The CSG1000 series is a Versa Networks Cloud Services Gateway appliance family – models CSG1300 and CSG1500 – built for large enterprise branches, campus sites, and data centers. Running the Versa Operating System (VOS), it delivers carrier-grade routing, SD-WAN, next-generation security, and universal CPE (uCPE) capability from a single 1U appliance.
Key takeaways
- Two models, CSG1300 and CSG1500, share one identical chassis.
- Sized for large branches, campuses, and data centers running VOS.
- Eight PoE+ LAN ports plus SFP+ and 10-Gigabit WAN interfaces.
- Field-installable NICs add PoE, ADSL2+/VDSL2, or T1/E1 ports.
- Built-in dual LTE and an optional Wi-Fi module cover wireless links.
On this page: Why it mattersHow it worksCSG1000 Series modelsCSG1000 Series & the VersaONE platformFAQ
Why is the CSG1000 Series important?
Large branches, campuses, and data centers need more than a small office does: higher compute for concurrent SD-WAN, firewall, and uCPE workloads, denser PoE, and interface flexibility for whatever mix of copper, fiber, DSL, and wireless a site has. The CSG1000 series is built to that brief – a single 1U appliance replacing a rack of routers, firewalls, and switches at a site large enough to need carrier-grade reliability.
Because the CSG1300 and CSG1500 share one chassis, one installation guide and port layout cover both – the choice between them comes down to storage, not deployment. An operator standardizing on the CSG1000 series can plan power, rack space, and cabling once, and reuse it across every large site, adjusting only the model and installed modules.
What is the CSG1000 Series?
A CSG1000 series appliance is an x86-based, rack-mountable 1U chassis with redundant, hot-swappable parts: 1+1 power supply units – the appliance carries a 920 W unit rating, with a typical power consumption of 800 W – and 3+1 cooling fans. The front panel carries the power and reset buttons, SIM slots, and status LEDs; the rear panel holds the power supplies, ground contact, and fans.
Built-in ports cover WAN and LAN: one RJ45 1-Gigabit port, a serial console port, two multirate RJ45 and two SFP+ 10-Gigabit WAN ports, four SFP+ 10-Gigabit LAN ports, eight RJ45 1-Gigabit PoE (30 W) LAN ports, two USB ports for external modems, and two internal wireless bays. The CSG1300 ships with 128 GB of SSD storage for VOS; the CSG1500 ships with 256 GB – otherwise identical.
CSG1000 Series models
The family covers exactly two models, distinguished mainly by storage. CSG1300 carries 128 GB of VOS storage and 2×16 MB of SPI flash. CSG1500 carries 256 GB of VOS storage and 2×32 MB of SPI flash. Both ship with a 16 GB secondary SSD for diagnostics.
SKUs follow the pattern model-xxx-yyy: xxx marks wireless – WLC for one Wi-Fi and one LTE module, 2LC for two LTE modules, or blank – and yyy marks NIC port count, 4GP, 8GP, or blank. Field-installable NICs add Gigabit Ethernet PoE/PoE+, ADSL2+/VDSL2, or T1/E1 interfaces. The optional LTE modem is a Cat-12 LTE Advanced Pro module with active-active dual LTE and 5G compatibility, expandable to four links with USB dongles. The optional Wi-Fi module is an 802.11ac Wave 2 access point serving up to 512 clients across 16 SSIDs.
CSG1000 Series & the VersaONE platform
Like every appliance in the Cloud Services Gateway line, a CSG1000 series unit runs VOS, so policy configured centrally behaves the same as on any other Versa hardware – only port count and storage change at this tier. The CSG1000 series hardware guide documents the full chassis and module specifications, and connecting a CSG1000 series appliance covers grounding, power, and reaching it through its serial console before onboarding.
Site preparation follows the same discipline as any carrier-grade appliance: rack mounting, earth grounding, ESD precautions, and airflow clearance. Once connected, it is managed like the rest of the Versa hardware fleet, through the templates and zero-touch onboarding driving the VersaONE platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a CSG1300 and a CSG1500?
Both share an identical chassis, port layout, and power and cooling specs. They differ mainly in onboard SSD storage for VOS – 128 GB on the CSG1300 versus 256 GB on the CSG1500 – and SPI flash size, 2×16 MB versus 2×32 MB.
How many WAN and LAN ports does a CSG1000 series appliance have?
Built in: two RJ45 and two SFP+ 10-Gigabit ports for WAN, plus four SFP+ 10-Gigabit and eight RJ45 1-Gigabit PoE (30 W) ports for LAN, alongside one 1-Gigabit RJ45 port and a serial console port. NICs add further Ethernet, DSL, or T1/E1 ports.
Does the CSG1000 series support wireless WAN?
Yes. It has two internal Cat-12 LTE Advanced Pro modem slots for active-active LTE connectivity, is compatible with 5G and sub-6 GHz 5G, and can add two more links through external USB LTE dongles for up to four simultaneous connections.
Can a CSG1000 series appliance provide Wi-Fi access?
Yes, with an optional factory-installed 802.11ac Wave 2 dual-radio access point module. It supports simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation, up to 16 SSIDs, and roughly 512 concurrent clients spread across both radios, with built-in QoS and spectrum-analysis capabilities managed through VOS.
What does the SKU code on a CSG1000 series appliance mean?
It follows model-xxx-yyy: model is CSG1300 or CSG1500; xxx marks the wireless configuration (WLC for one Wi-Fi and one LTE module, 2LC for two LTE modules, or blank); yyy marks NIC ports (4GP, 8GP, or blank). Reading a SKU shows the installed modules at a glance.
More on the CSG1000 Series
If you want to learn more, these are sources we trust.
| Versa Networks: products | Versa Networks: secure SD-WAN | Versa Academy |
|---|---|---|
| The vendor’s product pages, including the CSG hardware family and where the 1000 series sits within it. | The Secure SD-WAN service this appliance is built to deliver at branch, campus, and data-center sites. | Training and labs covering Versa hardware deployment, from unboxing through zero-touch provisioning. |
Related terms
If you’re reading about the CSG1000 series, these are worth looking at next.
| Cloud Services Gateway | Branch | Network Interface Card |
|---|---|---|
| The Versa appliance family the CSG1000 series belongs to, spanning CSG150 through CSG5000 and running VOS for SD-WAN, routing, and security. | The kind of site – large branch, campus, or data center – a CSG1000 series appliance is built to serve as the local VOS device. | The field-installable modules – Gigabit Ethernet PoE, ADSL2+/VDSL2, or T1/E1 – that expand a CSG1000 series appliance beyond its built-in ports. |