Cisco router comparison
C8500-20X6C vs C8650-G2
C8500-20X6C and C8650-G2 share twenty 10G and six 100G-capable interfaces, 64 GB DRAM and 480 GB storage. The differences include overlay tunnel scale, IPv4 ACL count, power redundancy configuration and minimum software release.
2models compared
39specs published for every model
14confirmed differences
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At a glance
Key differences
Compare the specifications that shape your deployment.
| Specification | C8500-20X6C | C8650-G2 |
|---|---|---|
Router Role |
High-performance WAN aggregation and SD-WAN edge | High-scale 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 |
Product Type |
Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform | Cisco 8600 Series Secure Router |
Cellular Connectivity / PIM |
External LTE/5G cellular gateway support; no integrated PIM slot | Not applicable |
SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels |
Up to 10,000 | 12,000 |
Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C8500-20X6C | C8650-G2 |
| Product and ordering | ||
| Product Type | Cisco Catalyst 8500 Edge Platform | Cisco 8600 Series Secure Router |
| Form Factor | 3RU | 3RU |
| Router Role | High-performance WAN aggregation and SD-WAN edge | High-scale data center WAN aggregation |
| Routing and WAN performance | ||
| Configurable Ethernet Ports | 20 x 1/10GE SFP+; 6 x 40/100G QSFP28 | 20 x 1/10GE SFP+; 6 x 40/100GE QSFP28 |
| Configurable Ethernet Port Count | 26 | 26 |
| 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 | 20 | Not listed |
| Built-in 10GE Ports | 20 | 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 500 Gbps | Not listed |
| Forwarding Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 540 Gbps |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 350 Gbps | Not listed |
| SD-WAN Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 80 Gbps512-byte packets; IPsec, QoS, deep packet inspection and Flexible NetFlow enabled |
| SD-WAN IPsec Throughput (IMIX) | Up to 100 Gbps | Not listed |
| Autonomous IPsec Throughput (1400-byte) | Up to 400 Gbps | Not listed |
| IPsec Throughput (512-byte) | Not listed | Up to 225 Gbps |
| SD-WAN Overlay Tunnels | Up to 10,000 | 12,000 |
| IPsec Tunnels | 4,000 | Not published by Cisco |
| NAT Sessions | 32,000,000 | 32,000,000 |
| IPv4 Routes | Up to 16,000,000 | 16,000,000 |
| IPv6 Routes | Up to 16,000,000 | 16,000,000 |
| IPv4 ACLs | 8,000 | 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 | Not published by Cisco |
| Memory and software | ||
| Default DRAM | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Maximum DRAM | 64 GB | Not published by Cisco |
| Storage | 480 GB | 480 GBDefault |
| Operating System | Cisco IOS XE autonomous or SD-WAN software | Cisco IOS XE |
| Minimum Software Release | Cisco IOS XE 17.10.1 | Cisco IOS XE 26.1.2 |
| Minimum SD-WAN Manager Release | Not listed | Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager 26.1.2 |
| 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 | Three AC or DC power supplies | Not published by Cisco |
| Power Supply Options | 1,100 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies | 1,100 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies |
| Power Redundancy | N+1 standard; N+2 with a fourth supply | N+2 power redundancy |
| Physical and environmental | ||
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 132.6 × 438.2 × 682 mm | 132.6 × 438.2 × 682 mm |
| Weight | 35.15 kg | 35.15 kg77.5 lb (35.15 kg) with four AC power supplies; 75 lb (34.02 kg) with three AC power supplies |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40 °C | 0 to 40 °C32° to 104 °F (0° to 40 °C) |
| 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 | 241,225 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 8600 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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