Cisco 5000 Series Enterprise Network Compute System

The Cisco® 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System is a compute appliance family designed for a virtualized, Software-Defined Branch (SD-Branch) network architecture. The system offers service flexibility, performance, and lower total cost of ownership for the next-generation branch office.

Product overview

The Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System (ENCS) is a line of compute appliances designed for the Cisco SD-Branch and Enterprise Network Functions Virtualization (ENFV) solution. It delivers a new standard of software-defined flexibility and performance, and offers a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The 5000 ENCS is a hybrid platform that combines the best attributes of a traditional router and a traditional server and offers the same functionality with a smaller infrastructure footprint. Offered with the Cisco Integrated Services Virtual Router (ISRv) and NFV Infrastructure Software (NFVIS) as the hosting layer, the platform offers a complete solution for a simplified deployment. It also accelerates some functions in hardware such as inter-VM traffic flows, IP Security (IPsec) crypto, and RAID for storage. Built-in lights-out management is also supported with Cisco Integrated Management Controller on certain models.

Figure 1 shows the Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System family. The Cisco 5400 ENCS (bottom) consists of three models: the 5412, 5408, and 5406. The Cisco 5100 ENCS (top) consists of one model: the 5104. It is available in three storage-capacity variants (64G, 200G, and 400G).

Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System Family

Cisco SD-Branch delivers a fully functional virtualized solution for network and application services. The main building blocks of the solution include:

●     An orchestration environment to allow easy automation of the deployment of virtualized network services, consisting of multiple Virtualized Network Functions (VNF)

●     The VNFs, which provide the desired network functionality, or even non-networking software applications, required at a deployment location

●     The NFV Infrastructure Software platform to facilitate the deployment and operation of VNFs and hardware components

●     x86-based compute resources, such as the Enterprise Network Compute System, to provide the CPU, memory, and storage required to deploy and operate VNFs and run applications

Figure 2 shows the main components of Cisco’s Enterprise NFV solution.

SD-Branch Building Blocks

For more information on the Cisco SD-Branch solution, visit: https://www.cisco.com/go/sd-branch.

Support for Cisco Software-Defined WAN (Cisco SD-WAN)

Cisco SD-WAN capability can be enabled on both ENCS 5100 and 5400. Cisco SD-WAN offers an entirely new way to manage and operate your WAN infrastructure. Cisco SD-WAN is a cloud delivered architecture that offers secure, flexible and rich services with the following key benefits:

●     Better user experience: The ability to deploy applications in minutes, on any platform, with a consistent user experience. Deliver predictable performance for applications residing in the data center or in the cloud.

●     Greater agility: Faster, easier deployment and operation of your WAN, and get faster performance using less bandwidth. Add new revenue generating services in minutes not months.

●     Advanced threat protection: Securely connect your users to applications in minutes and protect your data from the WAN edge to the cloud. Secure segmentation for critical assets and multi-layer, robust security that encrypts all data.

With this integration, the Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN software provides SD-WAN capability on

●     The broadest range of WAN interfaces

●     Rich services and app policies

●     Strong price / performance economics across the WAN Edge portfolio

And for customers, the Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN software enables important steps towards IBN for WAN, i.e.

a.       Centralized management and operational simplicity

b.      Secure connectivity on the hybrid WAN

c.       Optimized access to SaaS and Public Cloud

d.      Predictable Application Quality of Experience with policy-based automation

SD-WAN integrated security

In order to efficiently connect to multiple cloud infrastructures many enterprise customers want to build an SD-WAN infrastructure that uses Direct Internet Access (DIA). This can save costs and reduce complexity by reducing WAN traffic backhauled to your data centers; however connecting branches directly to the internet without the right security controls exposes your network to threats and vulnerabilities.

With Cisco SD-WAN and the ENCS 5000 series platforms, you have integrated security built-right-in for branch DIA security with these integrated security capabilities:

●     Application aware enterprise firewall

●     Intrusion prevention

●     DNS layer enforcement (Umbrella)

●     URL Filtering

And with Cisco SD-WAN security integration you will reduce complexity by having a single management interface (vManage) for both the network and security.

For more info on Cisco SD-WAN and vManage see: https://www.cisco.com/go/sd-wan.

Unified access security and multi-factor authentication

Zero trust security model, allows secure connections to all applications (whether on premises or in the cloud) based on the trust worthiness of users and devices.

The Cisco SD-WAN subscriptions are aligned across three subscription licenses of Cisco DNA Essentials, Cisco DNA Advantage and Cisco DNA Premier, each expanding functionally. The Cisco DNA Essentials covers all types of connectivity & router life cycle management, support for Network & application visibility coupled with basic premise and transport security. The Cisco DNA Advantage provides for Advanced WAN topologies, Application aware policies supported by enhanced network security. The Cisco DNA Premier provides for Cloud connectivity with unlimited segmentation, Advanced Application optimization & Network Analytics, secured by advanced threat protection.

For more information on Cisco SD-WAN please refer to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/software/one-wan-subscription/index.html.

Platform architecture highlights

Table 1 lists the primary hardware architectural features and benefits of the 5000 systems. The software’s comprehensive portfolio of services spans multiple technology areas, including security, WAN optimization, application and network Quality of Service (QoS), and embedded management.

Table 1.          Architectural highlights

Product specifications

Figure 3 shows the front and back of the Cisco 5400 Enterprise Network Compute System platform.

Cisco 5400 Enterprise Network Compute System – Front And Back

Figure 4 shows the front and back of the Cisco 5100 Enterprise Network Compute System platform.

Cisco 5100 Enterprise Network Compute System – Front and Back

Tables 2, 3 and 4 list the general product specifications for the Cisco 5000 ENCS.

Table 2.          Specifications for the Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System

Table 3.          Cisco Integrated Management Controller for the 5400 Enterprise Network Compute System

Table 4.          Specifications for the Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System service spares

Ordering information

The Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System is orderable and shipping. Refer to the ordering guide for detailed information on the hardware, software, and support options. To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering webpage. To download software, visit the Cisco Software Center.

The 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System is included in the standard Cisco Technology Migration Program (TMP). Refer to the guide and contact your local Cisco account representative for program details.

The 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System Integrated Services Routers have a 90-day limited liability warranty.

Cisco and partner services for the branch office

Services from Cisco and our certified partners help you transform the branch-office experience and accelerate business innovation and growth. We have the expertise to create a clear, replicable, optimized branch-office footprint across technologies. Planning and design services align technology with your business goals and can increase deployment efficiency. Technical services help you improve operational efficiency, save money, and mitigate risk. Optimization services help you continuously improve performance and succeed with new technologies. For more information, visit https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/services/overview.html.

Cisco technical support for the Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System 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 software updates for protocol, security, bandwidth, and feature improvements

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

●     24-hour daily access to the industry’s largest dedicated technical support staff

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For more information

For more information about the Cisco 5000 Enterprise Network Compute System, visit https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise-networks/enterprise-network-functions-virtualization-nfv/index.html or contact your local Cisco account representative.