Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers deliver secure networking simplified. Powered by the all-new secure networking processor and the unified Cisco secure networking platform, the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers deliver robust, platform-level security, advanced performance engineering thorough routing and SD-WAN, and on-premises, infrastructure-as-code, or cloud management flexibility that enables businesses to seamlessly scale and grow. Each class of secure routers is designed to deliver risk reduction, enhanced reliability, and future readiness.

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers are engineered for large branch locations and provide scalable, high-throughput connectivity with embedded platform-level security. With hardware-native assurance, post-quantum cryptography, and unified infrastructure as code, the Cisco 8300 Series enables large branches to support bandwidth-intensive applications and evolving threat landscapes with confidence.

For more information on the features and specifications, see the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers datasheet.


Note
Sections in this documentation apply to all models of Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers unless a reference to a specific model is made explicitly.

Chassis views

This section contains views of the power supply and I/O sides of the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers, showing the locations of power and signal interfaces, module slots, status indicators, and chassis identification labels:

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers are available in these models:

  • C8375-E-G2

  • C8355-G2

Figure 1. C8375-E-G2 chassis - I/O Side
Table 1. I/O side

1

LED

2

RJ-45 mGigabitEthernet port (2.5G 0/0/0)

3

RJ-45 mGigabitEthernet port (2.5G 0/0/2)

4

SFP+/10 Gigabit Ethernet port (10G 0/0/4)

5

NIM Slot1

6

SM Slot1

7

USB Type C (3.0) (USB 0)

8

RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet management port

(1G)

9

RJ-45 Console

10

Micro-USBConsole

11

RJ-45 mGigabitEthernet port (2.5G0/0/1)

12

RJ-45 mGigabitEthernet port (2.5G0/0/3)

13

SFP+/10 Gigabit Ethernet port (10G 0/0/5)

14

M.2USB/NVMe storage

15

RFID

16

Device Label Tray

Figure 2. C8375-E-G2 chassis - PSU/Fan tray side
Table 2. PSU/Fan tray side

1

AC/DC power supply unit (PSU1)

2

Power, Preset, OK, LED

3

ALARM Fail LED

4

Ground lug

5

Fan tray vent

6

3-Internal Fan tray

7

PIM Slot 1

8

Power switch

9

AC/DC Power Supply Unit (PSU0)

Figure 3. C8355-G2 chassis - I/O Side

1

Status LED

2

Multigigabit RJ45 Port

3

RJ45 port

4

RJ-45 Console

5

Management port

6

PIM Slot

7

RFID

8

Reset button

9

Power button

10

Power supply unit

11

10G SFP/SFP+ Port

12

Micro-USB console

13

USB Type C
Figure 4. C8355-G2 rear side

1

Kensington Lock

Platform summary

The figure shows the internal view of Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers with components and module locations.

Figure 5. Platform summary of C8375-E-G2

1

DIMM

2

CPU

3

NIM slot

4

M.2 card slot

5

SM slot

6

PIM slot
Figure 6. Platform summary of C8355-G2

1

M.2 NVME

2

M.2 e.USB

Locating labels on Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

Use the Cisco Product Identification (CPI) tool to find labels on the platform. The tool provides detailed illustrations and descriptions of where labels are located on Cisco products. It includes these features:

  • A search option that allows browsing for models by using a tree-structured product hierarchy

  • A search field on the final results page that makes it easier to look up multiple products

  • End-of-sale products clearly identified in results lists

The tool streamlines the process of locating serial number labels and identifying products. Serial number information expedites the entitlement process and is required for access to support services.

Labels on Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

The figure shows the location of the labels on the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers. Labels are located at the same location on all the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers.

The Serial number (SN), Common language equipment identifier (CLEI), Top Assembly Number (TAN), Product ID (PID), PID version ID (VID), and Quick response (QR) code are printed on a label on the back of the platform or on a label tray located on the chassis.


Note

The RFID tags on the devices are pre-fitted and does not come with spare RFID tags.
Figure 7. Label location on a C8375-E-G2

1

SN

2

CLEI

3

TAN

4

MAC

5

PIDVID

6

Cloud ID

7

QR Code

 x`
Figure 8. Label location on a C8355-G2

1

SN

2

CLEI

3

TAN

4

MAC

5

PIDVID

6

Cloud ID

7

QR Code

Locate product identification details

Software license

The serial number (SN), product ID (PID), version ID (VID), Cloud ID and Common Language Equipment Identifier (CLEI) are printed on a label on the bottom of the device or on the label tray.

To obtain a software license, you need the unique device identifier (UDI) of the device where the license is to be installed.

The UDI has two main components:

  • Product ID (PID)

  • Serial number (SN)

The UDI can be viewed using the show license udi command in privileged Exec mode in Cisco Internet Operating System (IOS) software.

For additional information on the UDI, see the Product Identification Standrad document on cisco.com.

Hardware features of Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

This section describes the hardware features of Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers.

Built-in interface ports

The Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers have multiple 10/100/1000 front panel ports and Small Form Pluggables.


Warning

To comply with the Telcordia GR-1089 NEBS standard for electromagnetic compatibility and safety, connect the Management Ethernet ports only to intra-building or unexposed wiring or cable. The intra-building cable must be shielded and the shield must be grounded at both ends. The intra-building port(s) of the equipment or subassembly must not be metallically connected to interfaces that connect to the OSP or its wiring. These interfaces are designed for use as intra-building interfaces only (Type 2 or Type 4 ports as described in GR-1089-CORE) and require isolation from the exposed OSP cabling. The addition of Primary Protectors in not sufficient protection in order to connect these interfaces metallically to OSP wiring.

RJ45 mGIG ports or SFP+ ports

The GE and SFP ports available on the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers are:

mGIG ports

C8375-E-G2:

The mGIG RJ-45copper interface ports support 100BASE-TX,1000BASE-T, and 2500BASE_T.

C8355-G2:

The mGIG RJ-45copper interface ports support 100BASE-TX,1000BASE-T, 2500BASE_T and 5000BASE-T.

SFP+ ports

The enhanced small-form-factor pluggable (SFP) ports support 10 Gbps SFP+ modules.

Two Gig RJ45 ports (suppoted only for C8355-G2)

The two Gig RJ45 port supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T.

Removable and interchangeable modules and cards

Service Modules (SMs), Network Interface Modules (NIMs), Pluggable Interface Modules (PIMs) and M.2 USB/NVMe storage fit into external slots and can be removed or replaced without opening the chassis.

Internal slots

List of internal slots for C8375-E-G2:

  • Memory

See the Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers product page on cisco.com for a list of supported modules and interface cards.

Memory

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers contain DIMMs that store running configuration and routing tables and are used for packet buffering by the network interfaces.

Memory in C8375-E-G2:

  • Boot/NVRAM—Stores the bootstrap program (ROM monitor) and the configuration register. The boot/NVRAM is not serviceable.

  • Internal memory—Internal bootflash memory

  • Removable M.2 card—Available in 32GBM.2 USB, 600GBM.2 NVMe SSD and 2TBM.2 NVMe SSD

  • DRAM options

    • 1x 16GB DDR5 (default)

    • 1x 32GB DDR5 (upgrade)

Memory in C8355-G2:

  • Boot/NVRAM—Stores the bootstrap program (ROM monitor) and the configuration register. The boot/NVRAM is not serviceable.

  • Internal memory—Internal bootflash memory

  • Non-removable M.2 card—Available in 32GBM.2 USB, 600GBM.2 NVMe SSD and 2TBM.2 NVMe SSD

Power supply

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers support a variety of power supply configurations. These devices have power supplies that are field replaceable and externally accessible. The table summarizes the power options:

Table 3. Field replaceable unit power options

Model

AC Input PSU

PSU with Integrated PoE

Dual, Hot Swap

DC Input PSU

C8375-E-G2

Y

Y

Y

Y

C8355-G2

Y

Y

Y

N

LEDs for Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

Table 4. LED indicators for C8375-E-G2

LED

Color

Description

PWR

Green/Amber

Power Supply Status

Off: The system is powered off

Amber: A Power Supply in the system is not functioning correctly

Green: All installed PSUs are operating correctly

STATUS

Green/Amber/Red

System Status

Blinking Amber: The system is booting

Blinking Red: The system has failed a hardware integrity error

Amber: Rommon has completed booting and system is at Rommon prompt or booting platform software

Green: Normal System Operation

ENV

Green/Amber/Red

Environmental Status

Off: Monitor is not active

Red: The system has detected a critical overcurrent event and may shut down

Blinking Amber: One or more temperature sensors in the system are outside the acceptable range

Amber: One or more fans in the system are outside the acceptable range

Green: All temperature sensors and fans in the system are within acceptable range

BEACON

Blue

Off: System is normal

Blinking Blue: Beacon purpose

USB CON

Green

USB Console Active

Green indicates that the active console port is USB

RJ-45 CON

Green

Serial Console Active

Green indicates that RJ-45 is the active console port

RJ-45 Ethernet Ports

A (Active)

Green

Activity status

Off: No data

Blinking Green: Tx/Rx data

RJ-45 Ethernet Ports

L (Link)

Green/Amber

Link status

Off: No data

Green: Link up

Amber: POE power fault and link is down

Note

 

The C8375-E-G2 supports 2 PoE Ports (802.3bt, 90W per port) on port 0/0/2 and 0/0/3

SFP Ports

L (Link)

Green/Amber

SFP port 0/1 Link LED

Off: No Link (or SFP not present)

Green: Link established

Amber: The SFP is not supported, or it is in a fault state
Table 5. LED indicators for C8355-G2

LED

Color

Description

PWR

Green/Amber

Power Supply Status

Off: The system is powered off

Green: The power supplies are connected correctly, the POE PSU (if configured) is connected to the right power connector

Amber:The POE PSU is connected to the left power connector while the non-POE PSU is connected to the right power connector

STATUS

Green/Amber/Red

System Status

Blinking Amber: The system is booting

Blinking Red: The system has failed a hardware integrity error

Amber: Rommon has completed booting and system is at Rommon prompt or booting platform software

Green: Normal System Operation

BEACON

Blue

Off: System is normal

Blinking Blue: Beacon purpose

RJ-45 Management Port

L (Link)/A(Active)

Green

Link and activity status

Off: No link

Green: Link up

Blinking Green: Tx/Rx data

RJ-45 Ethernet Ports

L (Link)/A(Active)

Green/Amber

Link and activity status

Off: No link

Green: Link up

Amber: POE power fault and link is down

Blinking Green: Tx/Rx data

SFP Ports

L (Link)

Green/Amber

SFP support indication and link status

Off: No Link (or SFP not present)

Green: Link established

Amber: The SFP is not supported, or it is in a fault state

Chassis ventilation

The chassis temperature is regulated with internal fans. An onboard temperature sensor controls the fan speed. The fans are always on when the device is powered on. Under all conditions, the fans operate at the slowest speed possible to conserve power and reduce noise. When necessary, the fans operate at higher speeds under conditions of higher ambient temperature and altitude.


Note

Fans are present only on the C8375-E-G2 chassis.
Figure 9. Airflow of C8375-E-G2

Slots, subslots-bay, ports, and interfaces

The Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers support interface modules: Service Modules (SM) and Network Modules (NIMs) and Pluggable Interface Modules (PIMs).

The C8375-E-G2 router supports Service Modules (SM) and Network Modules (NIMs) and Pluggable Interface Modules (PIMs).

Figure 10. C8375-E-G2 interfaces

In all cases, the device designates its interfaces using a 3-tuple notation that lists the slot, bay, and port. The 3-tuple value is zero based. An example of a 3-tuple is 0/1/2. This refers to slot 0, the second bay in slot 0 (the first bay is 0 so the second bay is 1), and the third port in bay 1. See the following table for more examples.

Table 6. Slot, subslot-bay and port numbering

3-Tuple Example

Slot

Bay

Port

0/1/2

0

2nd

3rd

0/0/1

0

1st

2nd

1/1/1

1

2nd

2nd

  • Slots and bays are numbered from the left to the right, and from the top to the bottom.

  • The USB port is named USB0. It doesn’t haveslot or bay numbers.


Note

USB0 can be used to insert flash drives.

Slot numbering

Slots are numbered 0, 1, and 2.

Slot 0

These are the main features about Slot 0:

  • Slot 0 is reserved for integrated ports and NIMs, it can be used for either SM or NIM.

  • NIMs are designated by the number of the first slot that they occupy. A double-wide SM occupies two slots, but its designation is only the left-most slot number.

  • The ten GE ports (or native interface ports) always reside in slot 0 and bay 0. The ports are called Gigabitethernet 0/0/0, Gigabitethernet 0/0/1, Gigabitethernet 0/0/2, and Gigabitethernet 0/0/3 (up to as many ports supported on the particular router).

Subslot and bay numbering

  • Integrated devices, also known as integrated ports or FPGEs, and NIMs reside in a fixed section of bay 0.

  • Motherboard NIMs bays start at bay 1 because the integrated devices and integrated NIMs take up bay 0.