Cisco router comparison
C8500-12X vs C8550-G2
C8500-12X and C8550-G2 both provide twelve 1/10G SFP+ interfaces in 1RU. The secure router increases published tunnel and route scale, default DRAM and storage; the IPsec performance entries use different packet profiles.
2models compared
41specs published for every model
20confirmed differences
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Key differences
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| Specification | C8500-12X | C8550-G2 |
|---|---|---|
Router Role |
High-performance WAN aggregation and SD-WAN edge | Data center WAN aggregation |
Management Model |
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager or Cisco IOS XE CLI, NETCONF/RESTCONF and SNMP | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, Cisco Catalyst Center, WebUI, CLI, SNMP, NETCONF/RESTCONF and YANG |
Required Subscription |
Cisco DNA subscription required for SD-WAN deployments | Routing OS Essentials included (250 Mbps aggregate crypto limit); Routing Advantage or WAN subscription for licensed features; WAN Essentials/Advantage required for SD-WAN |
Default DRAM |
16 GB | 32 GB |
Storage |
32 GB | 480 GB |
Product Type |
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform | Cisco 8500 Series Secure Router |
Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8500-12X | C8550-G2 |
| Product and ordering | ||
| Product Type | Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform | Cisco 8500 Series Secure Router |
| Form Factor | 1RU | 1RU |
| Router Role | High-performance WAN aggregation and SD-WAN edge | Data center WAN aggregation |
| Routing and WAN performance | ||
| Configurable Ethernet Ports | 12 x 1/10GE SFP+ | 12 x 1/10GE SFP+ |
| Configurable Ethernet Port Count | 12 | 12 |
| Integrated LAN Switch Ports | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Integrated LAN Port Count | 0 | 0 |
| Flex Ports (Configurable LAN/WAN) | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Flex Port Count | 0 | 0 |
| Built-in 1GE Ports | 12 | Not listed |
| Built-in 10GE Ports | 12 | Not listed |
| Expansion Slots | None (fixed platform) | None (fixed platform) |
| NIM Slots | 0 | 0 |
| SM-X Slots | 0 | 0 |
| Cellular Connectivity / PIM | External LTE/5G cellular gateway support; no integrated PIM slot | Not applicable |
| Integrated DSL | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Service Module Support | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Ports and interfaces | ||
| Management Ports | 1 x RJ-45 management Ethernet port | 1 x RJ-45 out-of-band management |
| Console Ports | 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x micro-USB Type-B console | 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x micro-USB console |
| Performance and scale | ||
| Aggregate Licensed Throughput | Not published by Cisco | Not listed |
| Autonomous IPv4 Forwarding (1400-byte) | Up to 118 Gbps | Not listed |
| Forwarding Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 115 Gbps |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 51 Gbps | Not listed |
| SD-WAN Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 19 Gbps512-byte packets; IPsec, QoS, deep packet inspection and Flexible NetFlow enabled |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (IMIX) | Up to 22.6 Gbps | Not listed |
| Autonomous IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 84 Gbps | Not listed |
| IPsec Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 48 Gbps |
| SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels | Up to 10,000 | Not listed |
| IPsec Tunnels | 4,000 | 10,000 |
| NAT Sessions | 12,000,000 | 16,000,000 |
| IPv4 Routes | 4,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| IPv6 Routes | 4,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| IPv4 ACLs | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| IPv4 ACEs | 47,000 | 380,000 |
| VRF Instances | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Configuration, licensing and management | ||
| Routing Protocols | Static routing, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS, MPLS and VRF | Static routing, RIP, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, IS-IS and VRF; availability depends on license tier and operating mode |
| SD-WAN Support | Supported | Supported |
| Management Model | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager or Cisco IOS XE CLI, NETCONF/RESTCONF and SNMP | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, Cisco Catalyst Center, WebUI, CLI, SNMP, NETCONF/RESTCONF and YANG |
| Licensing | Cisco Smart Licensing | Platform-class licensing; no bandwidth tiers; HSEC not required |
| Required Subscription | Cisco DNA subscription required for SD-WAN deployments | Routing OS Essentials included (250 Mbps aggregate crypto limit); Routing Advantage or WAN subscription for licensed features; WAN Essentials/Advantage required for SD-WAN |
| USB Ports | 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A host ports | 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C |
| Memory and software | ||
| Default DRAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Maximum DRAM | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB | 480 GBDefault |
| Operating System | Cisco IOS XE autonomous or SD-WAN software | Cisco IOS XE |
| Minimum Software Release | Cisco IOS XE 17.3.2 | Cisco IOS XE 17.15.4 |
| Minimum SD-WAN Manager Release | Not listed | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 20.15.4 |
| PoE and power | ||
| Integrated PoE Support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Default PoE Budget | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| PoE Budget with Required Power Option | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Default Power Supply | Dual AC or DC power supplies | Not published by Cisco |
| Power Supply Options | 750 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies | 750 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies |
| Power Redundancy | 1+1 redundant power supplies | 1+1 redundant power supplies |
| Physical and environmental | ||
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 43.9 × 444.5 × 468.9 mm | 43.9 × 444.5 × 468.9 mm |
| Weight | 9.19 kg | 9.34 kg20.6 lb; with two AC power supplies and fan tray |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40 °C | 0 to 40 °C32 °F to 104 °F |
| Storage Temperature | -40 to 70 °C | -40 to 65.6 °C |
| Storage Humidity | 5% to 95% | 5% to 95% |
| Operating Humidity | 10% to 85% | 10% to 85% |
| Operating Altitude | -152–3,048 m | -152–3,048 m |
| MTBF | 156,200 hours | Not listed |
| Warranty | Cisco 1-year limited hardware warranty | Cisco Limited 2-Year Return to Factory Hardware Warranty |
Specifications from Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms Data Sheet and Cisco 8500 Series Secure Routers Data Sheet (checked 2026-10-11).
“Not published by Cisco” and “Not listed” indicate that a confirmed direct comparison is unavailable. These rows are not counted as confirmed differences.
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