Cisco ASA 5510 vs ASA 5545-X
The ASA 5510 (ASA5510-K8) is a long end-of-life classic firewall with no next-gen security; the ASA 5545-X replaces it with roughly 10x the firewall throughput, AVC, NGIPS and AMP. Migrate to the 5545-X unless you only need a stopgap for a few weeks.
Cisco ASA 5510
First-generation ASA stateful firewall and VPN appliance, fully end-of-life with no FirePOWER/NGFW capability.
- 300 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- Classic ASA software only, no AVC, NGIPS, AMP or URL filtering
- End-of-sale and end-of-support; no current software or signature updates
- Five 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports (Gigabit only with Security Plus)
Cisco ASA 5545-X
Mid-range ASA 5500-X Series next-gen firewall with optional FirePOWER Services for AVC, NGIPS and AMP.
- Up to 3 Gbps stateful firewall throughput; 1.5 Gbps with AVC
- Optional FirePOWER Services add NGIPS, AMP malware defense and URL filtering
- Eight built-in Gigabit ports plus a six-port expansion slot (copper or SFP)
- 750,000 concurrent connections and 400 Mbps AES VPN throughput
Cisco ASA 5510 vs Cisco ASA 5545-X: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco ASA 5510 | Cisco ASA 5545-X |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 300 Mbps | Up to 3 Gbps (1.5 Gbps multiprotocol) |
| Throughput with AVC | Not supported | 1.5 Gbps |
| Throughput with AVC + NGIPS | Not supported | 900 Mbps |
| Maximum concurrent connections | 50,000 (130,000 Security Plus) | 750,000 |
| New connections per second | 9,000 | 30,000 |
| AES/3DES VPN throughput | 170 Mbps | 400 Mbps |
| Maximum IPsec VPN peers | 250 | 2,500 |
| Integrated interfaces | 5x 10/100 (GE only w/ Security Plus) | 8x 10/100/1000 + 6-port slot (GE or SFP) |
| Next-gen security (AMP/URL/NGIPS) | None | Optional FirePOWER Services |
| Support status | End-of-sale and end-of-support | Supported ASA 5500-X platform |
Choose Cisco ASA 5510 if
Only keep the ASA 5510 running as a short-term stopgap on an isolated segment; it has no current software or security updates and cannot be made TAA-current.
Choose Cisco ASA 5545-X if
Choose the ASA 5545-X for any production internet edge or VPN aggregation role that needs current firewall performance plus optional NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering.
Verdict
The ASA 5510 is years past end-of-support and lacks every modern security service, so it should be retired. The ASA 5545-X delivers roughly 10x the firewall throughput, far higher VPN and connection capacity, and an upgrade path to full next-gen inspection. Migrate to the 5545-X; for new deployments also evaluate the Firepower 1100 Series.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco ASA 5510 still supported?
No. The ASA 5510 is end-of-sale and end-of-support, so it no longer receives software maintenance, security fixes or TAC coverage. It should be replaced rather than relied on in production.
What is the modern replacement for the ASA 5510?
Within the ASA 5500-X family the ASA 5545-X is the comparable mid-range replacement. For brand-new deployments the Cisco Firepower 1100 Series is the current-generation equivalent.
Does the ASA 5545-X support FirePOWER and NGIPS?
Yes. The ASA 5545-X runs ASA software and can add FirePOWER Services for AVC, next-gen IPS, AMP malware defense and URL filtering, none of which the 5510 supports.
How much faster is the ASA 5545-X than the ASA 5510?
The 5545-X provides up to 3 Gbps stateful firewall throughput versus 300 Mbps on the 5510, plus far higher VPN throughput and 750,000 concurrent connections.
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.