Cisco router comparison
C8500-12X4QC vs C8570-G2
C8500-12X4QC and C8570-G2 combine 10G interfaces with 40/100G connectivity. Their published route and tunnel limits, default DRAM and storage differ, while both list 4,000 IPv4 ACLs and 380,000 ACEs.
2models compared
41specs published for every model
19confirmed differences
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At a glance
Key differences
Compare the specifications that shape your deployment.
| Specification | C8500-12X4QC | C8570-G2 |
|---|---|---|
Router Role |
High-performance WAN aggregation and SD-WAN edge | Data center WAN aggregation |
Configurable Ethernet Ports |
12 x 1/10GE SFP+; 2 x 40G QSFP+ and 2 x 40/100G QSFP28 | 12 x 1/10GE SFP+; 2 x 40GE QSFP+; 2 x 40/100GE QSFP28; maximum 240GE ports can be enabled simultaneously |
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 |
Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8500-12X4QC | C8570-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+; 2 x 40G QSFP+ and 2 x 40/100G QSFP28 | 12 x 1/10GE SFP+; 2 x 40GE QSFP+; 2 x 40/100GE QSFP28; maximum 240GE ports can be enabled simultaneously |
| Configurable Ethernet Port Count | 16 | 16 |
| 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 197 Gbps | Not listed |
| Forwarding Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 190 Gbps |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 96 Gbps | Not listed |
| SD-WAN Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 21 Gbps512-byte packets; IPsec, QoS, deep packet inspection and Flexible NetFlow enabled |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (IMIX) | Up to 31.9 Gbps | Not listed |
| Autonomous IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 135 Gbps | Not listed |
| IPsec Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 63 Gbps |
| SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels | Up to 10,000 | Not listed |
| IPsec Tunnels | 4,000 | 10,000 |
| NAT Sessions | 16,000,000 | 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 | 380,000 | 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 high-efficiency 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 | 9.41 kg | 9.53 kg21 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 | 146,700 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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