks it SD-WAN Capable Yes with 900 Mbps of SD-WAN and 1 Gbps of Threat Protection, forwarding is 5.6 Gbps, and the table tier is 500K routes with 4K VRFs. Typical draw is 25W before endpoint load, in a fanless 5.1 lb chassis.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
C8161-G2 |
|
Platform type |
Fanless small-branch router |
|
WAN Ports |
2x 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo |
|
Flex Ports |
2 x GE RJ-45 |
|
LAN Ports |
6 x GE RJ-45 with 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ ports |
|
Default PoE budget |
80W, published by Cisco as PoE output max power |
|
Cellular |
Optional pluggable module, LTE or 5G |
|
SD-WAN Capable |
Yes |
|
External power supply |
150W external power supply |
|
Forwarding throughput |
5.6 Gbps at 512 bytes |
|
SD-WAN throughput |
900 Mbps at 512 bytes |
|
Chassis weight |
5.1 lb |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 |
Product Performance
Key Features
Six LAN ports carry either four PoE positions or two PoE+ positions with an 80W output maximum; no other 8100 model sources power at all, so this is the single SKU that removes a small PoE switch from a branch design.
The external supply steps from 66W to 150W purely to feed the powered ports, so site power planning changes with this model even though typical router draw is only 25W before endpoints.
Cisco documents the LAN side as 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ rather than six powered positions, so the number of endpoints depends on which power class they need and two of the six LAN ports remain data-only in either arrangement.
The pluggable LTE or 5G slot and SD-WAN Capable Yes both arrive here, so a powered branch can also carry a wireless backup path and be managed as a fabric endpoint without a second device.
The output ceiling is 80W across all powered ports combined, so a design with two full-draw PoE+ devices consumes most of the budget and leaves little for a third.
The chassis stays fanless at 5.1 lb despite the larger supply and the powered ports, which keeps it usable in occupied rooms where a PoE switch with fans would not be.
Application Scenarios
Deployed where one or two wireless access points draw power from the router rather than from a separate switch or injector.
Installed where a handful of IP cameras connect directly to the powered LAN ports within the 80W ceiling.
Placed where the site both powers endpoints and needs an LTE or 5G backup module in the same fanless chassis.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C8161-G2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Default PoE budget |
80W on the 150W supply |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
|
LAN Ports |
6 x GE RJ-45 with 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ ports |
6x 1GE RJ-45 |
6x 1GE RJ-45 |
|
External power supply |
150W |
66W |
66W |
|
Cellular |
Optional pluggable module, LTE or 5G |
Optional pluggable module, LTE or 5G |
None on this platform |
|
SD-WAN Capable |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
WAN Ports |
2x 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo |
2x 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo |
2x 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo |
|
Forwarding throughput |
5.6 Gbps |
5.6 Gbps |
5.6 Gbps |
|
SD-WAN throughput |
900 Mbps |
900 Mbps |
Not listed for this model |
|
IPv4 routes |
500K |
500K |
280K |
|
VRFs |
4K |
4K |
1K |
|
Typical power |
25W |
23W |
20W |
|
Chassis weight |
5.1 lb |
5.1 lb |
3.57 lb |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 |
- C8161-G2 and C8151-G2 are the same router except for power sourcing. Ports, forwarding, SD-WAN figures, table scale, cellular slot, chassis weight and software floor all match; this model adds PoE on the LAN side with an 80W ceiling and takes a 150W supply to feed it.
- That difference is binary rather than incremental. A site with no powered endpoints gains nothing here and provisions a 150W circuit for no reason, while a site with even one access point cannot use C8151-G2 at all without adding an injector or a switch.
- C8140-G2 sits further away on both axes. It matches the port count and the 5.6 Gbps forwarding but drops PoE, cellular and SD-WAN capability and falls to the 280K route tier, in exchange for 1.53 lb less weight and a 66W supply.
- For deciding which SKU to order, count powered endpoints and total their draw against 80W first, because that number alone decides whether this model is required; then confirm cellular and fabric needs, since dropping both makes C8140-G2 the lighter and cheaper equivalent at the same port count.
Selection Guide
1. Eighty Watts Across All Powered Ports
The output ceiling is the whole budget rather than a per-port figure, so two PoE+ devices at full draw leave little headroom; a site needing more than that has to add a PoE switch regardless of which 8100 model it takes.
2. Four PoE Ports Or Two PoE Plus Ports
Cisco documents the LAN side as 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ rather than six powered positions, so the endpoint plan has to name the power class before the port count is fixed, and two LAN ports stay data-only in either arrangement.
3. Where The Hundred And Fifty Watt Supply Is Wasted
C8151-G2 matches this router on every non-PoE line at a 66W supply; a branch with no powered endpoints provisions less than half the circuit capacity by taking it, and the two are otherwise interchangeable.
4. Powering Endpoints Without Adding A Switch
For a site with one or two access points, this router removes the small PoE switch and its own power feed, mounting position and management surface, which is often worth more than the difference between the two supplies.
5. Cellular Radio Is Chosen Per Site, Not Per Model
The pluggable slot takes the same four regional modules as C8151-G2, so a multi-region rollout keeps one router part number and varies only the radio, with PoE remaining available at every site.
PoE Power Planning
|
Planning Item |
Value or Check |
|---|---|
|
PoE output max power |
80W across all powered LAN ports |
|
Powered port arrangement |
4 PoE ports or 2 PoE+ ports on the six-port LAN side |
|
Power supply required |
150W external power supply, against 66W on the non-PoE models |
|
Typical router draw before endpoints |
25W |
|
Device count check |
Confirm total endpoint draw across the powered ports stays inside the 80W ceiling |
|
Alternative if the budget is exceeded |
No other 8100 model sources power, so a larger endpoint plan needs a separate PoE switch |
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Endpoint power budget |
Confirm total draw across all powered endpoints stays inside 80W. |
The ceiling applies to the powered ports as a group, not per port. |
|
Power class and port count |
Confirm whether the design needs 4 PoE ports or 2 PoE+ ports. |
Cisco documents the LAN side as one arrangement or the other, not six powered positions. |
|
Site circuit for a 150W supply |
Confirm the installation point can feed the 150W external supply. |
The rest of the series runs on 66W or less and a shared site power plan may not allow for it. |
|
Cellular pluggable region |
Confirm the module matches the deployment region across P-5GS6-R16SA-GL, P-LTEA7-NA, P-LTEA7-EAL and P-LTEA7-JP. |
A pluggable outside its documented region will not attach to the local carrier bands. |
|
Combo port media |
Confirm whether each combo WAN port will use copper or an SFP optic, and order optics accordingly. |
Both cages accept either and an optic is a separate line item per port. |
|
Software image floor |
Confirm the image is Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 or later. |
Staging below the floor leaves the router unsupported after installation. |
|
Mounting hardware |
Confirm which of rackmount, desktop, under-desk or DIN-rail mounting the site uses and that the accessory is on the order. |
Each mounting position needs its own hardware. |
Optional Add-ons
|
Add-on |
Description |
|---|---|
|
P-5GS6-R16SA-GL |
5G Sub-6 GHz pluggable, 5G SA Global. |
|
P-LTEA7-NA |
CAT7 LTE Advanced pluggable, North America. |
|
P-LTEA7-EAL |
CAT7 LTE Advanced pluggable, EMEA, APAC and LATAM. |
|
P-LTEA7-JP |
CAT7 LTE Advanced pluggable, Japan. |
|
150W external power supply |
The external supply required for PoE operation on this model. |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8161-G2 | Series | Cisco 8100 Series Secure Routers |
| Platform type | Fanless small-branch router | WAN Ports | 2x 1GE RJ-45/SFP combo |
| Flex Ports | 2 x GE RJ-45 | LAN Ports | 6 x GE RJ-45 with 4 PoE or 2 PoE+ ports |
| Default PoE budget | 80W, published by Cisco as PoE output max power | Cellular | Optional pluggable module, LTE or 5G |
| Supported cellular pluggables | Cisco lists P-5GS6-R16SA-GL for 5G Sub-6 GHz 5G SA Global, P-LTEA7-NA for North America, P-LTEA7-EAL for EMEA, APAC and LATAM and P-LTEA7-JP for Japan, supported only on C8151-G2 and C8161-G2 | Expansion Slots | None; the 8100 Series has no NIM or SM bay |
| Management port | 1 x RJ-45 console | Storage interface | 1 x USB Type C 3.0 for out-of-band management |
| External power supply | 150W external power supply | Typical power | 25W |
| SD-WAN Capable | Yes | Forwarding (512B) | 5.6 Gbps |
| IPsec (512B) | 1.5 Gbps | SD-WAN (512B) | 900 Mbps |
| Threat Protection (EMIX) | 1 Gbps | SD-WAN measurement basis | IPsec, Quality of Service, deep packet inspection and Flexible NetFlow enabled |
| Threat Protection measurement basis | 100% Direct Internet Access NAT, Zone-Based Firewall, Intrusion Prevention System, URL Filtering and Advanced Malware Protection enabled | IPv4 routes | 500K |
| IPv6 routes | 500K | IPv4 ACLs | 4K |
| IPv4 ACEs | 10K | NAT sessions | 100K |
| VRFs | 4K | IPsec tunnels | 250 |
| Dimensions (H x D x W) | 1.57 x 8.5 x 12.7 in | Chassis weight | 5.1 lb |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 degrees C at sea level, with 1 degree C of derating per 1000 feet above sea level | Non-operating temperature | -40 to 70 degrees C |
| Operating humidity | 5 to 85 percent relative humidity, noncondensing | Operating altitude | 0 to 10,000 feet (0 to 3048 m) |
| Non-operating altitude | 0 to 15,000 feet (0 to 4572 m) | MTBF | Greater than 100,000 hours |
| Mounting options | Rackmount, desktop, under desk, DIN-rail or wall mount | Minimum device OS | Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 |
| Minimum SD-WAN Manager release | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Release 20.18.1 |
Get More Information
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Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
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How many PoE devices can C8161-G2 power?
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Is the 150W adapter included in the standard C8161-G2 configuration?
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Does C8161-G2 change the WAN port layout compared with C8151-G2?
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Which extra hardware does C8161-G2 need for 5G backup?
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Does dual SIM give C8161-G2 two active cellular WAN links?
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Which licenses does C8161-G2 need for IPS, malware defense, and URL filtering?
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Is C8161-G2 fast enough for a full-gigabit encrypted SD-WAN connection?
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Can I expand C8161-G2 DRAM or flash later?
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Does C8161-G2 need fan cooling when installed near office users?
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