As additional software feature enhancements are introduced on the Cisco® ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances, the minimum memory requirements are changing for the Cisco ASA 5505, ASA 5510, ASA 5520, and ASA 5540 models. These requirements are for software releases starting with the Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3. Cisco ASA appliances running Cisco ASA 8.3 that do not meet the minimum memory requirement are not supported. Table 1 outlines the new and existing RAM requirements. Note that the memory requirements for the Cisco ASA 5550 and ASA 5580 have not changed.
Table 1. Overview of New and Existing RAM Requirements
Cisco ASA Model
Minimum RAM Requirements (pre Cisco ASA 8.3)
Minimum RAM Requirements (post Cisco ASA 8.3)
Default Shipping RAM on New Cisco ASA Adaptive Security Appliances (as of Feb. 2010)
5505 10-User
256 MB
256 MB
512 MB
5505 50-User
256 MB
256 MB
512 MB
5505 Unlimited-User
256 MB
512 MB
512 MB
5505 Security Plus
256 MB
512 MB
512 MB
5510
256 MB
1 GB
1 GB
5510 Security Plus
256 MB
1 GB
1 GB
5520
512 MB
2 GB
2 GB
5540
1 GB
2 GB
2 GB
5550
4 GB
4 GB
4 GB
5580-20
8 GB
8 GB
8 GB
5580-40
12 GB
12 GB
12 GB
ASA Failover Configuration
Both devices in an ASA failover configuration (active-active and active-standby) must have the same RAM memory. Mixed-RAM devices in ASA failover configurations are not supported.
Upgraded Default RAM in Shipping Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances
All Cisco ASA 5505, ASA 5510, ASA 5520, and ASA 5540 appliances will ship with additional default memory to meet the memory requirements for Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3 in February 2010.
Upgrade Paths for Existing Cisco ASA Appliances
Table 2 lists the memory upgrade kits that will enable customers wishing to deploy the Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3 to upgrade their existing Cisco ASA Adaptive Security Appliances.
Table 2. Memory Upgrade Kits for Cisco ASA 5505, ASA 5510, ASA 5520, and ASA 5540
Memory Part Numbers
Product Description
ASA5505-MEM-512=
512 MB Memory for Cisco ASA 5505
ASA5510-MEM-1GB=
1GB Memory for Cisco ASA 5510
ASA5520-MEM-2GB=
2GB Memory for Cisco ASA 5520
ASA5540-MEM-2GB=
2GB Memory for Cisco ASA 5540
Upgrade Paths for Customers with 512-MB Upgrade Kit for Cisco ASA 5510
Customers who have purchased the 512-MB upgrade kit for the Cisco ASA 5510 (ASA5510-MEM-512=) must upgrade to the 1-GB memory upgrade kit (ASA5510-MEM-1GB=) to run the Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3.
For More Information
For more information about the Cisco ASA 5500 Adaptive Security Appliances or the Cisco ASA Software Version 8.3, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/asa or contact your local Cisco account representative.
