Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN Modules Data Sheet

 

Product overview

The 4- and 8-port Cisco^® Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules offer small to medium-sized business and enterprise branch-office customers a combination of switching and routing integrated into a single module within the Cisco Catalyst^™ 8000 Edge Platforms Family. Integrating switched LAN ports and Layer 3 WAN ports into a single module will greatly reduce your company's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules

These LAN/WAN modules provide line-rate Layer 2 switching across all onboard Gigabit Ethernet ports with full feature parity to the Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISR 4000) Network Interface Modules (NIMs). In addition, the modules support enhanced features such as LAN MACsec on all ports, as well as 802.1X Change of Authorization (CoA) and posture validation. All three modules come with an option for configuring the two highest-numbered ports as native Layer 3 ports. Once configured as native Layer 3, these ports have full feature parity to the embedded WAN ports of the Catalyst 8300 and 8200 Series Edge platforms. All ports are also 128-/256-bit Media Access Control Security (MACsec)‒ capable with LAN MACsec switch-to-switch supported on all ports in Layer 2 mode, plus 256-bit WAN MACsec with Tag-in-Clear supported on ports in Layer 3 mode. LAN MACsec Switch-to-host, for user-facing downlink ports, is not supported at First Customer Shipment (FCS) of these modules.

The 4- and 8-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules provide maximum flexibility though a wide range of connectivity options plus software-configurable Layer 2 and Layer 3 support. The modules accelerate applications such as Ethernet WAN access, Cisco SD-WAN, and other high-speed connectivity options to the LAN, top-of-rack data center switches, and servers. SD-WAN and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (vManage) support is available on all three modules.

Integration of these combined LAN switches and WAN ports with Cisco IOS^® XE Software allows network administrators to manage a single device using Cisco management tools or the router Command-Line Interface (CLI) for LAN and WAN management needs. This approach reduces network complexity, lowers maintenance contract costs, and lessens staff training needs. It also simplifies software qualification efforts and delivers a consistent user experience at branch offices.

Cisco offers three types of Ethernet LAN/WAN modules:

●     C-NIM-4X: Cisco 4-port 1G/10G LAN/WAN NIM with IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

4-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN with four 100M/1G/10G switched SFP/SFP+ ports

●     C-NIM-8T: Cisco 8-port 10M/100M/1G LAN/WAN NIM with IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

8-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN with eight 10M/100M/1G switched RJ-45 ports

●     C-NIM-8M: Cisco 8-port 100M/1G/2.5G LAN/WAN NIM with PoE and IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

8-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN with eight 100M/1G/2.5G switched RJ-45 ports

C-NIM-4X: Cisco 4-port 1G/10G LAN/WAN NIM with IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

The C-NIM-4X is a Next-Generation 1G/10G LAN/WAN module with local Layer 2 switching capabilities on all four ports. This provides a price-effective, low-density 4-port Layer 2 LAN switch with capacity for switching four Small form-Factor Pluggable (SFP)/SFP+ ports at speeds up to 10 Gbps. The two highest-numbered ports can be configured for native Layer 3 operation. Configuring ports for Layer 3 will provide full feature parity with the router’s embedded WAN ports. This module provides high-speed WAN connectivity through four ports supporting serial gigabit media-independent interface (SGMII)/1000BASE-X-based SFP and 10GBASE-R-based SFP+ pluggables. A 100-Mbps optic pluggable connection can also be supported by using the GLC-GE-100FX SFP transceiver. The four 1G/10G WAN ports are connected to the backplane using a single 10-Gbps-capable internal link. When used at maximum capacity, they thus form what is known as an oversubscribed connection of 4 to 1. IEEE 802.1AE MACsec is supported as described in the Product Overview.

The C-NIM-4X is supported on Catalyst 8300 Series platforms. It’s not supported on Catalyst 8200 Series platforms.

C-NIM-8T: Cisco 8-port 10M/100M/1G LAN/WAN NIM with IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

The C-NIM-8T is a LAN/WAN module with eight RJ-45 copper line ports. It’s intended primarily to replace the ISR 4000 Series NIM-ES2 switch module family, to which it has full feature parity for Layer 2 switching operation, and also includes added Layer 2 features. It supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T Ethernet connections, providing a price-effective 8-port LAN switch. As with the C-NIM-4X and C-NIM-8M, the two-highest numbered ports can be configured to work as native Layer 3 ports with full feature parity to the router’s embedded WAN ports. IEEE 802.1AE MACsec is supported as described in the Product Overview.

The C-NIM-8T is supported on all Catalyst 8200 and 8300 Series platforms.

C-NIM-8M: Cisco 8-port 100M/1G/2.5G LAN/WAN NIM with PoE and IEEE 802.1AE MACsec

The C-NIM-8M is a LAN/WAN module with eight 2.5G BASE-T (Multigigabit) RJ-45 copper line ports. Its eight ports support 100M/1G/2.5G BASE-T connections also known as Multigigabit or “mGig” ports. The 2.5G mGig ports accommodate full-speed connections for new high-speed branch devices with 2.5G mGig uplinks, such as Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Access Points and Cellular Gateways. 10M (10BASE-T) is not supported on the C-NIM-8M. Four of its ports support up to 90W Cisco Universal Power over Ethernet Plus (Cisco UPOE^®+; 802.3bt-compliant) while being backward compatible with PoE, PoE+, and UPOE. The capability for providing 90W UPOE+ can be used for powering even the most demanding devices, such as high-performance Wireless Access Points and Cellular Gateways directly from the host router. As with the other LAN/WAN modules in this family, this module’s two highest-numbered ports can be configured to operate in full Layer 3 mode with the added support of WAN MACsec.

The C-NIM-8M is supported on all Catalyst 8200 and 8300 Series platforms.

Module feature comparison

Table 1 compares the software and hardware features of the modules at a high level.

Table 1.           Feature comparison

Supported C-NIM-4X optics and transceivers

For a full list of supported optics and transceivers, see the Cisco Optics-to-Device Compatibility Matrix.

Layer 2 switch features and benefits

Table 2 provides an overview of the architecture, switch features, and benefits of the 4- and 8-port Cisco Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules. Table 3 lists other features of the LAN/WAN modules.

Table 2.           Architecture, features, and benefits of the 4- and 8-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules

Table 3.           Switch features of 4- and 8-port Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN C-NIMs

SD-WAN/Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (vManage) support

●     SD-WAN support for C-NIM-4X and C-NIM-8T is available as of version 20.11.

●     SD-WAN support for C-NIM-8M is available as of version 20.12.

●     Layer 2 support in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager has parity to ISR 4000 Switch module NIM

●     Layer 3 support in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager has parity to Catalyst 8000 Routed port modules.

●     Software toggling of a port between Layer 2 and Layer 3 is supported on Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager UX2.0.

Layer 3 Features

The Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules are based on the same technology used for the Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms Family and its C-NIM Layer 3 modules. Layer 3 feature support is therefore identical to that of these Layer 3 modules as well as to the embedded Ethernet WAN ports of the Catalyst 8300 and 8200 Series and the Catalyst 8200L.

C-NIM-8M Power over Ethernet

Cisco Universal Power Over Ethernet (UPOE+ helps enable a more flexible hybrid workplace. The C-NIM-8M supports 90W UPOE+ (802.3bt) on ports 4, 5, 6, and 7.

UPOE+ delivers industry-leading density of standards-based IEEE 802.3bt 90W PoE with per-port PoE and PoE+ power monitoring. Per-port monitoring is provided with a software API that allows the host to manage the total system draw on its PoE power supply. This will enhance the ability of the branch office to scale to higher performance requirements and still meet environmental initiatives for IT teams to operate a power-efficient network.

UPOE+ ports are defined on ports 4, 5, 6 and 7 (highlighted red circle)

Table 4.           UPOE+ power supply specifications

Module LED indicators

The Cisco Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules have EN (Enabled), A (Activity), and L (Link) LEDs located around the SFP, SFP+, and RJ-45 ports. The LEDs indicate that the module has passed its self-test and is available to the router.

Figures 6 shows the front panel LED layout. Table 5 lists the LED colors and functions.

C-NIM-4X, C-NIM-8T, and C-NIM-8M front panels and LEDs

LED Status

Table 5 shows the LED status indicators on the C-NIM-4X, C-NIM-8T, and C-NIM-8M.

Table 5.           LED Status

Installation

You can install service modules and network modules either before or after mounting the router. When installing in a NIM slot, online insertion only is supported, not online removal. When installed in a NIM slot, you can insert the modules into the router while the router is powered on, but you can’t remove them unless the router is powered off.

Limitations

●     Only a single LAN/WAN module, regardless of type, is supported per chassis.

●     These LAN/WAN modules are supported only for operation in embedded NIM slots. Installation in the C-SM-NIM-ADPT carrier card is not supported.

●     Being discrete switches, multiple LAN/WAN modules are not supported for operation in the same chassis, nor is any combination with NIM-ES2 or the C-SM switch modules. This limitation is similar to that of the ISR 4000 Series, in which only a single NIM-ES2 or SM-X switch is supported and cannot be combined with other switch modules.

Warning: To comply with the Telcordia GR-1089 Network Equipment Building Standards (NEBS) for electromagnetic compatibility and safety, connect the Gigabit Ethernet ports only to intrabuilding or unexposed wiring or cable. The intrabuilding cable must be shielded and the shield must be grounded at both ends. The intrabuilding port(s) of the equipment or subassembly must not be metallically connected to interfaces that connect to the Outside Plant (OSP) or its wiring. These interfaces are designed for use as intrabuilding interfaces for only Type 2 or Type 4 ports as described in Telcordia GR-1089-CORE, and they require isolation from the exposed OSP cabling. The addition of primary protectors is not sufficient protection to connect these interfaces metallically to OSP wiring.

Configuration

For configuration instructions, refer to the “Configuring Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces” chapter of Configuring LAN Interfaces. The guidelines in this chapter apply to all Cisco modular access routers.

Physical Specifications

Tables 6 and 7 list the physical and environmental specifications, respectively, of the Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules.

Table 6.           Physical Specifications

Table 7.           Environmental Specifications

Cisco IOS Software Support

The Cisco Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN modules are supported by the Catalyst 8300 and 8200 Series in all Cisco DNA subscriptions.

Table 8.           Minimum Cisco IOS Software Release

Ordering information

Table 9 gives ordering information for the Cisco Gigabit Ethernet LAN/WAN Service Modules.

Table 9.           Ordering information

Service and support

Leading-edge technology deserves leading-edge support. Cisco offers a wide range of services programs to accelerate customer success. These innovative services programs are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction. Cisco services help you protect your network investment, optimize network operations, and prepare your network for new applications to extend network intelligence and the power of your business.

Cisco SMARTnet technical support is available on a one-time or annual contract basis. Support options range from help-desk assistance to proactive, onsite consultation.

All support contracts include:

●     Major Cisco IOS Software updates in protocol, security, bandwidth, and feature improvements.

●     Full access rights to Cisco.com technical libraries for technical assistance, electronic commerce, and product information.

●     Access to the industry's largest dedicated technical support staff 24 hours a day.

For more information about Cisco services, refer to Cisco Technical Support Services or Cisco Advanced Services.

Technical Assistance

The Cisco Support website provides extensive online resources, including documentation and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical problems with Cisco products and technologies.

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Access to most tools on the Cisco Support website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

Cisco and Partner Services for the branch

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Technical services help improve operational efficiency, save money, and mitigate risk. Optimization services are designed to continuously improve performance and help your team succeed with new technologies. For more information, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/services.

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