Description

Sophos XGS 5500

The Sophos XGS 5500 is a 2U enterprise firewall designed for organizations that require high-performance network security and flexible connectivity. It combines Sophos Firewall capabilities with the XGS Series hardware architecture to process high volumes of network traffic while providing security inspection and VPN services.

Sophos specifies up to 100 Gbps firewall throughput, 46 Gbps threat protection throughput, 38 Gbps NGFW throughput, and 92.5 Gbps IPsec VPN throughput for the XGS 5500.

Network Connectivity

The XGS 5500 provides eight fixed Gigabit Ethernet copper interfaces and eight 10GbE SFP+ interfaces. Two pairs of the fixed copper ports can be configured as independent bypass pairs.

The 10GbE SFP+ interfaces provide high-speed fiber connectivity when used with compatible transceivers. Sophos specifies that the required SFP/SFP+ transceivers are sold separately.

Flexi Port Expansion

Expansion is a major part of the XGS 5500 platform. The appliance supports Flexi Port modules that can add copper, SFP, 10GbE SFP+, or 40GbE QSFP+ interfaces. A high-density module is also available for deployments requiring additional copper port density.

This modular approach allows network administrators to select connectivity based on their deployment rather than being limited to the fixed interfaces.

Enterprise Security

The XGS 5500 is designed for enterprise security environments where traffic inspection, threat protection, VPN connectivity, and TLS inspection need to operate at high throughput. Sophos’ published figures include up to 40 Gbps IPS throughput and 46 Gbps threat protection throughput.

Rack Deployment

The XGS 5500 uses a 2U rackmount chassis and includes sliding rails. Its dimensions are approximately 438 × 88 × 645 mm, with an unpacked weight of 17.8 kg.

Two internal hot-swappable power supplies provide redundant power capability for supported enterprise deployments.

Selection Guide

For High-Throughput Firewall Deployments

Choose the XGS 5500 when the environment requires a high-capacity enterprise firewall with published firewall throughput of up to 100 Gbps.

For 10GbE Connectivity

Use the integrated 10GbE SFP+ interfaces with compatible Sophos-supported transceivers according to the required fiber type, speed, and distance.

For Additional Ports

Select an appropriate Flexi Port module when the fixed interfaces do not provide sufficient port density.

For High-Density Copper Connectivity

Consider the high-density module where additional Gigabit Ethernet and 2.5GbE copper interfaces are required.

For 40GbE Connectivity

The XGS 5500 supports a 2-port 40GbE QSFP+ Flexi Port option. Compatible QSFP transceivers or cables are sold separately.

Always Verify

Confirm the exact hardware revision, supported Flexi Port module, transceiver, and Sophos Firewall version before purchasing or installing expansion hardware.

Installation Notes

The Sophos XGS 5500 is designed for 2U rack installation using the included sliding rails. Ensure that the rack provides sufficient depth and adequate airflow before installation. Sophos specifies a minimum rack depth of 588 mm and a maximum rack depth of 870 mm in its hardware documentation.

Connect network cables to the appropriate copper or SFP+ interfaces according to the network design. For optical connectivity, install compatible SFP/SFP+ transceivers and use the appropriate fiber patch cables.

Flexi Port modules should be installed according to the applicable Sophos hardware installation documentation. Verify compatibility before installation.

Best Practices

• Verify the exact XGS 5500 hardware revision before purchasing expansion modules.
• Use compatible Sophos-listed SFP, SFP+, and QSFP transceivers.
• Select Flexi Port modules based on actual bandwidth and media requirements.
• Maintain adequate airflow around the 2U chassis.
• Use redundant power connections where the deployment requires power resilience.
• Document port assignments and installed expansion modules.
• Keep firmware and Sophos Firewall software maintained according to the organization’s update policy.
• Verify HA requirements when deploying multiple XGS 5500 appliances.
• Confirm that HA devices have matching Flexi Port configurations where expansion modules are installed.

Benefits for IT Teams

The Sophos XGS 5500 provides a high-performance platform for enterprise network security while maintaining flexible interface options.

IT teams can use the fixed 10GbE connectivity for high-speed links and select Flexi Port modules when additional interfaces are required. The redundant power design and 2U rackmount format also support structured enterprise infrastructure deployments.

The combination of fixed interfaces, modular expansion, high firewall throughput, VPN capacity, and security inspection capabilities provides a configurable platform for larger network environments.

Main Benefits

High-Speed Security Processing

The XGS 5500 provides up to 100 Gbps firewall throughput.

Benefit: Handle high-volume enterprise traffic without relying solely on general-purpose CPU processing.

High-Density Connectivity

The appliance combines fixed copper interfaces with 10GbE SFP+ ports and modular expansion.

Benefit: Build connectivity around the requirements of the existing network.

Flexible Interface Expansion

Flexi Port modules provide additional copper, fiber, 10GbE, and 40GbE connectivity options.

Benefit: Expand interfaces without replacing the core firewall appliance.

Enterprise VPN Capacity

The XGS 5500 supports up to 92.5 Gbps IPsec VPN throughput and 10,000 concurrent IPsec VPN tunnels.

Benefit: Support demanding site-to-site and remote-access VPN environments.

Redundant Power

Two hot-swappable power supplies provide a redundant power architecture.

Benefit: Reduce the impact of a single power supply failure in supported deployment environments.

Rack-Ready Enterprise Design

The 2U chassis includes sliding rails for rack installation.

Benefit: Integrate the firewall into enterprise server rooms and network racks.

Typical Use Cases

1. Enterprise Edge Security

Deploy the XGS 5500 at the enterprise edge to inspect and secure substantial volumes of north-south traffic.

2. Data Center Connectivity

The combination of 10GbE SFP+ connectivity and modular expansion makes the appliance suitable for network environments requiring high-speed connections.

3. High-Speed VPN Gateway

Use the XGS 5500 for high-capacity IPsec VPN connectivity between offices, data centers, cloud environments, and remote networks.

4. Network Segmentation

Use multiple physical and logical interfaces to separate business networks, servers, guest traffic, and other security zones.

5. High-Density Network Deployments

Flexi Port modules can be used where additional copper, fiber, or high-speed interfaces are required.

6. Enterprise Security Inspection

Deploy the appliance where organizations require firewall, IPS, threat protection, and SSL/TLS inspection capabilities on a high-performance platform.

Who Should Buy Sophos XGS 5500?

The Sophos XGS 5500 is intended for organizations that need a high-performance enterprise firewall with substantial traffic-processing capacity and flexible network connectivity.

It can be considered for:

• Large enterprises
• Data center environments
• Multi-site organizations
• Enterprise network cores and edges
• High-capacity VPN deployments
• Organizations requiring 10GbE firewall connectivity
• Networks requiring modular interface expansion
• IT environments using Sophos Firewall as part of their security architecture

Related Products and Categories

Explore related Sophos products and accessories for a complete deployment:

• Sophos Firewalls
• Sophos XGS Series
• Sophos Firewall Licenses
• Sophos Flexi Port Modules
• Sophos SFP/SFP+ Transceivers
• Sophos Rackmount Accessories
• Sophos Network Security Products

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sophos XGS 5500?

The Sophos XGS 5500 is a 2U enterprise firewall appliance designed for high-performance network security. It provides fixed copper and 10GbE SFP+ connectivity with additional modular expansion options.

What is the firewall throughput of the XGS 5500?

Sophos lists up to 100 Gbps firewall throughput for the XGS 5500. Sophos also lists 52 Gbps firewall IMIX throughput.

How many Ethernet ports does the XGS 5500 have?

The XGS 5500 has 8 × Gigabit Ethernet copper ports and 8 × 10GbE SFP+ ports as fixed Ethernet interfaces. It also supports additional ports through Flexi Port modules.

Does the XGS 5500 support Flexi Port modules?

Yes. The XGS 5500 supports multiple Flexi Port configurations, including GbE copper, GbE SFP, 10GbE SFP+, and 40GbE QSFP+ options.

Does the XGS 5500 support 40GbE?

Yes. Sophos lists a 2-port 40GbE QSFP+ Flexi Port module as a supported expansion option for the XGS 5500.

Does the XGS 5500 support redundant power?

Yes. The XGS 5500 has two internal hot-swappable power supplies.

What is the IPsec VPN throughput of the XGS 5500?

Sophos lists up to 92.5 Gbps IPsec VPN throughput and up to 10,000 concurrent IPsec VPN tunnels.

Can the XGS 5500 be installed in a rack?

Yes. The XGS 5500 is a 2U rackmount appliance and includes sliding rails for rack installation.

Are SFP and SFP+ transceivers included?

No. Sophos documentation states that SFP/SFP+ transceivers are sold separately.

Can the XGS 5500 be used in an HA deployment?

Sophos supports hardware HA on XGS Series appliances using the same firewall model. For Flexi Port configurations, the primary and auxiliary devices must have the same number of Flexi Ports installed.