| Instance Type | vCPUs | Encryption (IPsec) | Routing (no crypto) | |---------------|-------|--------------------|----------------------| | c5n.large | 2 | ~250 Mbps | ~1 Gbps | | c5n.xlarge | 4 | ~500 Mbps | ~2 Gbps | | c5n.2xlarge | 8 | ~1 Gbps | ~3.5 Gbps | | c5n.4xlarge | 16 | ~1.5 Gbps | ~5 Gbps |
Many people search for "Cisco 1000v AWS" expecting a virtual switch (like the Nexus 1000V for VMware). The Nexus 1000V is effectively dead on AWS. The correct, active product is the Cisco CSR 1000V — a full-featured virtual router. cisco 1000v aws
Below is a deep analysis covering architecture, deployment models, performance nuances, licensing costs, and when (or if) you should use it over native AWS networking. It is a software-based router running Cisco IOS XE, packaged as an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). It runs on an EC2 instance (typically c5n.xlarge or similar) and provides enterprise-grade routing, VPN, and firewall features inside the AWS cloud. | Instance Type | vCPUs | Encryption (IPsec)
You cannot buy a "perpetual" license for AWS — only subscription. If you stop paying, the router stops passing traffic after a grace period. Below is a deep analysis covering architecture, deployment
| License Level | Features | Approximate Annual Cost (USD) | |---------------|----------|-------------------------------| | | BGP, OSPF, static routes, basic NAT, ACLs | ~$1,500 | | Security (AppX) | IPsec VPN, DMVPN, FlexVPN, zone-based firewall | ~$4,500 - $6,000 | | AX (Advanced) | All features + higher throughput (up to 10 Gbps theoretical) | ~$15,000+ |
Do not deploy CSR 1000V because you “know Cisco CLI.” Deploy it only if you need DMVPN, GRE, advanced route-maps, or stateful firewall with Cisco-specific features — and you have the budget (both money and operations team). Otherwise, native AWS networking will be faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
If you need advanced Cisco features, stay with CSR. If you just need hybrid connectivity, use AWS VPN + TGW. If you need multi-cloud advanced routing, look at Aviatrix or Versa. 9. Final Verdict The Cisco CSR 1000V on AWS is a powerful, mature virtual router for enterprises that must extend their Cisco-centric network policies into AWS without re-architecting. It is not a general-purpose solution.
