The Cisco 2800 Series comprises four platforms (refer to Figure 1): the Cisco 2801, the Cisco 2811, the Cisco 2821, and the Cisco 2851. The Cisco 2800 Series provides significant additional value compared to prior generations of Cisco routers at similar price points by offering up to a fivefold performance improvement, up to a tenfold increase in security and voice performance, embedded service options, and dramatically increased slot performance and density while maintaining support for most of the more than 90 existing modules that are available today for the Cisco 1700, Cisco 2600, and Cisco 3700 Series.

The Cisco 2800 Series features the ability to deliver multiple high-quality simultaneous services
at wire speed up to multiple T1/E1/xDSL connections. The routers offer embedded encryption acceleration and on the motherboard voice digital-signal-processor (DSP) slots; intrusion prevention system (IPS) and firewall functions; optional integrated call processing and voice mail support; high-density interfaces for a wide range of wired and wireless connectivity requirements; and sufficient performance and slot density for future network expansion requirements and advanced applications.

Security has become a fundamental building block of any network. Routers play an important role in any network defense strategy because security needs to be embedded throughout the network. The Cisco 2800 Series features advanced, integrated, end-to-end security for the delivery of converged services and applications. With the Cisco IOS® Software Advanced Security feature set, the Cisco 2800 provides a robust array of common security features such as a Cisco IOS Software Firewall, intrusion prevention, IPSec VPN, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) VPN, advanced application inspection and control, Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol Version 2.0, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMPv3) in one secure solution set. Additionally, by integrating security functions directly into the router itself, Cisco can provide unique intelligent security solutions other security devices cannot, such as network admissions control (NAC) for antivirus defense; Voice and Video Enabled VPN (V3PN) for quality-of-service (QoS) enforcement when combining voice, video, and VPN; and Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN), Group Encrypted Transport (GET) VPN, and Easy VPN for enabling more scalable and manageable VPN networks. In addition, Cisco offers a range of security acceleration hardware such as the intrusion-prevention network modules and advanced integration modules (AIM) for encryption, making the Cisco 2800 Series the industry's most robust and adaptable security solution available for branch offices. As Figure 2 demonstrates, using a Cisco 2800 Series uniquely enables customers to deliver concurrent, mission-critical data, voice, and video applications with integrated, end-to-end security at wire-speed performance.

As shown in Figure 2, the Cisco 2800 Series can meet the IP Communications needs of small-to-medium sized business and enterprise branch offices while concurrently delivering an industry-leading level of security within a single routing platform. Cisco CallManager Express (CME) is an optional solution embedded in Cisco IOS Software that provides call processing for Cisco IP phones, including wired and cordless WLAN phones. This solution is for customers with data-connectivity requirements interested in deploying a converged IP telephony solution for up to 96 IP phones. With the Cisco 2800 Series, customers can securely deploy data, voice, and IP telephony on a single platform for their small-to-medium sized branch offices, helping them to streamline their operations and lower their network costs. The Cisco 2800 Series with optional Cisco CME support offers a core set of phone features that customers require for their everyday business needs and takes advantage of the wide array of voice capabilities that are embedded in the Cisco 2800 Series (as shown in Table 1) together with optional features available in Cisco IOS Software to provide a robust IP telephony offering for the small to medium-sized branch-office environment.

The Cisco 2800 Series can provide a complete wireless solution for branch offices, small/medium sized businesses, and Wi-Fi hotspots. Wireless services enable greater mobility for employees, partners, and customers, resulting in increased productivity. The Cisco 2800 Series supports an integrated access point for wireless LAN connectivity, Wi-Fi Hotspot services for public access, wireless infrastructure services for cordless WLAN telephony and for larger sites, and land mobile radio over IP for radio users.

Figure 2 also highlights the fact that with the unique integrated services architecture of the Cisco 2800 Series, customers can now securely deploy IP Communications with traditional IP routing while leaving interface and module slots available for additional advanced services. With the optional integration of a wide array of services modules, the Cisco 2800 Series offers the ability to easily integrate the functions of standalone network appliances and components into the Cisco 2800 Series chassis itself. Many of these modules, such as the Cisco Network Analysis Module, Cisco Voice Mail Module, Cisco Intrusion Detection Module, Wide Area Application Services Module, and Cisco Content Engine Module, have embedded processors and hard drives that allow them to run largely independently of the router while allowing management from a single management interface. This flexibility greatly expands the potential applications of the Cisco 2800 Series beyond traditional routing while still maintaining the benefits of integration. These benefits include ease of management, lower solution costs (CAPEX and OPEX), and increased speed of deployment.

The Cisco 2800 Series architecture has been designed specifically to meet the expanding requirements of enterprise branch offices and small-to-medium-sized businesses for today's and future applications. The Cisco 2800 Series provides the broadest range of connectivity options in the industry combined with leading-edge availability and reliability features. In addition, Cisco IOS Software provides support for a complete suite of transport protocols, Quality-of-Service (QoS) tools, and advanced security and voice applications for wired and wireless deployments.

Feature	Benefit
Modular Architecture	• A wide variety of LAN and WAN options are available. Network interfaces can be upgraded in the field to accommodate future technologies. • Several types of slots are available to add connectivity and services in the future on an "integrate-as-you-grow" basis. • The Cisco 2800 supports more than 90 modules, including WICs, VICs, network modules, PVDMs, and AIMs (Note: the Cisco 2801 router does not support network modules).
Embedded Security Hardware Acceleration	• Each of the Cisco 2800 Series routers comes standard with embedded hardware cryptography accelerators, which when combined with an optional Cisco IOS Software upgrade help enable WAN link security and VPN services.
Integrated Dual Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet Ports	• The Cisco 2800 Series provide two 10/100 on the Cisco 2801 and Cisco 2811 and two 10/100/1000 on the Cisco 2821 and Cisco 2851
Support for Cisco IOS Software	• The Cisco 2800 helps enable end-to-end solutions with full support for the latest Cisco IOS Software-based QoS, bandwidth management, and security features. • Common feature and command set structure across the Cisco 1700, 1800, 2600, 2800, 3700 and 3800 series routers simplifies feature set selection, deployment, management, and training.
Optional Integrated Power Supply for Distribution of Power Over Ethernet (PoE)	• An optional upgrade to the internal power supply provides in-line power (802.3af-compliant Power-over-Ethernet [PoE] and Cisco standard inline power) to optional integrated switch modules.
Optional Integrated Universal DC Power Supply	• On the Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 routers an optional DC power supply is available that extends possible deployments environments such as central offices and industrial environments (Note: not available on the Cisco 2801).
Integrated Redundant-Power-Supply (RPS) Connector	• On the Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 there is a built in external power-supply connector that eases the addition of external redundant power supply that can be shared with other Cisco products to decrease network downtime by protecting the network components from downtime due to power failures.

The Cisco 2800 Series provides significantly enhanced modular capabilities (refer to Table 2) while maintaining investment protection for customers. The modular architecture has been redesigned to support increasing bandwidth requirements, time-division multiplexing (TDM) interconnections, and fully integrated power distribution to modules supporting 802.3af PoE or Cisco in-line power, while still supporting most existing modules. With more than 90 modules shared with other Cisco routers such as the Cisco 1700, 1800, 2600, 3700, and 3800 series, interfaces for the Cisco 2800 Series can easily be interchanged with other Cisco routers to provide maximum investment protection in the case of network upgrades. In addition, taking advantage of common interface cards across a network greatly reduces the complexity of managing inventory requirements, implementing large network rollouts, and maintaining configurations across a variety of branch-office sizes.

Feature	Benefit
Enhanced Network-Module (NME) Slots	• The NME slots support existing network modules (Note: NM and NME support on Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 only) • NME Slots offer high data throughput capability (up to 1.6Gbps) and support for Power over Ethernet (POE). • NME slots are highly flexible with support for extended NMEs (NME-X on Cisco 2821 and 2851 only) and enhanced double-wide NMEs (NME-XDs) (Note: Cisco 2851 only).
High-Performance WIC (HWIC) Slots with Enhanced Functionality	• Four integrated HWIC slots on Cisco 2811, 2821, and 2851 and two integrated HWIC slots on Cisco 2801 allow for more flexible and dense configurations. • HWICs slots can also support WICs, VICs, and VWICs • HWIC slots offer high data throughput capability (up to 400 Mbps half duplex or 800 Mbps aggregate throughput) and Power over Ethernet (POE) support. • A flexible form factor supports up to two double-wide HWIC (HWIC-D) modules.
Dual AIM Slots	Dual AIM slots support concurrent services such as hardware-accelerated security, ATM segmentation and reassembly (SAR), compression, and voice mail (Refer to Table 7 for more details on specific platform support).
Packet Voice DSP Module (PVDM) Slots on Motherboard	Slots for Cisco PVDM2 Modules (DSP Modules) are integrated on the motherboard, freeing slots on the router for other services.
Extension-Voice-Module (EVM) Slot	The EVM supports additional voice services and density without consuming the network-module slot (Note: available only on Cisco 2821 and 2851).
USB Support	Up to two USB ports are available per Cisco 2800 series router. The routers' Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports enable important security and storage capabilities.

The Cisco 2800 Series features enhanced security functionality as shown in Table 3. Integrated on the motherboard of every Cisco 2800 Series router is hardware-based encryption acceleration that offloads the encryption processes to provide greater IPSec throughput with less overhead for the router CPU when compared with software-based solutions. With the integration of optional VPN modules (for enhanced VPN tunnel count), Cisco IOS Software-based firewall, network access control, or content-engine network modules, Cisco offers the industry's most robust and adaptable security solution for branch-office routers.

Feature	Benefit
Cisco IOS Software Firewall	• Sophisticated security and policy enforcement provides features such as stateful, application-based filtering (context-based access control), per-user authentication and authorization, real-time alerts, transparent firewall, and IPv6 firewall.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)	• SSL provides security for web transactions by handling authentication, data enryption and digital signatures. The 2800 Series supports SSL VPNs and SSL acceleration via the AIM-VPN/SSL-3.
Onboard VPN Encryption Acceleration	• The Cisco 2800 Series supports IPSec Digital Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES (3DES), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128, AES 192, and AES 256 cryptology without consuming an AIM slot.
Network Admissions Control (NAC)	• A Cisco Self-Defending Network initiative, NAC seeks to dramatically improve the ability of networks to identify, prevent, and adapt to threats by allowing network access only to compliant and trusted endpoint devices.
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) VPN Support	• The Cisco 2800 Series supports specific provider edge functions plus a mechanism to extend customers' MPLS VPN networks out to the customer edge with virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) firewall and VRF IPSec. For details on the MPLS VPN support on the different versions of the Cisco 2800 Series, please check the feature navigator tool on
USB eToken Support	• USB eTokens from Aladdin Knowledge Systems (available at provides secure configuration distribution and allows users to store VPN credentials for deployment
AIM-Based Security Acceleration	• Support for an optional dedicated security AIM can deliver 2 to 3 times the performance of embedded encryption capabilities with Layer 3 compression.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)	• Flexible and high performance support is offered through Cisco IOS® Software or an intrusion-detection-system (IDS) network module. • The ability to load and enable selected IDS signatures in the same manner as Cisco IDS Sensor Appliances
Advanced Application Inspection and Control	• Cisco IOS Firewall includes HTTP and several email inspection engines that can be used to detect misuse of port 80 and email connectivity.
Cisco Easy VPN Remote and Server Support	• The Cisco 2800 Series eases administration and management of point-to-point VPNs by actively pushing new security policies from a single headend to remote sites.
Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN)	• DMVPN is a Cisco IOS Software solution for building IPSec + generic routing encapsulation (GRE) VPNs in an easy and scalable manner.
Group Encrypted Transport (GET) VPN	• GET VPN is a Cisco IOS Software solution that simplifies securing large Layer 2 or MPLS networks requiring partial or full-mesh connectivity by providing tunnel-less VPN connectivity.
URL Filtering	• URL filtering is available onboard with an optional content-engine network module or external with a PC server running the URL filtering software.
Cisco Router and Security Device Manager (SDM)	• This intuitive, easy-to-use, Web-based device-management tool is embedded within the Cisco IOS Software access routers; it can be accessed remotely for faster and easier deployment of Cisco routers for both WAN access and security features.

The Cisco 2800 Series allows network managers to provide scalable analog and digital telephony without investing in a one-time solution (refer to Table 4 for more detail), allowing enterprises greater control of their converged telephony needs. Using the voice and fax modules, the Cisco 2800 Series can be deployed for applications ranging from voice-over-IP (VoIP) and voice-over-Frame Relay (VoFR) transport to robust, centralized solutions using the Cisco Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) solution or distributed call processing using Cisco Call Manager Express (CME). The architecture is highly scalable with the ability to connect up to 12 T1/E1s trunks, 52 foreign-exchange-station (FXS) ports, or 36 foreign-exchange-office (FXO) ports.

Feature	Benefit
IP Phone Support	• Optional support for Cisco in-line power distribution to Ethernet switch network modules and HWICs can be used to power Cisco IP phones.
EVM Module Slots	• Extension Voice Module Slots, available only on the Cisco 2821 and Cisco 2851, provide support for the Cisco High-Density Analog and Digital Extension Module for Voice and Fax, providing support for up to 24 total voice and fax sessions without consuming a Network Module Slot.
PVDM (DSP) Slots on Motherboard	• DSP (PVDM2) modules deliver support for analog and digital voice, conferencing, transcoding, and secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) applications.
Integrated Call Processing	• Cisco CME is an optional solution embedded in Cisco IOS Software that provides call processing for Cisco IP phones. Cisco CME delivers telephony features similar to those that are commonly used by business users to meet the requirements of the small to medium-sized offices.
Integrated Voice Mail	• Support for up to a 250 mailboxes using the Cisco Unity® Express voice messaging system is possible with the integration of an optional voice-mail AIM or network module.
Broad Range of Voice Interfaces	• Interfaces for public switched telephone network (PSTN), private branch exchange (PBX), and key system connections include FXS; FXO; analog direct inward dialing (DID); ear and mouth (E&M); Centralized Automated Message Accounting (CAMA); ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI); and T1, E1, and J1 with ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI); QSIG; E1 R2; and several additional channel-associated-signaling (CAS) signaling schemes.
Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST)	• Branch offices can take advantage of centralized call control while cost-effectively providing local branch backup using SRST redundancy for IP telephony.

The Cisco 2800 Series can provide a complete wireless solution for branch offices, small/medium sized businesses, and Wi-Fi hotspots. Wireless services enable greater mobility for employees, partners, and customers, resulting in increased productivity.

Feature	Benefit
WLAN Connectivity	• The 802.11b/g or 802.11a/b/g HWIC access point interface card can be used to provide integrated WLAN connectivity to mobile clients at sites requiring a single access point, resulting in mobility and enhanced productivity for users. • Dual RP-TNC connectors enable diversity and allow for optimum coverage through the use of external antennas.
Wireless Infrastructure Services	• Telephony support for wired and WLAN IP phones is delivered by Cisco CallManager Express (CCME) or by Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) with Cisco CallManager. Cordless WLAN IP phones allow users to be mobile and more productive. • Integrated switch modules with Power over Ethernet (POE) enable support for Cisco Aironet access points (for larger sites) as well as wired IP phones. • Mobility for clients from WLAN to cellular networks is enabled by Mobile IP home agent support. • IEEE 802.1x local authentication using LEAP provides enhanced reliability through survivable authentication for WLAN clients during WAN failures. • Customizable guest access is enabled with the service selection gateway features, along with the Subscriber Edge Services Manager.
Land Mobile Radio Over IP	• LMR over IP support allows radio users (e.g., security personnel, maintenance personnel, police officers, etc.) to communicate via IP with phone and PC users, delivering improved communications and productivity.
Wi-Fi Hotspot Services	• The access zone router and service selection gateway services features can be used to deploy secure public WLAN access services with an integrated HWIC-AP for small sites or with Cisco Aironet access points for larger sites. Wi-Fi hotspot services can be offered for additional revenue for public locations (e.g., restaurants, hotels, airports, etc.) or a value-added service for customer satisfaction.