C8221L-G2 – 2x10GE RJ-45 Copper – 8x1GE Ports – 8 GB DRAM – Desktop Router
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C8221L-G2 Description
The C8221L-G2 is the copper ten-gigabit variant in the Cisco 8200 Series desktop range. Where its two siblings put 10 GE capability into SFP+ optical cages, this model terminates it on 2x 10 GE RJ-45 ports, joined by 2x 1 GE RJ-45 WAN ports, two 1 GE Flex ports and four 1 GE LAN ports. Everything else matches C8221-G2 line for line: 8 GB DRAM, 19 Gbps forwarding, 5 Gbps IPsec, 4 Gbps SD-WAN, 1 Gbps Threat protection, a 66W AC adapter with no PoE option, 21W typical draw and a 5 lb desktop chassis. The platform starts at Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
C8221L-G2 |
|
Platform type |
Desktop form factor |
|
WAN Ports |
2x 10 GE RJ-45 and 2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
Flex Ports |
2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
LAN Ports |
4x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
Ten-gigabit media |
RJ-45 copper rather than SFP+ optics |
|
Cellular Slot |
None on this platform |
|
PoE capability |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
|
Default power supply model |
66W AC external adapter |
|
Forwarding throughput |
19 Gbps at 512 bytes |
|
Threat protection throughput |
1 Gbps at EMIX |
|
DRAM |
8 GB |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 |
Product Performance
Key Features
The two 10 GE ports are RJ-45 rather than SFP+ cages, so a 10GBASE-T circuit or a copper uplink to a switch connects with structured cabling and no transceiver line on the order.
Because the fast ports are copper, the uplink carries no transceiver cost and no optic compatibility check, which removes two items a fibre-fed site has to manage per router.
DRAM, storage, throughput at all four measured points, adapter, typical draw, chassis weight, thermal range and software floor are the same figures Cisco publishes for C8221-G2, so media is the only variable.
Two 10 GE, two 1 GE WAN, two Flex and four LAN ports fit a 5 lb desktop chassis drawing 21W typical, matching the rest of the all-gigabit range on footprint despite the faster copper ports.
Cisco lists no PoE-capable adapter for this model, so all ten ports are data-only and a powered endpoint needs an injector or a different SKU.
Ten-gigabit copper is bounded by cable category and run length in a way SFP+ optics are not, so the site survey has to confirm the cabling plant rather than only the port count.
Application Scenarios
Deployed where the carrier or building handoff arrives as 10GBASE-T on structured cabling rather than on fibre.
Installed where the operations model avoids transceivers entirely and every connection on the estate is copper.
Placed where the router uplinks to an adjacent switch across a short copper run at ten gigabits.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C8221L-G2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Platform type |
Desktop |
Desktop |
Desktop |
|
WAN Ports |
2x 10 GE RJ-45, 2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
2x 1/10 GE SFP+, 2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
2x 1/10 GE SFP+, 2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
Ten-gigabit media |
RJ-45 copper |
SFP+ optical cages |
SFP+ optical cages |
|
Transceivers required |
Not required; the fast ports are RJ-45 copper |
1 GE or 10 GE SFP optics |
1 GE or 10 GE SFP optics |
|
Flex Ports |
2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
LAN Ports |
4x 1 GE RJ-45 |
4x 1 GE RJ-45 |
4x 1 GE RJ-45 |
|
PoE capability |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
Not a PoE power sourcing device |
|
Forwarding throughput |
19 Gbps |
19 Gbps |
19 Gbps |
|
Threat protection throughput |
1 Gbps |
1 Gbps |
2.4 Gbps |
|
DRAM |
8 GB |
8 GB |
16 GB |
|
Typical power consumption |
21W |
21W |
21W |
|
Chassis weight |
5 lb |
5 lb |
5 lb |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 |
Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 |
Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 |
- C8221L-G2 and C8221-G2 are the same router with the ten-gigabit capability on different media. Copper RJ-45 here, SFP+ optical cages there; DRAM, throughput at all four points, adapter, draw, weight, thermal range and software floor are identical, so the entire decision is what the fast link terminates on.
- That media choice carries a cost difference beyond the router. The optical models need a transceiver per fast port and a compatibility check against the far end, while this model needs neither but inherits copper distance and cable-category limits the optical pair do not have.
- C8225-G2 sits on the optical side and adds the inspection tier, taking DRAM to 16 GB and Threat protection to 2.4 Gbps while keeping the same faceplate as C8221-G2. There is no copper-uplink equivalent of that tier published in this series.
- For deciding which SKU to order, confirm the physical media of the ten-gigabit handoff, because that is the only difference between this model and C8221-G2; if the answer is fibre and local inspection is also required, the order moves to C8225-G2 rather than to either copper option.
Selection Guide
1. When The Ten-Gigabit Handoff Is Copper
This is the only 8200 model terminating 10 GE on RJ-45; a site handed 10GBASE-T has no alternative in the series, and one handed fibre gains nothing here because the copper ports cannot take an optic.
2. Removing Transceivers From The Bill Of Materials
C8221-G2 requires an SFP or SFP+ optic in each fast cage while this model needs none; across a large estate that removes two optics and one compatibility check per site, which can outweigh the router difference itself.
3. Copper Distance Is The New Constraint
Ten-gigabit over RJ-45 depends on cable category and run length in a way SFP+ optics do not; a site whose fast link runs beyond what its installed cabling supports should take the optical model and a suitable transceiver instead.
4. No Copper Path To The Higher Inspection Tier
C8225-G2 raises DRAM to 16 GB and Threat protection to 2.4 Gbps but only on the optical faceplate; a design needing both copper ten-gigabit and the higher inspection tier cannot be met by a single 8200 SKU.
5. Same Thermal And Power Envelope As Its Siblings
At 21W typical, 5 lb and 45 degrees C at sea level, this model plans identically to C8221-G2 and C8225-G2, so switching media between sites does not change the power, mounting or cooling design.
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Cable category and run length |
Confirm the installed cabling supports 10GBASE-T over the required distance. |
Copper ten-gigabit is distance and category limited, and an optical model plus transceiver is the alternative if it is not. |
|
Far-end port type |
Confirm the device at the other end of the fast link presents an RJ-45 ten-gigabit port. |
These ports cannot take an optic, so a fibre far end cannot be reached from this model. |
|
Inspection tier |
Confirm 1 Gbps of Threat protection covers the planned service set. |
No copper-uplink model in this series offers the 2.4 Gbps tier. |
|
Powered endpoints |
Confirm no endpoint will draw power from the router. |
No PoE-capable supply is listed, so a powered device needs an injector or a different SKU. |
|
Software train readiness |
Confirm the estate can run Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Release 26.1.2. |
This model does not run the 17.18 family the multigigabit 8200 models use. |
|
Dust and liquid cover |
Confirm whether the cover is required and that the site stays inside 40 degrees C if it is fitted. |
The cover reduces the rated ceiling from 45 to 40 degrees C. |
Optional Add-ons
|
Add-on |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Secondary 66W AC adapter |
Additional external adapter listed as a secondary PSU option. |
|
Rack-mount tray |
Accessory that brings the desktop chassis to 2.835 x 12 x 17.56 in. for rack installation. |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8221L-G2 | Series | Cisco 8200 Series Secure Routers |
| Platform type | Desktop form factor | WAN Ports | 2x 10 GE RJ-45 and 2x 1 GE RJ-45 |
| Flex Ports | 2x 1 GE RJ-45 | LAN Ports | 4x 1 GE RJ-45 |
| Cellular Slot | None on this platform | Expansion Slots | None; only the -E models in this series carry a NIM slot |
| Management port | 1x RJ-45 out-of-band management | Console port | 1x RJ-45 |
| DRAM | 8 GB | Storage | 16 GB |
| Default power supply model | 66W AC external adapter | Alternative power supplies | Secondary PSU external adapter option at 66W AC |
| PoE capability | Not a PoE power sourcing device; Cisco lists no PoE-capable supply for this model | Typical power consumption | 21W |
| Input voltage | AC: 85 to 264 VAC | Forwarding (512B) | 19 Gbps |
| IPsec (512B) | 5 Gbps | SD-WAN (512B) | 4 Gbps |
| 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, NGFW, Intrusion Prevention System, URL Filtering and Advanced Malware Protection enabled | IPv4/IPv6 routes | 1.5M |
| IPsec tunnels | 700 | IPv4 ACLs | 3000 |
| IPv4 ACEs | 15,000 | NAT sessions | 1.5M |
| VRF instances | 4000 | Dimensions (H x D x W) | 1.61 x 8.5 x 12.7 in. (4.09 x 21.59 x 32.26 cm) |
| Rack units (RU) | Desktop | Dimensions with rack-mount tray | 2.835 x 12 x 17.56 in. (7.20 x 30.48 x 44.60 cm) with the tray holding the power supply |
| Chassis weight | 5 lb (2.27 kg) | Operating temperature | 0 to 45 degrees C at sea level, or 0 to 40 degrees C with the dust and liquid cover fitted |
| Storage temperature | -40 to 70 degrees C | Relative humidity | 5 to 85 percent operating; 5 to 95 percent non-operating and storage |
| Minimum device OS | Cisco IOS XE Release 26.1.2 and later | Minimum SD-WAN Manager release | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Release 26.1.2 and later |
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Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
-
When is C8221L-G2 a better match than C8221-G2?
-
Do C8221L-G2 WAN connections require optical transceivers?
-
Can C8221L-G2 provide 10 Gbps of IPsec traffic?
-
Are the C8221L-G2 LAN ports multigigabit or PoE-capable?
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Does C8221L-G2 have the same security performance as C8225-G2?
-
What is the listed software starting point for C8221L-G2?
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