Cisco ISR EOL Replacement Options
Is your Cisco ISR EOL (end-of-life), or are you looking for an upgrade? To help you find the right choice, we’ll compare Cisco’s ISR EOL replacement options to help you select a model that suits your business use case, plus provide alternatives that deliver even more advanced capabilities.
Disclaimer: This comparison was written by a 3rd party in collaboration with ZPE Systems using data gathered from publicly available data sheets and admin guides, as of 4/28/2023.
Please email us if you have corrections or edits, or want to review additional attributes: [email protected]
Cisco ISR overview
The Cisco ISR 4200, 4300, and 4400 series is newly EOL, with an EOS date of 7th November, 2023. Various end-of-support milestones are scheduled between February 2024 and November 2028.
Check the table below for a complete list of EOL Cisco ISR models and part numbers, as well as migration SKUs for Cisco replacement options.
The EOL Cisco 4000 models are good 1st generation (or gen 1) serial consoles, which means they provide reliable out-of-band (OOB) management access to remote infrastructure. However, modern enterprises need more automation and security capabilities from their management hardware.
The modular design of most Cisco ISR models means they can be used for multiple purposes in addition to branch routing. For example, removable Network Interface Modules (NIMs) allow you to turn the ISR into a terminal server (also known as a console server or serial console). This creates multiple use cases for the Cisco ISR, including data center and branch routing, switching, and network management.
Cisco ISR EOL replacement options
For branch deployments with SD-WAN support, Cisco provides two replacement options for the EOL Cisco ISR 4000 series: the ISR 1100 and the Catalyst C8300 series. These solutions fall into the Gen2 (or 2nd generation) category of solutions, which provide some automation support but fall short of true end-to-end automation orchestration.
The ISR 1100 and Catalyst C8300 integrate with some of Cisco’s third-party partners, such as ThousandEyes, but are not vendor neutral. This limits your automation and orchestration capabilities to what’s provided by Cisco’s software. It also means your Cisco solution may not be able to reach its hooks into all the hardware and software components of your branch network infrastructure.
For true end-to-end automation orchestration of branch networks, you need a Gen 3 solution like Nodegrid. Check the table below to see which Nodegrid product serves as the direct replacement for your EOL Cisco ISR product.
Nodegrid migration options for the ISR 4000
The Nodegrid product line from ZPE Systems delivers a range of branch networking solutions to fit a variety of use cases. Two Nodegrid devices in particular work as direct replacements for the all the Cisco 4000 series Cisco ISR EOL models: the Net Services Router (NSR) and the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP).
Net Services Router (NSR)
The Nodegrid Net Services Router is a branch networking solution that delivers remote out-of-band, SD-WAN, and SD-Branch capabilities all in one box. The NSR has a modular design (similar to the Cisco ISR 4000) so you can add terminal server capabilities, more storage or processing power, or extra GbE Ethernet ports.
Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)
The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus combines branch networking with scalable, Gen 3 out-of-band serial console management. The NSCP comes in 16, 32, 48, and 96-port configurations which makes it suitable for any enterprise deployment regardless of size.
All Nodegrid devices run the Linux-based Nodegrid OS, an open architecture that enables multi-vendor freedom and can host your choice of third-party or custom applications. Nodegrid solutions also support integrations with orchestration tools like Puppet, Chef, and Ansible in addition to providing Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) for fast, automatic device deployments over the WAN.
Nodegrid’s open architecture also means you can monitor and control all your connected branch solutions regardless of vendor. That’s how Nodegrid delivers true end-to-end automation in a Gen 3 branch networking solution.
| Net SR | NSCP | |
| WAN Interfaces | 1 x RJ45 Serial 1 x PoE Gigabit Ethernet 1 x Gigabit SFP (Optional) 1 x dual-SIM 5G/4G LTE |
2 x SFP+ Ethernet / Gigabit Ethernet 2 x SFP+ Ethernet 2 x Gigabit Ethernet 1 x Dual-SIM 5G/4G LTE 1 x RJ45 Serial 1 x Wi-Fi |
| LAN Interfaces | 2 x GPIO 2 x Digital Out 2 x USB 2.0 Type A 1 x VGA (Optional) 1 x Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (Optional) 16 x Gigabit Ethernet (Optional) 8 x PoE+ (Optional) 16 x RJ-45 Serial (Optional)16 x USB Serial (Optional) 16 x Gigabit Ethernet SFP (Optional) 8 x Ethernet SFP+ (Optional) M.2 Cellular/Si-Fi/SATA |
16, 32, 48, 96 RJ45 Serial @ 230,400 bps max/port 1 x RJ45 Serial console 2 x USB 3.0 Type A 2 x SFP+ 1/2.5/10GB Ethernet 2 x Gigabit Ethernet 1 x HDMI 1 x 5G/4G/LTE Radio (Optional) 1 x Wi-Fi (Optional) 1 x Dual-SIM |
| Hardware Services | Serial console ports USB console port IP management port PDU management IPMI device management (Optional) Storage module (Optional) Compute module |
Serial console ports USB console port IP management port PDU management IPMI device management KVM device management ILO device management DRAC device management CIMC device management vSerial device management |
| Networking | IPv4 and IPv6 (stateful + auto-configuration) DHCP server/client/relay (IPv4 & IPv6) Multi-tenancy (VRF) IPv4 and IPv6 tunneling NAT Multicast VLAN BGP OSFP RIPv1, RIPv2 VXLAN QoS DDNS NTP |
IPv4 and IPv6 (stateful + auto-configuration) DHCP server/client/relay (IPv4 & IPv6) Multi-tenancy (VRF) IPv4 and IPv6 tunneling NAT Multicast VLAN BGP OSFP RIPv1, RIPv2 VXLAN QoS DDNS NTP |
| Security | BIOS protection TPM 2.0 UEFI secure boot Signed OS Geofencing X.509 SSH certificate support, 4096-bit encryption keys Selectable cypher suite levels: high, medium, low, custom SSL VPN client and server IPsec, WireGuard, strongSwan with multi site support Local, AD/LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Kerberos authentication SAML2 SSO, DUO, Okta, Ping Identity, ADFS Local, backup-user authentication support User-access lists per port Firewall with IP packet and security filtering, IP forwarding support MD5/SHA system configuration checksum System event syslog, IPFIX Strong password enforcement, Fail2ban |
BIOS protection TPM 2.0 UEFI secure boot Signed OS Geofencing X.509 SSH certificate support, 4096-bit encryption keys Selectable cypher suite levels: high, medium, low, custom SSL VPN client and server IPsec, WireGuard, strongSwan with multi site support Local, AD/LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, Kerberos authentication SAML2 SSO, DUO, Okta, Ping Identity, ADFS Local, backup-user authentication support User-access lists per port Firewall with IP packet and security filtering, IP forwarding support MD5/SHA system configuration checksum System event syslog, IPFIX Strong password enforcement, Fail2ban |
| Power | Dual AC or DC power supply | Dual AC or DC power supply |
| Form Factor | Modular Rack (1U) |
Modular Rack (1U) |
Replacing your Cisco ISR EOL products
The Cisco ISR 4200, 4300, and 4400 series of SD-WAN branch gateway routers are all end-of-sale, and Cisco will be ending support soon. Their recommended replacement models come from the 1100 series and the C8300 range. However, those product lines don’t enable end-to-end automation for 3rd generation branch networking.
Suppose you’re looking to replace your Cisco ISR EOL model with a branch routing and network management solution that delivers vendor-neutral automation orchestration. In that case, you should consider Nodegrid’s line of data center, branch, and edge routers.
Only Nodegrid delivers true end-to-end automation for branch, edge, and data center networking. Plus, the Nodegrid is more than just a branch gateway—it’s an infrastructure multi-tool that combines an entire edge networking stack into one streamlined device. Get routing & switching, out-of-band, NetDevOps, guest OS (including Docker), and more in a single box, then use your choice of network automation and orchestration solutions for true 3rd generation branch networking with Nodegrid.
Want to see how Nodegrid stacks up against Cisco’s ISR EOL replacement options? Click here to download the services routers comparative matrix.
Global support and supply chain
Leaving a trusted ecosystem behind to adopt alternative options can be risky, so it’s important to find a vendor that offers the support you need to make the transition and keep your operations running smoothly. ZPE Systems offers global product support using the “follow the sun” model, which means you get support when you need it, regardless of your timezone. You also won’t have to worry about supply chain issues causing stock shortages – ZPE supplies hyperscalers in 10K+ units per quarter and has great, consistent supply chain control.
The Cisco ISR EOLs have caused many procurement teams to seek continuity solutions, leading several large customers to transition their Cisco 4000 supply chain to Nodegrid. ZPE has top channel partners like Wesco, SHI, Denali, and WWT, and provides network and infrastructure management solutions for 6 out of 10 tech giants.
Cisco ISR 4000 EOL product tables with replacement options
| Cisco ISR 4000 EOL Model | In scope features | Replacement product (modular form factor) |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 16 serial ports | ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 1 x 16 port serial module 1 x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 32 serial ports | ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 2×16 port serial module 2x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 48 serial ports | ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 3×16 port serial module 3x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 60 serial ports | ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 4×16 port serial module 4x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN |
| 80 serial port option – no Cisco equivalent | Serial Console Module, Routing, 80 serial ports | ZPE-NSR-816-DAC with 5×16 port serial module 5x ZPE-NSR-16SRL-EXPN |
| Cisco ISR 4000 EOL Model | In scope features | Replacement product (modular form factor) |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 16 serial ports | ZPE-NSCP-T16R-STND-DAC |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 32 serial ports | ZPE-NSCP-T32R-STND-DAC |
| Cisco 4461 ISR Cisco 4451-X ISR Cisco 4431 ISR Cisco 4351 ISR Cisco 4331 ISR Cisco 4321 ISR Cisco 4221 ISR |
Serial Console Module, Routing, 48 serial ports | ZPE-NSCP-T48R-STND-DAC |
| 96 port – not available with Cisco | Serial Console Module, Routing, 80 serial ports | ZPE-NSCP-T96R-STND-DAC |
Learn more about 3rd generation branch, edge, and data center networking
To learn more about 3rd generation branch, edge, and data center networking, read What Makes a Gen 3 Serial Console. Or, reach out to get a copy of the serial console test matrix developed by ZPE and Cloudflare.