C8500-12X4QC – 12×1/10G SFP+ – 2×40/100G QSFP28 + 2x40G QSFP+ – 1RU Edge Router
Shop Expert-Recommended Accessories for the C8500-12X4QC
Explore optics, stacking accessories, modules, and power supplies—all verified by our engineers for use with this model.-
SFP-10G-SR-S
10GBASE-SR SFP+ - S-Class - 400m OM4 MMFOriginal price was: $853.95.$52.00Current price is: $52.00. -
SFP-10G-LR-S
10GBASE-LR SFP+ - S-Class - 10km SMFOriginal price was: $2,439.88.$150.00Current price is: $150.00. -
QSFP-40G-SR4-S
40G SR4 S-Class QSFP - MPO-12 MMF - No BreakoutOriginal price was: $2,061.70.$391.00Current price is: $391.00. -
GLC-LH-SMD
1000BASE-LX/LH SFP - 10km SMF / 550m MMF - DOMOriginal price was: $1,260.58.$95.80Current price is: $95.80. -
GLC-TE
1000BASE-T SFP - RJ-45 Cat5 Copper - 100m ReachOriginal price was: $570.10.$70.00Current price is: $70.00. -
GLC-SX-MMD
1000BASE-SX SFP - MMF 850nm - DOMOriginal price was: $633.46.$59.00Current price is: $59.00. -
QSFP-100G-SR4-S
100G SR4 QSFP - MPO-12 MMF - 100m OM4Original price was: $2,433.79.$268.00Current price is: $268.00.
Why Layer23-Switch
Stocked, Shipped and Supported by One Team
Ships in 1 Business Day
In-stock orders leave our Hong Kong or U.S. warehouse within 1 business day after payment, with tracking by email.
LSCare Warranty
3years on enterprise equipment
Free CCIE Support
Certified engineers help before and after you buy. Reply within 1 business day by email or live chat.
Verify Before You Pay
100%factory-sealed
Get label and serial photos before shipment, and check every serial number with Cisco.
C8500-12X4QC Description
The C8500-12X4QC is a Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series 1RU edge router for SD-WAN aggregation and internet edge sites that terminate 40G and 100G links. The router has twelve 1/10GE SFP+ ports, two 40GE QSFP+ ports and two 40/100GE QSFP28 ports, up to 96 Gbps of SD-WAN IPsec at 1400 bytes across 8000 overlay tunnels, and 16 GB of DRAM upgradable to 64 GB. The ports sit in three configurable bays, and a 100GE port in Bay 1 leaves no other port available in Bay 0 or Bay 1.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Ethernet ports |
12 x 1/10GE SFP+, 2 x 40GE QSFP+, 2 x 40/100GE QSFP28 |
|
Maximum port configuration |
12 x 10GE, 4 x 40GE or 2 x 100GE |
|
10GE breakout |
Up to 24 x 10GE with 4x10GE breakout cables; not supported in SD-WAN mode |
|
SD-WAN IPsec throughput |
Up to 96 Gbps (1400 bytes); 31.9 Gbps (IMIX) |
|
SD-WAN overlay tunnels |
8000 |
|
IPv4 forwarding throughput |
Up to 197 Gbps (1400 bytes), autonomous mode |
|
DRAM |
16 GB, upgradable to 32 GB or 64 GB |
|
Default storage |
32 GB eUSB boot flash; optional 480 GB M.2 SATA SSD |
|
Default power supplies |
2 x PWR-CH1-750WACR 750W AC or 2 x PWR-CH1-950WDCR 950W DC |
|
License tier |
Cisco DNA Advantage, bandwidth Tier 3 (up to 20G aggregate) |
|
Form factor |
1RU; front-to-back airflow |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2 |
Product Performance
Key Features
Bay 0 holds eight SFP+ ports at 1G or 10G. Bay 1 runs four SFP+ ports or one QSFP port at 40G or 100G, and Bay 2 runs its three QSFP ports as one 100G or three 40G interfaces. The mix chosen per bay sets the port count, from 12 x 10GE plus 3 x 40GE down to 2 x 100GE.
With 4x10GE breakout cables on the 40G QSFP ports, the router presents up to 24 10GE interfaces. Breakout works only in autonomous mode; an SD-WAN deployment keeps the native port speeds.
Encryption runs inline on the third-generation Quantum Flow Processor ASIC, while an Intel x86 CPU handles the control plane. In autonomous mode the router carries up to 135 Gbps of IPsec at 1400 bytes over as many as 4000 SVTI tunnels.
The default 16 GB of DRAM holds 4M IPv4 and 4M IPv6 routes. The router tracks up to 16M NAT sessions and 6M firewall sessions and holds up to 380K IPv4 ACEs across 4000 ACLs, backed by 80 MB of TCAM.
Two supplies are installed by default, either 750W AC or 950W DC on a -48V feed. The chassis cools front to back, and every supply and the fan tray must share the same airflow direction.
From Cisco IOS XE 17.9.3 the router supports broadband features such as BNG, LNS, LAC and IWAG in autonomous mode. Earlier releases from the 17.3.2 baseline do not include them.
Application Scenarios
A regional hub collects SD-WAN overlays from many branches on this 1RU router, connecting to the data center core over 100GE QSFP28 links while 10G carrier circuits land on the SFP+ ports.
At an enterprise internet edge, the router terminates 10G and 40G transit circuits and applies NAT and zone-based firewall policy to direct internet traffic before it reaches the campus.
A managed service provider can place the router at a point of presence to terminate subscriber sessions as an LNS or BNG, with 10GE and 40GE ports facing the access network.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C8500-12X4QC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Interfaces |
12-port 1/10GE, 2-port 40GE, 2-port 40/100GE |
12-port 1/10GE |
20-port 1/10GE, 6-port 40/100GE |
|
Max 100GE ports |
2 |
0 |
6 |
|
SD-WAN IPsec throughput (1400 bytes) |
Up to 96 Gbps |
Up to 51 Gbps |
Up to 350 Gbps |
|
IPv4 forwarding throughput (1400 bytes) |
Up to 197 Gbps |
Up to 118 Gbps |
Up to 500 Gbps |
|
SD-WAN overlay tunnels scale |
8000 |
8000 |
8000 |
|
Memory (DRAM) |
16 GB default, up to 64 GB |
16 GB default, up to 64 GB |
64 GB, not upgradable |
|
Power supplies |
2 x PWR-CH1-750WACR AC or PWR-CH1-950WDCR DC |
2 x PWR-CH1-750WACR AC or PWR-CH1-950WDCR DC |
3 x PWR-CH1-1100WAC AC or PWR-CH1-950WDC DC, fourth optional |
|
Rack units |
1RU |
1RU |
3RU |
|
Minimum software requirement |
Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.10.1 |
C8500-12X4QC and C8500-12X share a 1RU chassis, twelve 1/10GE SFP+ ports and the Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2 baseline, but C8500-12X has no 40GE or 100GE ports and reaches 51 Gbps of SD-WAN IPsec against 96 Gbps on C8500-12X4QC. A site whose circuits and core links all run at 10G, with encrypted traffic within 51 Gbps, can use C8500-12X. Designs that need more than two 100GE ports, or SD-WAN IPsec above 96 Gbps, move to C8500-20X6C, a 3RU chassis with six 40/100GE ports, up to 350 Gbps and 64 GB of DRAM. That model needs Cisco IOS XE 17.10.1 or later.
Ordering Checklist
- DNA subscription tier: Add L-DNA-C8500, or order the subscription through the platform SKU, with a Tier 3 Advantage term such as DNA-C-T3-A-5Y or DNA-P-T3-A-5Y. Tier 3 covers the full platform throughput of C8500-12X4QC.
- Software mode and image: Select IOSXE-AUTO-MODE (the default) or IOSXE-CTRL-MODE for SD-WAN, plus an image such as SC8KAEPUK9-173 or the non-payload-encryption SC8KAEPNEK9 version. QSFP 4x10GE breakout is not supported in SD-WAN mode.
- HSEC license: Keep the default C8000-HSEC on the hardware order, or C8000-HSEC-DNA when the subscription is placed through L-DNA-C8500.
- Memory and storage: MEM-C8500-16GB and the 32 GB eUSB are the defaults; change to MEM-C8500-32GB or MEM-C8500-64GB, or add SSD-M2SATA-480G, on the chassis order.
- Power supplies and cords: Choose two PWR-CH1-750WACR AC or two PWR-CH1-950WDCR DC supplies, and select a power cord for each AC supply. All supplies and the fan tray in one chassis must use the same airflow direction.
- RFID and rack kit: C8500-RFID-1R and a 19-inch accessory kit ship by default. Select C-RFID-NONE to drop the tag, or C8500-4PT-KIT or C8500-ACCKIT-23 for four-post or 23-inch racks.
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
PWR-CH1-750WACR= |
Cisco C8500 750W AC power supply, spare |
|
PWR-CH1-950WDCR= |
Cisco C8500 950W DC power supply, spare |
|
MEM-C8500-32GB |
Cisco C8500 32 GB memory |
|
MEM-C8500-64GB |
Cisco C8500 64 GB memory |
|
SSD-M2SATA-480G= |
Cisco C8500 480 GB M.2 SATA SSD, spare |
|
C8500-FAN-1R= |
Cisco C8500 1RU fan tray, spare |
|
C8500-ACCKIT-19= |
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge 19-inch accessory kit, spare |
|
C8500-ACCKIT-23= |
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge 23-inch accessory kit, spare |
|
C8500-4PT-KIT= |
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge 4-post accessory kit, spare |
C8500-12X4QC Front View
|
1 |
Power LED |
11 |
Bay 1 : Configurable 100G or 40G |
|
2 |
Status LED |
12 |
Bay 2 : Configurable 1x100G or 3x40G |
|
3 , 4, and 5 |
Alarm LED |
13 |
USB 1 |
|
6 and 7 |
Management Interface LED |
14 |
USB 0 |
|
8 |
Link Status LED |
15 |
Management Interface |
|
9 |
Bay 0 : 8x 1/10 GE |
16 |
Micro-USB Console |
|
10 |
Bay 1 : 4×1/10 GE |
17 |
Console RJ-45 |
C8500-12X4QC Rear View
|
1 |
Fans |
5 |
Power switch |
|
2 |
Power supply AC input LED |
6 |
Power supply failure LED |
|
3, and 4 |
PEM 0, PEM 1 |
— |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8500-12X4QC | Description | Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series 12-port SFP+, 2-port QSFP+, 2-port QSFP28 |
| Interfaces | 12 x 1/10GE SFP+, 2 x 40GE QSFP+, 2 x 40/100GE QSFP28 | Max 1GE / 10GE / 40GE / 100GE ports | 12 / 12 / 4 / 2 |
| Bay 0 | 8 x SFP+, 10G or 1G per port | Bay 1 | 4 x SFP+ or 1 x QSFP: 1 x 100G, 1 x 40G or 4 x 10/1G breakout |
| Bay 2 | 3 x QSFP: 1 x 100G or 3 x 40G | 100GE mode limit | With Bay 1 in 100GE mode, no other ports are available in Bay 0 or Bay 1 |
| Maximum port configurations | 4x40GE + 8x10GE; 1x100GE + 3x40GE; 1x100GE + 1x40GE + 8x10GE; 1x100GE + 12x10GE; 12x10GE + 3x40GE | 10GE breakout | Up to 24 x 10GE with 4x10GE breakout cables on the QSFP 40G ports; not supported in SD-WAN mode |
| Dual-rate SFP+ ports | 10G SFP+ without auto-negotiation; 1G SFP with auto-negotiation | Console port | RJ-45 and micro-USB |
| USB port | 2 x USB 3.0 | CPU | Third-generation Quantum Flow Processor ASIC with inline IPsec and MACsec; Intel x86 control CPU |
| Memory (DRAM) | 16 GB default (MEM-C8500-16GB); 32 GB or 64 GB options | Boot flash storage | 32 GB eUSB |
| Optional SSD | 480 GB M.2 SATA (SSD-M2SATA-480G) | TCAM | 80 MB |
| SD-WAN IPsec throughput (1400 bytes) | Up to 96 Gbps | SD-WAN IPsec throughput (IMIX) | Up to 31.9 Gbps |
| SD-WAN overlay tunnels scale | 8000 | IPv4 forwarding throughput (1400 bytes) | Up to 197 Gbps |
| IPsec throughput (1400 bytes) | Up to 135 Gbps | Number of IPsec SVTI tunnels | 4000 |
| Number of ACLs per system | 4000 | Number of IPv4 ACEs per system | 380K |
| Number of IPv4 routes | 4M with default 16 GB | Number of IPv6 routes | 4M with default 16 GB |
| Number of queues | 256K | Number of NAT sessions | 16M |
| Number of firewall sessions | 6M | Number of VRFs | 8000 |
| Software redundancy | Two IOS XE processes on one device in IOS XE routing mode | Broadband features | BNG, LNS, LAC and IWAG from Cisco IOS XE 17.9.3 |
| Minimum software requirement | Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2; SD-WAN Manager 20.3.2 | Network license | Cisco DNA Advantage, bandwidth Tier 3 (up to 20G aggregate) |
| Power supplies | 2 redundant supplies by default: PWR-CH1-750WACR or PWR-CH1-950WDCR | PWR-CH1-750WACR | 750W; 85 to 264 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz; 80 Plus Platinum; IEC 320 C14 |
| PWR-CH1-950WDCR | 950W; -40 to -72 VDC, -48V nominal; 86% efficiency; terminal block | Input voltage | AC: 85 to 264 VAC; DC: -40 to -72 VDC |
| Heat dissipation | 1023.6 BTU/hr; max 1706.1 BTU/hr | Airflow | Front to back; supplies and fan tray must share the same direction |
| Fan modules | 1RU fan tray; spare C8500-FAN-1R= | Sound pressure | Typical 61.1 dBA; maximum 69.8 dBA |
| Sound power | Typical 75.1 dBA; maximum 83.8 dBA | Operating temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Storage temperature | -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 150°F) | Relative humidity | 10 to 85% operating; 5 to 95% nonoperating and storage, noncondensing |
| Operating altitude | -500 to 10,000 ft (-152 to 3048 m) | NEBS criteria levels | GR-1089 and GR-63 |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.50 x 18.46 in. | Rack units | 1RU |
| Weight | 20.75 lb with 2 AC power supplies and fan tray | Rack installation | Two-post and four-post |
| MTBF | 146,700 hours | Safety certifications | UL 60950-1; CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1; EN 60950-1; IEC 60950-1; AS/NZS 60950-1; GB4943 |
| EMC (emissions) | 47 CFR Part 15 Class A; ICES 003 Class A; AS/NZS CISPR 32 Class A; CISPR 22/CISPR 32 Class A; EN55022/EN55032 Class A; VCCI Class A; CNS-13438 Class A; KN32 Class A | EMC (immunity) | IEC/EN 61000-4-2, 61000-4-3, 61000-4-4, 61000-4-5, 61000-4-6, 61000-4-11; KN35 |
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
-
What IPsec throughput does C8500-12X4QC reach?
-
Which Cisco DNA license tier does C8500-12X4QC need?
-
Which cord and input does PWR-CH1-750WACR need on C8500-12X4QC?
-
What wiring does PWR-CH1-950WDCR need on C8500-12X4QC?
-
How loud is C8500-12X4QC in operation?
-
Which console and USB ports does C8500-12X4QC have?
Warranty
Layer23-Switch.com offers genuine, high-quality ICT products at competitive wholesale prices—ensuring exceptional value without compromising quality.
All items are brand new, original, and factory-sealed.
Upon request, each unit can be fully tested and verified by a Cisco CCIE-certified engineer to ensure perfect working condition before shipment.
Our Cisco CCIE-certified experts provide free professional support via phone, email, online chat, or remote login—helping you deploy and troubleshoot with confidence.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may request an exchange or full refund. Our customer service team will guide you through the return process quickly and smoothly. Visit Return Policy page for more information.
We support multiple secure payment and logistics options, backed by industry-leading verification:
Visit How to Pay page for more information
Extended, Worry-Free Warranty Coverage Factory New Sealed Enterprise Hardware:
· 3 Years Factory New Sealed
Visit Warranty Policy page for more information
Verify, plan, and comparewith confidence
Use practical tools to check device details, review lifecyclemilestones, and compare hardware before you buy.
The box survived a cross-country journey without a scratch on the product inside.
Layer23 makes hardware purchases feel less like work.
Our accounts payable had a billing question. Resolved quickly and professionally.
Expensive equipment handled with care. Trustworthy supplier.
The package arrived intact. The service was… acceptable.