Cisco HWIC-8A 8-Port Async Serial WAN Interface Card - Refurbished | Resilient Tec
Warranty: Lifetime
Cisco HWIC-8A — 8-Port Asynchronous Serial WAN Interface Card | Refurbished & Tested
The Cisco HWIC-8A is an 8-port asynchronous serial WAN interface card that slots into the HWIC bay of compatible Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR). It adds eight EIA-232 async serial ports for terminal server deployments, out-of-band management networks, and console aggregation — the same card Cisco ships new, at a fraction of the cost. Every unit is fully tested and confirmed functional before shipment. 22 units in stock, ships same day.
Which Cisco Routers Does the HWIC-8A Fit?
The HWIC-8A is compatible with any Cisco ISR that has an available HWIC expansion slot:
- Cisco ISR 1800 series (1841, 1861 and compatible)
- Cisco ISR 1900 series (1905, 1921, 1941)
- Cisco ISR 2800 series (2801, 2811, 2821, 2851)
- Cisco ISR 2900 series (2901, 2911, 2921, 2951)
- Cisco ISR 3800 series (3825, 3845)
- Cisco ISR 3900 series (3925, 3945) — verify slot type before ordering
Not sure if your router chassis has an available HWIC slot? Contact us and we'll confirm before you buy.
Refurbished vs New — What You Actually Get
| Feature | Refurbished | New OEM |
|---|---|---|
| Functionality | Fully tested, 100% operational | Fully operational |
| Cost | Significantly lower | 2-4x higher |
| Availability | In stock now (22 units) | Often EOL / long lead time |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty (Resilient Tec) | Standard Cisco warranty |
| Best for | Lab, enterprise, OOB networks | New greenfield deployments |
Note: the HWIC-8A was officially discontinued by Cisco — end-of-sale February 22, 2019, with end-of-service-life reached February 29, 2024. Cisco no longer manufactures, sells, or supports this card. Refurbished is now the only reliable source — and our units are tested before every shipment.
Ideal Use Cases
- Terminal server / reverse-telnet console server — connect up to 8 serial devices for centralized out-of-band console access
- Out-of-band (OOB) management networks — maintain router/switch/firewall access when in-band paths fail
- Enterprise and data center console aggregation — reduce the number of console cables and access points
- Lab and training environments — CCNA, CCNP, CCIE racks requiring async serial console access
- Non-Cisco serial equipment access — a low-cost alternative to commercial serial-to-Ethernet device servers (Moxa, Digi, ATEN, Perle) for reaching UPS units, PDUs, SCADA/RTU controllers, and other RS-232 gear
- ISR expansion — add serial WAN or async management capability to an existing ISR deployment
What Cable Do You Need?
The HWIC-8A uses a 68-pin HD D-Sub connector on the card. To connect to serial devices, you need the Cisco CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable — this cable is sold separately and breaks out the single 68-pin port into 8 x RJ-45 connections. We stock this cable as well. Note: the HWIC-8A operates in DTE format only. If you're connecting to another DTE device (such as a server console port, PDU, or UPS), you'll need a null-modem adapter rather than a straight-through cable.
Technical Specifications
- Cisco Part Number: HWIC-8A
- Card Type: High-Speed WAN Interface Card (HWIC)
- Ports: 8 × asynchronous serial (EIA-232), via RJ-45 with CAB-HD8-ASYNC cable
- Connector: 68-pin HD D-Sub (requires CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable)
- Interface Format: DTE only
- Max Speed per Port: Up to 230.4 kbps asynchronous (per Cisco specification)
- Form Factor: Single-slot HWIC module
- Status LED: Solid green = all monitored ports active; solid yellow = at least one port in loopback; off = inactive or failed to initialize
- Cabling Standard: Complies with Telcordia GR-1089 NEBS — use shielded, grounded intra-building cabling
- Compatible Platforms: Cisco ISR 1800, 1900, 2800, 2900, 3800, 3900 series
- Condition: Refurbished — fully tested and operational
The Resilient Tec Guarantee
✅ Fully tested before every shipment — confirmed operational
✅ 22 units in stock — same-day shipping available
✅ Lifetime warranty
✅ Real engineers available if you need help confirming compatibility
Frequently Bought Together
- Cisco CAB-HD8-ASYNC — New Original 68-pin to 8x RJ-45 async breakout cable (required accessory)
- Cisco HWIC-16A — 16-port async version for higher-density deployments
- Cisco NIM-16A / NIM-24A — async modules for ISR 4000 series routers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HWIC-8A still supported by Cisco?
No. Cisco announced end-of-life for the HWIC-8A in 2018, stopped selling it on February 22, 2019, and ended all service life support on February 29, 2024. No new units, replacement parts, or Cisco TAC support exist any longer — refurbished, tested secondary-market units like ours are the only remaining source.
Does this include the cable I need to connect devices?
No, the CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable is sold separately (we stock it too). The card has a single 68-pin port; the cable splits that into 8 individual RJ-45 serial connections.
Can I use this to build a terminal or console server for my lab or network?
Yes — this is the single most common use we see. Configure reverse Telnet or SSH on the router's async lines and each port becomes an independently addressable console connection, letting one router act as an 8-port console/terminal server for switches, firewalls, PDUs, or other serial-console devices.
Will this work with non-Cisco equipment like UPS units, PDUs, or SCADA/RTU gear?
Yes. The HWIC-8A provides plain EIA-232 async serial ports, so it works with any RS-232 device, not just Cisco hardware. Many customers use it as a lower-cost alternative to commercial serial-to-Ethernet device servers for exactly this reason.
Is this card DTE or DCE, and do I need a null-modem cable?
The HWIC-8A is DTE format only. If the device on the other end is also DTE (a server console port, many PDUs/UPS units), you'll need a null-modem adapter between the two. If connecting to DCE equipment such as a modem, a straight-through connection is fine.
How many ports can one router support?
Most ISR routers have two HWIC slots, so two HWIC-8A cards give you 16 async ports on a single router. You can also pair an HWIC-8A with an HWIC-16A for higher density.
What's the difference between the HWIC-8A and the HWIC-8A/S?
The plain HWIC-8A supports asynchronous EIA-232 in DTE format only. The HWIC-8A/S (sometimes listed as HWIC-8A/S-232) additionally supports synchronous connections and both DTE and DCE modes. If your project needs synchronous serial or DCE mode, make sure you're ordering the /S variant, not this one.
Still not sure if this is the right card for your setup? Contact us — we're happy to confirm compatibility before you buy.
Cisco HWIC-8A — 8-Port Asynchronous Serial WAN Interface Card | Refurbished & Tested
The Cisco HWIC-8A is an 8-port asynchronous serial WAN interface card that slots into the HWIC bay of compatible Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR). It adds eight EIA-232 async serial ports for terminal server deployments, out-of-band management networks, and console aggregation — the same card Cisco ships new, at a fraction of the cost. Every unit is fully tested and confirmed functional before shipment. 22 units in stock, ships same day.
Which Cisco Routers Does the HWIC-8A Fit?
The HWIC-8A is compatible with any Cisco ISR that has an available HWIC expansion slot:
- Cisco ISR 1800 series (1841, 1861 and compatible)
- Cisco ISR 1900 series (1905, 1921, 1941)
- Cisco ISR 2800 series (2801, 2811, 2821, 2851)
- Cisco ISR 2900 series (2901, 2911, 2921, 2951)
- Cisco ISR 3800 series (3825, 3845)
- Cisco ISR 3900 series (3925, 3945) — verify slot type before ordering
Not sure if your router chassis has an available HWIC slot? Contact us and we'll confirm before you buy.
Refurbished vs New — What You Actually Get
| Feature | Refurbished | New OEM |
|---|---|---|
| Functionality | Fully tested, 100% operational | Fully operational |
| Cost | Significantly lower | 2-4x higher |
| Availability | In stock now (22 units) | Often EOL / long lead time |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty (Resilient Tec) | Standard Cisco warranty |
| Best for | Lab, enterprise, OOB networks | New greenfield deployments |
Note: the HWIC-8A was officially discontinued by Cisco — end-of-sale February 22, 2019, with end-of-service-life reached February 29, 2024. Cisco no longer manufactures, sells, or supports this card. Refurbished is now the only reliable source — and our units are tested before every shipment.
Ideal Use Cases
- Terminal server / reverse-telnet console server — connect up to 8 serial devices for centralized out-of-band console access
- Out-of-band (OOB) management networks — maintain router/switch/firewall access when in-band paths fail
- Enterprise and data center console aggregation — reduce the number of console cables and access points
- Lab and training environments — CCNA, CCNP, CCIE racks requiring async serial console access
- Non-Cisco serial equipment access — a low-cost alternative to commercial serial-to-Ethernet device servers (Moxa, Digi, ATEN, Perle) for reaching UPS units, PDUs, SCADA/RTU controllers, and other RS-232 gear
- ISR expansion — add serial WAN or async management capability to an existing ISR deployment
What Cable Do You Need?
The HWIC-8A uses a 68-pin HD D-Sub connector on the card. To connect to serial devices, you need the Cisco CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable — this cable is sold separately and breaks out the single 68-pin port into 8 x RJ-45 connections. We stock this cable as well. Note: the HWIC-8A operates in DTE format only. If you're connecting to another DTE device (such as a server console port, PDU, or UPS), you'll need a null-modem adapter rather than a straight-through cable.
Technical Specifications
- Cisco Part Number: HWIC-8A
- Card Type: High-Speed WAN Interface Card (HWIC)
- Ports: 8 × asynchronous serial (EIA-232), via RJ-45 with CAB-HD8-ASYNC cable
- Connector: 68-pin HD D-Sub (requires CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable)
- Interface Format: DTE only
- Max Speed per Port: Up to 230.4 kbps asynchronous (per Cisco specification)
- Form Factor: Single-slot HWIC module
- Status LED: Solid green = all monitored ports active; solid yellow = at least one port in loopback; off = inactive or failed to initialize
- Cabling Standard: Complies with Telcordia GR-1089 NEBS — use shielded, grounded intra-building cabling
- Compatible Platforms: Cisco ISR 1800, 1900, 2800, 2900, 3800, 3900 series
- Condition: Refurbished — fully tested and operational
The Resilient Tec Guarantee
✅ Fully tested before every shipment — confirmed operational
✅ 22 units in stock — same-day shipping available
✅ Lifetime warranty
✅ Real engineers available if you need help confirming compatibility
Frequently Bought Together
- Cisco CAB-HD8-ASYNC — New Original 68-pin to 8x RJ-45 async breakout cable (required accessory)
- Cisco HWIC-16A — 16-port async version for higher-density deployments
- Cisco NIM-16A / NIM-24A — async modules for ISR 4000 series routers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HWIC-8A still supported by Cisco?
No. Cisco announced end-of-life for the HWIC-8A in 2018, stopped selling it on February 22, 2019, and ended all service life support on February 29, 2024. No new units, replacement parts, or Cisco TAC support exist any longer — refurbished, tested secondary-market units like ours are the only remaining source.
Does this include the cable I need to connect devices?
No, the CAB-HD8-ASYNC breakout cable is sold separately (we stock it too). The card has a single 68-pin port; the cable splits that into 8 individual RJ-45 serial connections.
Can I use this to build a terminal or console server for my lab or network?
Yes — this is the single most common use we see. Configure reverse Telnet or SSH on the router's async lines and each port becomes an independently addressable console connection, letting one router act as an 8-port console/terminal server for switches, firewalls, PDUs, or other serial-console devices.
Will this work with non-Cisco equipment like UPS units, PDUs, or SCADA/RTU gear?
Yes. The HWIC-8A provides plain EIA-232 async serial ports, so it works with any RS-232 device, not just Cisco hardware. Many customers use it as a lower-cost alternative to commercial serial-to-Ethernet device servers for exactly this reason.
Is this card DTE or DCE, and do I need a null-modem cable?
The HWIC-8A is DTE format only. If the device on the other end is also DTE (a server console port, many PDUs/UPS units), you'll need a null-modem adapter between the two. If connecting to DCE equipment such as a modem, a straight-through connection is fine.
How many ports can one router support?
Most ISR routers have two HWIC slots, so two HWIC-8A cards give you 16 async ports on a single router. You can also pair an HWIC-8A with an HWIC-16A for higher density.
What's the difference between the HWIC-8A and the HWIC-8A/S?
The plain HWIC-8A supports asynchronous EIA-232 in DTE format only. The HWIC-8A/S (sometimes listed as HWIC-8A/S-232) additionally supports synchronous connections and both DTE and DCE modes. If your project needs synchronous serial or DCE mode, make sure you're ordering the /S variant, not this one.
Still not sure if this is the right card for your setup? Contact us — we're happy to confirm compatibility before you buy.