Cisco 8400 Series is a high-performance secure routing family designed for campus edge, enterprise headquarters, large healthcare environments, universities, and other networks with demanding WAN and security requirements. Cisco markets the current generation as Cisco 8400 Series Secure Routers, combining routing, Catalyst SD-WAN, encrypted connectivity, NGFW capabilities, and centralized management on a fixed 1RU platform.
For buyers, the main choice is between platform capacity, port density, management approach, and software entitlement. Cisco 8400 Routers are particularly relevant when 10G and 25G connectivity, high IPsec performance, large routing tables, and thousands of encrypted tunnels are required.
Series Highlights
- Secure routing and SD-WAN for campus-edge environments
- 10G and 25G WAN connectivity
- Hardware-accelerated encryption and threat inspection
- Integrated NGFW and security functions
- Up to 91 Gbps routing performance
- Up to 45 Gbps IPsec performance
- Extra Large platform-based licensing
- IOS XE, Catalyst SD-WAN, and Meraki-managed options
- Redundant AC, DC, or HVDC power support
Review Cisco 8400 Series Price List and request a quote tailored to your licensing needs.
Cisco 8400 Series At a glance
What it is: High-performance campus-edge secure router family
Product family: Cisco 8000 Series Secure Routers
Typical use: Campus edge, headquarters, SD-WAN aggregation, encrypted WAN, internet edge, and high-bandwidth applications
Software: Cisco IOS XE on C8455-G2 and C8475-G2; Meraki OS on C8455-G2-MX
Current platform class: Extra Large
Licensing: Routing OS Essentials, Routing Advantage, WAN Essentials, and WAN Advantage
Ordering scope: Router model, interfaces, management mode, software tier, storage, power supplies, optics, and support
Series Overview
The current Cisco 8400 Secure Routers are fixed 1RU platforms. C8455-G2 provides eight 1G SFP ports, two 1/10G SFP+ ports, and two 10/25G SFP28 ports. The higher-capacity C8475-G2 expands this to eight 1G, eight 1/10G, and four 10/25G interfaces. Cisco also lists C8455-G2-MX, which uses Meraki OS and Meraki Dashboard management.
Performance is a major differentiator. Cisco publishes up to 67 Gbps forwarding and 31 Gbps IPsec for C8455-G2, increasing to 91 Gbps forwarding and 45 Gbps IPsec on C8475-G2. SD-WAN performance reaches 15.5 and 21.7 Gbps respectively under Cisco’s stated test profile.
Licensing and Part Number Guidance
C8455-G2 and C8475-G2 belong to Cisco’s Extra Large platform class within the Cisco Router License portfolio. Platform-based licensing means the entitlement is linked to the router class rather than a bandwidth tier, and eligible licenses are portable between devices in the same class. Cisco specifically gives C8455-G2 and C8475-G2 as an example of this portability.
Cisco Routing OS Essentials is included with the hardware. Advanced traditional routing uses Routing Advantage, while SD-Routing and Catalyst SD-WAN deployments can use WAN Essentials or WAN Advantage. Extra Large license PIDs include LIC-ROS-XL-A, LIC-CSWAN-XL-E, and LIC-CSWAN-XL-A. A separate HSEC/HSECK9 license is not required.
The C8455-G2-MX follows a different Meraki ordering and management path, so it should not be treated as simply another IOS XE SKU.
Common Use Cases
| Use case | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Campus edge | Secure connectivity for thousands of users and devices |
| Headquarters WAN | High-capacity routing and encrypted connectivity |
| Catalyst SD-WAN | Centralized policy and path optimization |
| Internet edge | NGFW, routing, encryption, and threat protection |
| High-bandwidth sites | Video, research, healthcare, and data-intensive services |
| Large VPN environment | High IPsec throughput and tunnel scale |
Models, Licenses, and Ordering Scope
| Area | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Model | C8455-G2, C8455-G2-MX, or C8475-G2 |
| Interfaces | Required 1G, 10G, and 25G port density |
| Performance | Routing, IPsec, SD-WAN, and security demand |
| Management | IOS XE / Catalyst SD-WAN or Meraki Dashboard |
| License | Routing OS Essentials, Routing Advantage, WAN Essentials, or WAN Advantage |
| Storage | Default or expanded M.2 storage requirement |
| Power | AC, DC, HVDC, and redundant PSU design |
| Optics | Required SFP, SFP+, and SFP28 transceivers |
What to Check Before Requesting a Quote
Begin with the site role and expected traffic. Confirm required routing throughput, encrypted traffic, SD-WAN usage, security inspection, interface speeds, and whether the environment will use Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager or Meraki Dashboard. For an existing Cisco design, provide the current router platform, software release, Smart Account details, expected WAN growth, and redundancy requirements. Choosing C8475-G2 simply for additional ports may be unnecessary if C8455-G2 already meets the performance and interface requirement.
Activation and Delivery Notes
IOS XE-based Cisco 8400 Series platforms require a Cisco Smart Account and Virtual Account for subscription management. SD-WAN and SD-Routing licenses are assigned through Catalyst SD-WAN Manager. Cisco introduced platform-based licensing for C8455-G2 and C8475-G2 beginning with IOS XE 17.15.3a. From IOS XE 17.18.1a, Cisco 8000 Series Secure Routers also support Day-0 license enforcement. With only the default Essentials level, aggregate crypto throughput is limited to 250 Mbps; an authorized Advantage entitlement removes that licensing throttle.
Cisco Router pricing depends on your router series, license type, deployment model and support requirements.