Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

Install the device

Updated: July 31, 2025

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Details multiple mounting options for device installation, including desktop, rack, and wall mounting, and provides instructions for attaching power adapter brackets and grounding the chassis to ensure secure and compliant setup.

If you need to install Network Interface Modules (NIMs), Service Modules (SMs), Pluggable Interface Modules (PIMs), and Field-Replaceable Units (FRUs) on the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers, you can install them either before or after you install the device. Ideally, you can install these modules when you have access to the I/O side of the device. Internal modules, memory cards and fan trays should be installed before rack-mounting the device.

You can install the device in one of the following ways:

Set the chassis on a desktop
Attach the chassis to the wall
Mount the chassis on a rack

Caution

To prevent damage to the chassis, do not attempt to lift or tilt the chassis by holding it by the plastic panel on the front. Always hold the chassis by the sides of the metal body.

Mount the chassis on a desktop

Warning

Statement 1032—Lifting the Chassis

To prevent personal injury or damage to the chassis, never attempt to lift or tilt the chassis using the handles on modules, such as power supplies, fans, or cards. These types of handles are not designed to support the weight of the unit.

Step 1 Attach the elastomeric mount feet (label 1) to the bottom of the device. The feet come with a pre-applied adhesive. Place the feet in the locations marked by a circle.

Step 2 You can place the device on a desktop, bench top, or shelf.

Note
Do not set the chassis in an area where the high acoustic noise can be an issue.

Caution

Do not place anything on top of the device that weighs more than 10 pounds (4.5 kg), and do not stack device on a desktop. Excessive distributed weight of more than 10 pounds, or pound point load of 10 pounds on top could damage the chassis.

Caution

Your chassis installation must allow unrestricted airflow for chassis cooling. For placing the device on a desktop, keep at least 1 inch (2.54 cm) of clear space beside the cooling inlet and exhaust vents.

After the device is installed, you must connect the chassis to a reliable earth ground. For the chassis ground connection procedures, see the Chassis Grounding section.

Rack mount the chassis

Warning

Statement 1024—Ground Conductor

This equipment must be grounded. To reduce the risk of electric shock, never defeat the ground conductor or operate the equipment in the absence of a suitably installed ground conductor. Contact the appropriate electrical inspection authority or an electrician if you are uncertain that suitable grounding is available.

The Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers can be installed in a 19-inch (48.26-cm) EIA and a 23-inch (58.42-cm) Southwestern Bell Corporation (SBC) racks. It can also be mounted in a 600-mm ETSI rack. Use the standard brackets shipped with the router for mounting the chassis in a 19-inch EIA rack; you can order optional larger brackets for mounting the chassis in a 23-inch SBC rack.

You can mount the devices in the following ways:

Power Supply (PS) mounting—Brackets are attached at the PS side of the chassis with the front panel facing forward.
Center-PS mounting—Brackets are attached in the centerof the chassis with the PS side facing forward.
Center-I/O mounting—Brackets are attached in the center I/O side of the chassis with only the I/O side facing forward.
I/O mounting—Brackets are attached at the I/O side of the chassis with the I/O side facing forward.

Attach the rack-mounting brackets

Caution

Do not over-torque the screws. The recommended torque is 15 to 18 inch-lbs (1.7 to 2.0 N-m).

Caution

Your chassis installation must allow unrestricted airflow for chassis cooling.

Attach the mounting brackets to the chassis as shown in the below figure using the screws provided. Use a #2 Philips screwdriver.

To attach the rack-mounting brackets to the device, perform these steps:

Procedure

Select the depth location for the router in the equipment rack. I/O side flush; I/O side recessed for the RFID badge; middle mount from the I/O side; middle mount from the power supply side; or power supply side flush.

Align the rack mount bracket with the mounting holes in the side of the device.

Insert the #6-32 FHM screws. Use only the screws that are provided in the rack mount bracket kit.

Tighten the screws to a torque value of 15 to 18 inch-lb. (1.7 to 2.0 N-m).

Figure 3. Install brackets for I/O-side mounting (C8375-E-G2)


1	19-inch brackets
2	23-inch brackets
3	#6-32 PHMS

Figure 4. Rack mount bracket mounting positions


1	Flush with I/O side (No RFID)
2	I/O Side Recessed (for RFID)

Figure 5. Install brackets for PS mounting (C8375-E-G2)


1	Mid-Mount from Power Supply Side
2	Mid-Mount from I/O side
3	Power Supply Side Flush

Figure 6. Install brackets for I/O-side mounting (C8355-G2)


1	19-inch brackets
2	23-inch brackets

Figure 7. Rack mount bracket mounting positions (C8355-G2)


1	Flush with I/O side (No RFID)
2	I/O Side Recessed (for RFID)

Figure 8. Install brackets for PS mounting (C8355-G2)


1	Mid-Mount from I/O Side
2	Power Supply Side Flush
3	Mid-Mount from Power Supply Side

Mount the chassis on a rack

After you attach the rack-mount brackets to the chassis, use screws to install the chassis onto the rack.

Tip

For both the 19-inch EIA brackets and the 23-inch brackets, start the lower pair of screws first, and rest the brackets on the lower screws while you insert the upper pair of screws.

Tip

The screw slots in the brackets are spaced to line up with every second pair of screw holes in the rack. When the correct screw holes are used, the small threaded holes in the brackets line up with unused screw holes in the rack. If the small holes do not line up with the rack holes, you must raise or lower the brackets to the next rack hole.

Warning

To prevent bodily injury when mounting or servicing this unit in a rack, you must take special precautions to ensure that the system remains stable. The following guidelines are provided to ensure your safety:

This unit should be mounted at the bottom of the rack if it is the only unit in the rack.

When mounting this unit in a partially filled rack, load the rack from the bottom to the top with the heaviest component at the bottom of the rack.

Warning

Statement 1006—Chassis Warning for Rack-Mounting and Servicing

To prevent bodily injury when mounting or servicing this unit in a rack, you must take special precautions to ensure that the system remains stable. The following guidelines are provided to ensure your safety:

This unit should be mounted at the bottom of the rack if it is the only unit in the rack.

When mounting this unit in a partially filled rack, load the rack from the bottom to the top with the heaviest component at the bottom of the rack.

If the rack is provided with stabilizing devices, install the stabilizers before mounting or servicing the unit in the rack.

Warning

Statement 1032—Lifting the Chassis

To prevent personal injury or damage to the chassis, never attempt to lift or tilt the chassis using the handles on modules, such as power supplies, fans, or cards. These types of handles are not designed to support the weight of the unit.

Note

When mounting C8355-G2 on a rack, ensure at least one rack unit (1RU) of vertical space between routers. This ensures more heat removal, which in turn helps the local air temperature to stay within the specified operating conditions.

Step1. Locate the desired position in the equipment rack.

Step2. Align the holes in the rack mount brackets with the mounting holes in the equipment frame.

Step3. Secure the device using mounting screws appropriate for your equipment frame. The rack mount brackets have been designed #12-24 PHM screws.

Step4. Tighten the screws to the appropriate torque value for your equipment

Figures show a typical rack mounting of a chassis in a rack.

Figure 9. I/O flush mount, no RFID (C8375-E-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 10. I/O flush mount, no RFID (C8355-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 11. I/O mount with RFID (C8375-E-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 12. I/O mount with RFID (C8355-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 13. Mid mount from I/O Side (C8375-E-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 14. Mid mount from I/O Side (C8355-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 15. Mid-mount from power supply side (C8375-E-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 16. Mid-mount from power supply side (C8355-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 17. Power supply side-mount (C8375-E-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Figure 18. Power supply side-mount (C8355-G2)


1	Rack Mounting screws

Attach a Top Plate (C83G2-TOP-PLATE) for C8355-G2

This procedure describes how to attach the top plate on the router chassis:

Procedure

Orient the top plate on the router as shown in the figure.

Ensure the magnetic top plate is attached securely on the router.

Figure 20. Fully assembled top plate (C83G2-TOP-PLATE) on desktop


1	Top plate

Figure 21. Fully assembled top plate (C83G2-TOP-PLATE) for rack mount


1	Top plate

Attach a power adapter bracket (C83G2-ADPT-BRKT) for C8355-G2

This procedure describes how to attach a power bracket on the router chassis:

Caution

Ensure that the power adapters are installed in the bracket when the device is rack mounted. Do not place the adapters directly on top of the chassis.

Procedure

Orient the power adapter bracket to rear end of the router.

Secure the brackets to the router chassis as shown in figure:

Figure 22. Secure power adapter brackets


1	Power adapter bracket(C83G2-ADPT-BRKT)
2	Screws

Figure 23. Fully asssembled power adapter bracket

Attach Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers to a wall

Caution

When mounted on a wall, the router should always be oriented with a side of the device oriented in the downward position. The I/O side and power supply side should be oriented so that the fan vents and cable entry will be oriented to the left or right. The I/O side or power supply should never be oriented downwards.

Caution

Your chassis installation must allow unrestricted airflow for chassis cooling.

Wall mount C8375-E-G2

The steps provide information on attaching the wall mount brackets and how to wall mount the router.

Procedure

Attach the rack mount brackets to the sides of the device using only the hardware provided in the wall mounting kit (#6-32 x 0.44 inch PHMS).

The outer face of the rack mount bracket ear, the part that typically mounts to an equipment rack, should be placed against the side of the router. Use the spacers provided to adapt the larger obround holes down to smaller holes for the screws to fit into.

The brackets should be located diagonally from each other as shown in the figure below.

Tighten the screws to a torque value of 15 to 18 inch-lb. (1.7 to 2.0 N-m).

Use #6 or 4mm hardware to attach the brackets to the wall. At least 4 screws should be used per bracket, 8 screws in total. The screw length should be a minimum of 1 inch in length (25.4 mm).

Note

The customer supplies the appropriate hardware. Each mounting bracket has 8 holes that can be used for the mounting fasteners.

Route the cables so that they do not put a strain on the connectors or mounting hardware.

Figure 24. Attach Wall Mount Brackets (C8375-E-G2)


1	19-inches bracket
2	Plastic spacer
3	#6-32 PHMS


1	Customer supplied wall mount hardware

Wall Mount C8355-G2 using Key-hole Slots

The C8355-G2 routers have key-hole slots at the bottom of the chassis for mounting on a wall or any vertical surface.

Note

Do not mount the router with the output ports facing downwards.

Note

When choosing a location for wall mounting the router, consider cable limitations and wall structure.

Note

To attach a router to the wall stud, each bracket should have one number 10 wood screw (pan-head) with number 10 washers, or two number 10 washer-head screws. The screws must be long enough to penetrate at least 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) into the supporting wood or metal wall stud.

Note

For hollow-wall mounting, each bracket requires two wall anchors with washers. Wall anchors and washers must be size number 6 (pan-head). Route the cables so that they do not put a strain on the connectors or mounting hardware.

Figure 26. Wall Mount Using Key-hole Slots - C8355-G2


1	Key-hole slots

Ground the chassis

After the device is installed, you must connect the chassis to a reliable earth ground.

Chassis grounding

Warning

Statement 1024—Ground Conductor

This equipment must be grounded. To reduce the risk of electric shock, never defeat the ground conductor or operate the equipment in the absence of a suitably installed ground conductor. Contact the appropriate electrical inspection authority or an electrician if you are uncertain that suitable grounding is available.

You must connect the chassis to a reliable earth ground; the ground wire must be installed in accordance with local electrical safety standards.

For grounding, use size 6 AWG (13 mm² ) copper wire and the ground lug provided in the accessory kit.

Note
This equipment is suitable for installation in Network Telecommunications Facilities and locations where the NEC applies. The equipment is suitable for installation as part of the Common Bonding Network (CBN).

For NEC-compliant grounding, use size 14 AWG (2 mm² ) or larger copper wire and an appropriate user-supplied ring terminal with an inner diameter of 1/4 in. (5–7 mm)
AWG 10 (4 mm²) or larger wire for EN/IEC 60950-1 and EN/IEC 62368-1 compliant chassis grounding

Note

The grounding wire should be sized according to local and national installation requirements. The above recommended AWG values for NEBS-compliant, NEC-compliant, EN/IEC 60950-1 and EN/IEC 62368-1 as the minimum requirement respectively, the higher AWG value recommendation also with the higher priority, this means AWG 10 is the minimum requirement only when NEBS is not required. Commercially available 6-AWG grounding wire is always preferred from the chassis to the rack ground or directly to the common bonding network (CBN). The length of the grounding wire depends on the proximity of the switch to proper grounding facilities.

To install the ground connection for your device, perform the following steps:

Procedure

Strip one end of the ground wire to the length required for the ground lug or terminal.

For the ground lug—approximately 0.75 inch (20 mm)
For user-provided ring terminal—as required

Crimp the ground wire to the ground lug or ring terminal, using a crimp tool of the appropriate size.

Attach the ground lug or ring terminal to the chassis as shown in Chassis Grounding section. For a ground lug, use the two screws with captive locking washers provided. For a ring terminal, use one of the screws provided. Tighten the screws to a torque of 8 to 10 in-lb (0.9 to 1.1 N-m).

Figure 27. Chassis ground connection on the C8375-E-G2

Figure 28. Chassis ground connection on the C8355-G2


1	Ground lug

Connect the other end of the ground wire to a known reliable earth ground point at your site.

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