12.8 Tbps 7 RU Silicon One Q200 Centralized Platform

Cisco 8600 Series Routers

Centralized architecture router delivering 12.8 Tbps with Silicon One Q200, redundant route processors and switch cards, 8 MPA slots, and MACsec on all ports.

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Product Overview

Silicon One Q200

Powered by the 7nm Cisco Silicon One Q200 delivering 12.8 Tbps of bandwidth with deep buffering via on-chip High-Bandwidth Memory.

Full Redundancy

Redundant route processors and switch cards for both control plane and data plane redundancy. Also supports nonredundant mode.

8 MPA Slots

Eight modular port adapter slots with three MPA options supporting 10GbE to 400GbE for maximum interface diversity.

MACsec Everywhere

All three MPA types support MACsec encryption on every port for comprehensive wire-speed security.

FIPS 140-2 Level 2

Hardware root of trust with TAM, secure boot, chip protection, secure JTAG, and FIPS 140-2 Level 2 compliance.

Routed Optical Networking

Ready for Cisco Routed Optical Networking with ZR/ZR+ and Bright ZR+ DCO support on 400G ports.

TL;DR

The Cisco 8608 is a centralized architecture router delivering 12.8 Tbps in a 7 RU chassis. It uses Silicon One Q200 switch cards with redundant RPs and SCs for full control and data plane redundancy. Eight MPA slots support three MPA types (combo 100/400G, 4x400G, and 24x SFP56) with MACsec on all ports. The orthogonal chassis design with front-to-back airflow eliminates backplane bottlenecks. FIPS 140-2 Level 2 compliant and ready for routed optical networking with ZR/ZR+ DCO optics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the 8608 differ from the 8404?

The 8608 delivers 12.8 Tbps (vs 4.8 Tbps), has 8 MPA slots (vs 4), uses separate switch cards for the NPU (vs integrated RSP), and offers three MPA types. It is a 7 RU chassis vs 4 RU.

What MPAs are available?

Three MPAs: 86-MPA-14H2FH-M (combo 16x100G/400G, 1.6 Tbps), 86-MPA-4FH-M (4x400G, 1.6 Tbps), and 86-MPA-24Z-M (24x SFP56 10/25/50G, 1.2 Tbps). All support MACsec.

What redundancy modes are supported?

Redundant mode requires 2 RPs and 2 switch cards. Nonredundant mode uses 1 RP and 1 SC. PSU supports 2+2 or 3+1 redundancy.

Does it support routed optical networking?

Yes. The combo and 4x400G MPAs support ZR/ZR+, Bright ZR+, and all other DCO variants on 400G ports for routed optical network architectures.

What software does it run?

Cisco IOS XR 7.10.1 at launch with IOS XR Flexible Consumption Model 2.0, launching with Essentials and Advantage software tiers.

Features and Benefits

High-capacity centralized routing with full redundancy.

The Cisco 8608 delivers 12.8 Tbps with the simplicity of centralized forwarding and the reliability of distributed redundancy.

12.8 Tbps Throughput

Silicon One Q200 in 7nm delivers 12.8 Tbps with deep buffering via HBM, avoiding off-chip memory for low power.

Dual Redundancy

Redundant RPs for control plane and redundant switch cards for data plane ensure always-on operation.

Routed Optical Networking

ZR/ZR+ and Bright ZR+ DCO support on 400G ports simplifies optical transport and reduces network layers.

MACsec on All Ports

Every MPA supports MACsec encryption on all ports for wire-speed Layer 2 security across the entire platform.

Orthogonal Design

State-of-the-art orthogonal chassis connects all forwarding path components directly without backplane or midplane.

Investment Protection

Upgradable switch cards and modular port adapters provide generational continuity and protect investment.

Feature & Benefit Details

Feature

Benefit

Centralized architecture

Combines distributed-system redundancy and I/O diversity with the economics and simplicity of fixed platforms.

Silicon One Q200 (7nm)

12.8 Tbps throughput with 108 MB SRAM and 8 GB HBM for high-scale routing and deep buffering at low power.

8 MPA slots

Three MPA types provide interface diversity from 10GbE to 400GbE with MACsec and Class B/C timing on all ports.

FIPS 140-2 Level 2

Certified security with hardware root of trust, secure boot, chip protection, and secure JTAG monitoring.

IOS XR programmability

Open model-driven APIs, OpenConfig, gRPC, NETCONF, OFA API, and third-party app hosting via SONiC or P4Runtime.

Investment protection

Upgradable switch cards ensure customer investment in chassis commons is protected across next-generation components.

Specifications

Performance

Max bandwidth12.8 Tbps

Switch card NPUQ200 (7nm)

NPU memory108 MB SRAM / 8 GB HBM

RP CPUIntel 6-core 2.5 GHz

RP memory64 GB DRAM, 256 GB SSD

Physical

Form factor7 RU

Dimensions (HxWxD)12.17 x 17.25 x 22.8 in.

Chassis weight58 lb (26.3 kg)

Max loaded weight197 lb

MPA slots8

Modular Port Adapters

86-MPA-14H2FH-M14x QSFP28 + 2x QSFP56-DD, 1.6T

86-MPA-4FH-M4x QSFP56-DD (400G), 1.6T

86-MPA-24Z-M24x SFP56 (10/25/50G), 1.2T

MACsecAll ports on all MPAs

Power & Environment

PSU options3.2kW AC / 3.2kW DC / 4.3kW HVAC/DC

PSU redundancy2+2 or 3+1

PSU efficiency80+ Platinum (AC)

Operating temp0 to 40 C (32 to 104 F)

AirflowFront-to-back

Ordering Information

8608-SYS-R

Cisco 8608 8-slot redundant centralized chassis bundle.

8608-SYS-NR

Cisco 8608 8-slot nonredundant centralized chassis bundle.

8608-SC0-128

Cisco 8608 12.8T switch card.

86-MPA-14H2FH-M

Combo MPA: 16x 100G or 8x 100G + 2x 400G.

86-MPA-4FH-M

4x 400GbE QSFP56-DD MPA.

86-MPA-24Z-M

24x 10/25/50GbE SFP56 MPA.

Documentation

Data Sheet

Cisco 8608 Router Data Sheet. Full specifications, MPA details, switch card specs, ordering information, and compliance.

Download PDF ›

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