Cisco ASA 5540 vs ASA 5545-X
The ASA 5540 (ASA5540-K8) is an end-of-life classic firewall; the ASA 5545-X is its direct modern successor with far higher throughput and optional NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering. Migrate to the 5545-X.
Cisco ASA 5540
Higher-end classic ASA stateful firewall and VPN appliance, now end-of-life with no next-gen security.
- 650 Mbps stateful firewall throughput
- Classic ASA software only, no AVC, NGIPS or AMP
- End-of-sale and end-of-support, no current updates
- Four Gigabit Ethernet ports plus a management port
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 and URL filtering
- Eight built-in Gigabit ports plus a six-port expansion slot
- 750,000 concurrent connections and 400 Mbps AES VPN throughput
Cisco ASA 5540 vs Cisco ASA 5545-X: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco ASA 5540 | Cisco ASA 5545-X |
|---|---|---|
| Stateful firewall throughput | 650 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 | 400,000 | 750,000 |
| New connections per second | 25,000 | 30,000 |
| AES/3DES VPN throughput | 325 Mbps | 400 Mbps |
| Maximum IPsec VPN peers | 5,000 | 2,500 |
| Integrated interfaces | 4x 10/100/1000 + 1 mgmt | 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 5540 if
Keep the ASA 5540 only briefly if you depend on its very high legacy IPsec peer count and need time to redesign VPN aggregation before cutting over.
Choose Cisco ASA 5545-X if
Choose the ASA 5545-X for current edge performance, higher firewall and connection capacity, and an optional NGFW upgrade with NGIPS and AMP.
Verdict
The ASA 5540 is past end-of-support and offers no next-gen inspection, so it should be retired. The ASA 5545-X delivers far higher firewall throughput and connection capacity plus optional NGIPS, AMP and URL filtering; note the 5540's legacy IPsec peer ceiling was higher, so re-scope large VPN headends accordingly. Migrate to the 5545-X, or consider the Firepower 1100 Series for new builds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco ASA 5540 still supported?
No. The ASA 5540 is end-of-sale and end-of-support, so it no longer receives software or security updates and should be replaced.
What is the replacement for the ASA 5540?
The ASA 5545-X is the comparable modern replacement within the ASA 5500-X family. For new deployments, the Firepower 1100 Series is the current-generation equivalent.
Why does the ASA 5540 list more IPsec peers than the 5545-X?
The classic 5540 advertised a high legacy IPsec peer ceiling. The 5545-X is far faster overall, but large VPN headends should be re-scoped, potentially using clustering or a higher model, before cutover.
Does the ASA 5545-X support intrusion prevention?
Yes. With FirePOWER Services the 5545-X adds next-gen IPS, AVC, AMP malware defense and URL filtering, none of which the 5540 supported.
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.