The CSG3000 series is a Versa Networks Cloud Services Gateway (CSG) family comprising the CSG3300 and CSG3500 appliances. Built for large enterprise branches, campus sites, and data centers, it runs VOS to deliver SD-WAN, integrated NGFW/UTM/ZTNA security, and line-rate Layer 2/Layer 3 switching in a single chassis.
Key takeaways
- CSG3300 and CSG3500 appliances make up the CSG3000 series lineup.
- Runs VOS for SD-WAN, NGFW/UTM/ZTNA security, and L2/L3 switching.
- High compute: multi-core x86 CPUs sized to host third-party VMs.
- Ports scale up to 100-Gigabit Ethernet with PoE++ and NIC expansion.
- Optional built-in LTE/5G modules add wireless WAN backup links.
On this page: Why it mattersHow it worksCSG3000 Series modelsCSG3000 Series & VersaFAQ
Why is the CSG3000 Series important?
Large branches, campuses, and data centers push past what small-branch appliances can carry: more encrypted throughput, denser PoE for phones and cameras, faster uplinks to the core, and enough onboard compute to run third-party virtual machines without a separate server. The CSG3000 series exists to cover that upper tier without splitting the site into a rack of specialist boxes.
Because it runs the same VOS software as the rest of the CSG family, a policy and template design validated on a smaller branch appliance carries forward unchanged – only the port counts, throughput ceiling, and compute headroom change. High-speed fiber uplinks and PoE++ density also let the CSG3000 absorb roles – LAN aggregation, uCPE hosting – that would otherwise need dedicated hardware.
What is the CSG3000 Series?
A CSG3000 series appliance is an x86-based chassis running VOS, with a port mix built for large sites: an RJ45 management port and serial console, two 10-Gigabit RJ45 and two SFP+ 10-Gigabit WAN ports, eight PoE++ (60 W) and sixteen PoE (30 W) copper LAN ports, four SFP28 25/10-Gigabit LAN ports, and two QSFP28 100-Gigabit switch ports. Two built-in wireless module slots support LTE/5G or Wi-Fi, and two USB ports accept external LTE dongles.
The CSG3300 and CSG3500 share an identical chassis: 1 RU, rack-mountable in a standard 19-inch rack, with field-replaceable 1+1 redundant hot-swappable power supplies and redundant front-to-back cooling fans. WAN-designated ports cannot carry LAN traffic and vice versa – the split is fixed by the hardware, not just convention. Specialized hardware offload engines handle cryptographic operations and compression, keeping SD-WAN encryption off the general-purpose CPU cores.
CSG3000 Series models
The series has two models. CSG3300 targets large enterprise branch and campus sites needing advanced switching, routing, secure SD-WAN, and on-premises application intelligence. CSG3500 targets the same use cases plus data-center locations, with additional compute and storage headroom for heavier workloads. The two chassis are physically identical, differing in internal capacity rather than ports or form factor.
Both models take field-installable network interface card (NIC) modules – ADSL2+/VDSL2, T1/E1, and additional Gigabit Ethernet or PoE+ options – to add WAN or LAN capacity beyond the built-in ports.
The optional LTE modem module supports up to two internal 4G/LTE Advanced Pro and sub-6 5G modems, plus two externally attached USB modems, for active-active wireless WAN backup at the branch.
CSG3000 Series & Versa
A CSG3000 appliance is the high end of the CSG hardware line inside the VersaONE platform: it runs the same VOS image as smaller CSG models, onboards through Director or Concerto zero-touch provisioning, and reports telemetry to Versa Analytics. The CSG3000 series hardware guide documents its full port layout, models, and specifications; site teams also follow dedicated procedures to install and connect the appliance before it is bound to a configuration.
Once staged, the appliance’s 100-Gigabit switch ports and PoE-capable LAN ports let it anchor Secure SD-LAN designs directly, while its WAN ports build the encrypted SD-WAN overlay to hubs, gateways, and peer sites – the same site model every CSG runs, scaled to campus and data-center throughput. Every VersaONE service the site consumes runs inline on the appliance under policy pushed from Director or Concerto, with the appliance’s own compute headroom available to host third-party VMs alongside VOS.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the CSG3300 and CSG3500?
Both share an identical chassis, port layout, and VOS software. The CSG3300 targets large branch and campus deployments; the CSG3500 adds data-center locations to that scope, with more onboard compute and storage for heavier workloads on the same hardware footprint.
How many models make up the CSG3000 series?
Two: the CSG3300 and the CSG3500. Versa documents them together in one series because they share a chassis, port numbering, and most specifications, differing mainly in internal compute and storage capacity rather than in physical design or overall port layout.
What deployment types is the CSG3000 series designed for?
Large enterprise branches, campus sites, and – for the CSG3500 – data centers that need advanced routing, secure SD-WAN, line-rate Layer 2/Layer 3 switching, and enough on-box compute to host third-party virtual machines alongside VOS in the same chassis, rather than on separate servers.
Does the CSG3000 series support wireless WAN connectivity?
Yes. Each appliance has two built-in wireless module slots for LTE/5G or Wi-Fi, plus two USB ports for external LTE dongles, allowing up to two internal and two attached modems for active-active wireless WAN backup links when wired uplinks are unavailable, degraded, or still being provisioned.
How is a CSG3000 series appliance mounted and installed?
It mounts directly in a four-post 19-inch rack, or on an optional slide rail, occupying 1 RU. Installation includes earth-grounding the chassis, connecting redundant AC power supplies, checking the power LED, and cabling a serial management console before the appliance is bound to a configuration.
More on Versa hardware
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 families, model tiers, and their market positioning. | The Secure SD-WAN service the CSG3000 series delivers at the branch, campus, and data-center network edge. | Training and labs covering Versa hardware deployment, from unboxing through production configuration and turn-up. |
Related terms
If you’re reading about the CSG3000 series, these are worth looking at next.
| Cloud Services Gateway | Network Interface Card | Cloud Services Switch |
|---|---|---|
| The broader appliance family the CSG3000 series belongs to, spanning models from CSG150 through CSG5000. | The field-installable modules that expand a CSG3000 appliance’s WAN and LAN port options beyond the built-in set. | Versa’s sibling switch family for Secure SD-LAN fabrics that pair with CSG3000 appliances at large sites. |