Product Summary
Cisco Catalyst CE8851-32CQ8DQ-PF is a high-density 1RU data center switch with 32x 100G QSFP28 ports and 8x 400G QSFP-DD uplinks. Designed for cloud-scale deployments, it delivers wire-speed L2/L3 forwarding, deep buffers, and advanced automation with Cisco IOS XE. Ideal for spine-leaf architectures requiring high-throughput and low latency.
Product Details
This enterprise-class switch supports MACsec encryption, VXLAN routing, and Cisco DNA Center management. Features include 12.8 Tbps switching capacity, hardware-based telemetry, and energy-efficient cooling. The PF license enables perpetual forwarding for uninterrupted operations in financial, HPC, and AI/ML workloads.
Key Features
Port Density: 32x 100G QSFP28 + 8x 400G QSFP-DD
Performance: 12.8 Tbps switching capacity
Low Latency: <1μs cut-through forwarding
Deep Buffering: 48MB per device for burst tolerance
Automation: Cisco DNA Center, Python API, gNMI
Security: MACsec-256, TrustSec, RBAC
Virtualization: VXLAN EVPN multi-tenancy
High Availability: ISSU, redundant fans/PSUs
Perpetual Licensing: PF license included
Product Parameters Table
| Parameter | Specification |
| Switch Series | Catalyst 8800 Series |
| Switching Capacity | 12.8 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 3.8 Bpps |
| Port Configuration | 32x100G QSFP28 + 8x400G QSFP-DD |
| Buffer Size | 48 MB |
| Latency | <1 μs |
| OS | Cisco IOS XE |
| Power Supplies | 1+1 redundancy (2200W AC/DC) |
| Dimensions | 1RU Rack-mountable |
| Licensing | Perpetual Forwarding (PF) |
Similar Models Comparison Table
| Model | Ports | Capacity | Uplinks | Key Difference |
| CE8851-32CQ8DQ-PF | 32x100G + 8x400G | 12.8T | QSFP-DD | High-density 100G/400G |
| C9500-32QC | 32x40/100G | 1.92T | N/A | Campus core alternative |
| Nexus 9336C-FX2 | 36x100G | 7.2T | Breakout | ACI-focused |
| Arista 7280CR3-32P4 | 32x100G + 4x400G | 6.4T | QSFP-DD | Competitor equivalent |
