Cisco Catalyst C8500L-8S4X Edge Platform

The C8500L-8S4X is the single model of Cisco's Catalyst 8500L Edge Platform, the entry member of the Catalyst 8500 Series for WAN aggregation and SD-WAN headend use. Unlike the C8500 models, which use Cisco's third-generation QFP, the 8500L is built on an x86 architecture that Cisco says continues the ASR 1000 experience. It has 8 x 1GE SFP ports and 4 x 1/10GE SFP+ ports in a 1RU chassis, and runs Cisco IOS XE in autonomous or SD-WAN controller mode.

Cisco lists up to 39 Gbps IPv4 forwarding and up to 19 Gbps IPsec at 1400 bytes in autonomous mode, and up to 19 Gbps (1400-byte) or 10 Gbps (IMIX) SD-WAN IPsec, with 6,000 overlay tunnels (8,000 on IOS XE 17.12.1). Cisco states this is up to 2.5 times the IPsec throughput of the ASR1001-X and ASR1002-X. Scale figures include 4 million IPv4 routes with the default 16 GB and 2 million NAT sessions.

Memory is 16 GB DRAM by default, upgradable to 32 or 64 GB (MEM-C8500L-32GB, MEM-C8500L-64GB), with 16 GB eUSB storage and an optional 2 TB M.2 NVMe SSD. Power comes from two supplies, with 400 W AC (PWR-CH1-400WAC), DC and HVDC options; the chassis weighs 17 lb with two AC supplies and a fan tray. Minimum software is IOS XE 17.4.1a.

Lifecycle: Cisco announced end of sale on July 27, 2026. The last order date is January 31, 2027 and the last date of support is January 31, 2032, with the C8475-G2 Secure Router named as the migration product.

For more 10G ports, the C8500-12X offers 12 x 1/10GE on the QFP platform. When buying used, check the installed memory and the supplies fitted, since both are separate options, and confirm licence portability with Cisco.

More from this family: Cisco Router.

Related parts: ASR1002-HX, C8300-2N2S-4T2X.