Cisco C8500-12X4QC-WS - Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platform
The Cisco C8500-12X4QC-WS is part of the Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms, purpose-built for enterprises and service providers needing ultra-high-performance SD-WAN, secure edge routing, and cloud connectivity. Powered by Cisco’s Quantum Flow Processor (QFP) and running Cisco IOS XE, it provides advanced services at scale with cloud-ready agility.
🔧 Key Specifications
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Interfaces:
- 12x 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP/SFP+ ports
- 2x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+ ports
- 2x 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 ports
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Throughput: Up to 197 Gbps forwarding capacity
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Form Factor: 1RU rack-mountable
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Processor: Cisco QFP for scalable, service-rich performance
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Operating System: Cisco IOS XE (modular, programmable, API-driven)
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Security: Integrated hardware-accelerated IPsec, TLS, and advanced threat defense
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High Availability: Redundant power supplies and fans
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Management: Cisco DNA Center, vManage (for SD-WAN), CLI, NETCONF/RESTCONF APIs
🧩 Ideal Use Cases
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SD-WAN Edge: High-performance WAN aggregation with secure, policy-driven routing
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Cloud Edge: Direct Internet Access (DIA) and multi-cloud connectivity
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Service Provider CPE: Carrier-grade performance for managed services
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Enterprise Core/Edge: Secure, scalable routing with 100G uplinks
⚙️ Licensing & Expansion
- Supports Cisco DNA subscription tiers (Essentials, Advantage, Premier) for SD-WAN and security features
- Flexible port licensing for scaling bandwidth and services
- Compatible with Cisco Umbrella, ThousandEyes, and other cloud-integrated services
