Cisco ASA 5515-X vs Firepower 1100 Series
The ASA 5515-X (ASA5515-K9) is an end-of-life ASA 5500-X firewall; the Firepower 1140 in the 1100 Series is its modern replacement with unified FTD software and roughly 8x the inspected throughput. Migrate to the Firepower 1100 Series.
Cisco ASA 5515-X
Mid-entry ASA 5500-X firewall with optional FirePOWER Services, now end-of-life.
- 1.2 Gbps stateful firewall throughput
- 400 Mbps AVC and NGIPS throughput via FirePOWER module
- Six Gigabit Ethernet ports
- End-of-sale; replaced by the Firepower 1100 Series
Cisco Firepower 1140 (1100 Series)
Current 1RU NGFW running unified Firepower Threat Defense or ASA software for branch and campus edge.
- 3.3 Gbps firewall throughput with AVC and IPS enabled together
- Unified FTD or ASA software, no separate module
- Eight Gigabit copper ports plus four SFP ports
- 1.4 Gbps IPsec VPN throughput and 400,000 sessions
Cisco ASA 5515-X vs Cisco Firepower 1140 (1100 Series): spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco ASA 5515-X | Cisco Firepower 1140 (1100 Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | 1RU rack | 1RU rack |
| Stateful firewall throughput | 1.2 Gbps | 3.3 Gbps (FW+AVC+IPS) |
| Throughput with AVC + NGIPS | 400 Mbps | 3.3 Gbps |
| IPsec VPN throughput | 250 Mbps | 1.4 Gbps |
| Maximum concurrent sessions | 250,000 | 400,000 |
| New connections per second | 15,000 | 22,000 |
| Maximum VPN peers | 250 | 400 |
| Integrated interfaces | 6x 10/100/1000 | 8x 10/100/1000 + 4 SFP |
| Security software model | ASA + optional FirePOWER module | Unified FTD or ASA image |
| Support status | End-of-sale | Current shipping platform |
Choose Cisco ASA 5515-X if
Choose the 5515-X only to match an existing fleet temporarily; it is not appropriate for new edge deployments.
Choose Cisco Firepower 1140 (1100 Series) if
Choose the Firepower 1140 for branch or campus edges that need unified FTD policy, fiber uplinks and multi-gigabit full inspection with headroom to grow.
Verdict
The ASA 5515-X is end-of-sale and its FirePOWER module limits AVC and NGIPS to 400 Mbps. The Firepower 1140 replaces it with unified FTD software, 3.3 Gbps of full inspection, more sessions and VPN peers, and SFP uplinks. Migrate to the Firepower 1100 Series; the 1140 is the natural successor.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco ASA 5515-X end of life?
Yes. The ASA 5515-X has reached end-of-sale and is moving toward end-of-support, so it should be replaced with a current platform.
Which Firepower model replaces the ASA 5515-X?
The Firepower 1140 is the closest replacement, matching the role while adding unified FTD software and roughly 8x the inspected throughput.
How much does inspected throughput improve over the 5515-X?
The 1140 sustains 3.3 Gbps with firewall, AVC and IPS on together, versus about 400 Mbps of AVC/NGIPS on the 5515-X module, roughly an eightfold gain.
Does the Firepower 1140 support more VPN peers?
Yes. The 1140 supports up to 400 IPsec VPN peers versus 250 on the 5515-X, with 1.4 Gbps of VPN throughput.
More ASA comparisons
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