Cisco ASA 5505 vs ASA 5506-X
The ASA 5506-X is the modern replacement for the long end-of-life ASA 5505, doubling firewall throughput to 300 Mbps, swapping the built-in switch for eight Gigabit routed ports, and adding integrated FirePOWER next-generation IPS and AMP. If you are still running a 5505, the 5506-X is the direct migration path.
Cisco ASA 5505
Legacy small-office adaptive security appliance with a built-in 8-port switch.
- Up to 150 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 8-port 10/100 Fast Ethernet built-in switch
- Up to 25 AnyConnect / clientless VPN users
- End of life; past last date of support (Aug 2022)
Cisco ASA 5506-X
Next-generation small-office firewall with integrated FirePOWER services.
- Up to 300 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- 8 x 1 GbE routed interfaces
- Integrated FirePOWER NGIPS, AMP, and URL filtering
- Up to 50 AnyConnect VPN peers (with Security Plus)
Cisco ASA 5505 vs Cisco ASA 5506-X: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco ASA 5505 | Cisco ASA 5506-X |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | Up to 150 Mbps | Up to 300 Mbps |
| 3DES/AES VPN throughput | Up to 100 Mbps | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Network interfaces | 8 x 10/100 (built-in switch) | 8 x 1 GbE (routed) |
| Maximum concurrent sessions | 10,000 (25,000 w/ Sec Plus) | 20,000 (50,000 w/ Sec Plus) |
| AnyConnect / clientless VPN users | Up to 25 | Up to 50 |
| IPsec site-to-site VPN peers | 10 (20 w/ Sec Plus) | 10 (50 w/ Sec Plus) |
| Integrated IPS / NGFW | No (legacy IPS module N/A) | FirePOWER NGIPS + AMP |
| URL filtering / AVC | No | Yes (FirePOWER, ~250 Mbps AVC) |
| VLAN support | Up to 3 (20 w/ Sec Plus) | Up to 30 |
| Software | ASA 9.x (legacy, capped) | ASA 9.x + FirePOWER / FTD |
| Lifecycle status | End of life, past LDoS | End of sale, supported |
Choose Cisco ASA 5505 if
There is no current reason to choose the 5505 for new deployments; it is past its last date of support and receives no security patches. Retain only until a replacement is in place.
Choose Cisco ASA 5506-X if
Choose the 5506-X to replace a 5505 with a supportable platform that doubles firewall throughput, provides true Gigabit routed ports, and adds integrated FirePOWER NGIPS, AMP, and URL filtering.
Verdict
Migrate off the ASA 5505 to the ASA 5506-X. The 5505 passed its last date of support in 2022 and no longer receives security fixes, which is a compliance risk for federal and enterprise networks. The 5506-X doubles throughput, adds Gigabit routed ports and FirePOWER next-generation security, and is a TAA-compliant, GPC-payable replacement; note the 5506-X itself is later in its lifecycle, so also evaluate a Firepower 1000 series for new long-term builds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco ASA 5505 still supported?
No. The ASA 5505 reached end of sale in 2017 and passed its last date of support in August 2022, so it receives no further software updates, security patches, or hardware replacement.
Is the ASA 5506-X a direct replacement for the 5505?
Yes. Cisco positioned the 5506-X as the migration path from the 5505. It doubles firewall throughput, replaces the built-in switch with eight Gigabit routed ports, and adds FirePOWER next-generation security.
What is the main difference in the network ports?
The 5505 has an 8-port 10/100 built-in switch you group into VLANs, while the 5506-X has eight individual 1 GbE routed interfaces, giving more flexibility and ten times the port speed.
Should I buy a 5506-X or move to a Firepower 1000?
The 5506-X is a valid like-for-like replacement for a 5505, but it is later in its own lifecycle. For a long-term build, also evaluate a Cisco Firepower 1010 or 1120, which offer newer hardware and a longer support runway.
More ASA comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.