Catalyst 2960-X End of Life: Support to Oct 2027

Catalyst 2960-X support dates

Every row names its basis. A third-party tracker date is not the vendor’s own, and “not published” means exactly that.
Milestone	Date	Basis	Source
End-of-Life Announcement Date	31 October 2020	Vendor-publishedEOL13603 - Amended (updated 26 Nov 2022)	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
End-of-Sale Date: HW	31 October 2022	Vendor-publishedLast day to order. Matches 'Last date to sell 31-OCT-2022' on Cisco's series page.	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
Last Ship Date: HW	30 January 2023	Vendor-published	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
End of SW Maintenance Releases Date: HW	31 October 2023	Vendor-publishedThe last date Cisco may release final software maintenance releases or bug fixes	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
End of Routine Failure Analysis Date: HW / End of New Service Attachment Date: HW	31 October 2023	Vendor-publishedBoth milestones fall on the same date. After it, a unit with no Cisco contract cannot be newly put under one.	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
End of Service Contract Renewal Date: HW	29 January 2027	Vendor-publishedThe last date to extend or renew a Cisco service contract for the product	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
End of Vulnerability/Security Support: HW	31 October 2027	Vendor-published	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
Last Date of Support: HW	31 October 2027	Vendor-publishedCisco's series page also shows 'End-of-Support Date 31-OCT-2027'	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603)
Last Date of Support: HW (fanless SKU WS-C2960X-24PSQ-L only)	30 April 2028	Vendor-publishedEOL14887 (announced 31 Oct 2022): End-of-Sale 30 Apr 2023, End of SW Maintenance 29 Apr 2024, End of Vulnerability/Security Support 29 Apr 2026 (already passed), End of Service Contract Renewal 26 Jul 2027. Cisco names C9200CX-12P-2X2G-E as its replacement. Conflict: Cisco's 2960-X series page lists the 2960X-24PSQ-L among the models with an End-of-Support date of 31 Oct 2027. The SKU-specific bulletin date is used here.	End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Fanless SKU (EOL14887)

Where the Catalyst 2960-X stands today

Cisco's series page says: 'This product is supported by Cisco, but is no longer being sold.' EOL13603 records the end-of-life announcement on 31 October 2020, last orders on 31 October 2022 and last shipments on 30 January 2023. On 31 October 2023 software maintenance releases, routine failure analysis and new service attachment all ended, so a 2960-X that had no Cisco contract on that day cannot now be put under one. Contracts already in place can be renewed or extended until 29 January 2027, and Cisco support under them runs to 31 October 2027, the same day as End of Vulnerability/Security Support.

Cisco sets these dates per product ID (PID), not per serial number. Take the PID from the label or from show version / show inventory and find it in Table 2 of EOL13603 (standard 2960-X), EOL13602 (the 2960-XR, a separate product family; amended 31 July 2025, with the same end-of-sale and Last Date of Support) or EOL14887 (the fanless WS-C2960X-24PSQ-L). The fanless SKU runs to its own timetable: end-of-sale 30 April 2023, end of software maintenance 29 April 2024, End of Vulnerability/Security Support 29 April 2026, already passed, contract renewal until 26 July 2027 and Last Date of Support 30 April 2028. Cisco's series page lists it under the family-wide 2027 date instead; for that SKU, use the bulletin.

Catalyst 2960-X: lifecycle on one axis

Dated milestones are placed only where a source gives the date; Blue = vendor-published, amber = third-party tracker, violet = derived from a vendor policy. Checked 8 October 2026.

Finding the date for your own unit

Cisco sets lifecycle dates per product ID (PID), not per serial number. Read the PID from the switch label or from 'show version' / 'show inventory', then find it in Table 2 of the matching bulletin: EOL13603 for the main 2960-X family (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-x-series-switches/eos-eol-notice-c51-744432.html), EOL13602 for the 2960-XR (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-xr-series-switches/eos-eol-notice-c51-744422.html), or EOL14887 for the fanless WS-C2960X-24PSQ-L (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-x-series-switches/catalyst-2960x-fanless-sku-eol.html). Cisco's series page (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/switches/catalyst-2960-x-series-switches/series.html) shows 31 Oct 2027 for all 13 listed models, including the 24PSQ-L, so use the bulletin for that SKU. Whether a unit is under a Cisco contract depends on its serial number. Cisco's security advisories ask non-contract customers seeking a free fix through TAC to have the product serial number and the advisory URL ready.

What still works after Cisco support ends

IOS bug-fix releases stopped on 31 October 2023, and until 31 October 2027 Cisco may still release scheduled software remedies for security vulnerabilities. Cisco's security vulnerability policy says that before the Last Date of Support it may provide free updates, typically limited to Critical- and High-severity issues and decided case by case; an eligible customer without a contract requests them from Cisco TAC with the URL of the Cisco document that offers the update, and Cisco's advisories also ask for the product serial number. After 31 October 2027, Cisco PSIRT will still accept vulnerability reports for the main 2960-X family but will not analyse, fix or disclose them, and will not issue CVEs for it.

For the main family, a Cisco contract the switch already has can be renewed or extended until 29 January 2027, nine months before the Last Date of Support. The Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty lasts 'as long as the original end user continues to own or use the product', but the data sheet limits it to five years from the announcement of discontinuance once manufacture is discontinued, and Cisco's Hardware Warranty FAQ says it is given only to the original end user and cannot be transferred, so a second-hand 2960-X carries no Cisco warranty.

IOS bug-fix (software maintenance) releases for the 2960-X ended on 31 Oct 2023. Until End of Vulnerability/Security Support on 31 Oct 2027, Cisco may still release scheduled software remedies for security vulnerabilities. (cisco.com)
After the Last Date of Support (31 Oct 2027), Cisco PSIRT will still accept vulnerability reports but will not analyse, fix or disclose them, and will not issue CVEs for products past LDoS. (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)
Before LDoS, Cisco may provide free software updates, typically limited to Critical- and High-severity vulnerabilities and decided case by case. Eligible customers without a contract get them by contacting Cisco TAC with the URL of the Cisco document that offers the update. (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)

Vendor support you can still buy

Renewal of an existing Cisco service contract — Allowed until the End of Service Contract Renewal Date, 29 Jan 2027. Support under the contract runs to the Last Date of Support, 31 Oct 2027. New attachment for uncovered units closed on 31 Oct 2023. (cisco.com)

What a maintenance contract needs to cover on the Catalyst 2960-X

Each 2960-X is a fixed-configuration switch 1.75 in high with 24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and its power design depends on the variant. Standard models have one fixed internal power supply, with Cisco's external RPS 2300 as the redundancy option; the 2960-XR supports dual redundant field-replaceable supplies and ships with one by default. Like-for-like spares must also match the PoE budget: 740 W on FPD and FPS models, 370 W on LPD, LPS, PD and PS models, 110 W on the 24PSQ-L and none on TD and TS models. Uplinks are fixed, four 1G SFP or two 10G SFP+ depending on model (the 24PSQ-L has two SFP plus two 10/100/1000BASE-T), so list the optics in use.

FlexStack-Plus joins up to eight switches at 80 Gbps on LAN Base 2960-X and IP Lite 2960-XR units, or 40 Gbps in a mixed stack with 2960-S or 2960-SF switches. Cisco maps the C2960X-STACK module to the C9200L-STACK-KIT but gives no replacement for stacking cables such as CAB-STK-E-1M, so state whether modules and cables are covered parts. The software feature set also limits substitutes: LAN Lite units (256 MB DRAM, 64 MB flash) cannot be upgraded to LAN Base (512 MB, 128 MB), so a replacement must match it as well as the port count. A network third-party maintenance scope should also record the management interfaces: USB Type-B and RJ-45 consoles, a USB Type-A port for external flash and a 10/100 Ethernet management port.

Catalyst 2960-X: what to tell a maintenance provider

The hardware facts a maintenance quote is priced on, printed in the vendor's own wording from its specification documents (cited in Sources). Nothing on this plate is estimated; facts the vendor does not state are left off rather than filled in.

Catalyst 2960-X hardware, from Cisco’s own specification documents
Specification	Detail	Source
Form factor	Fixed-configuration, stackable Gigabit Ethernet switch. The chassis is 1.75 in high, and Cisco lists a 1 RU recessed rack-mount kit (RCKMNT-REC-2KX=).	cisco.com
Access ports	24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports with line-rate forwarding performance	cisco.com
Uplinks	4 fixed 1G SFP uplinks or 2 fixed 10G SFP+ uplinks, depending on model. The 24PSQ-L has 2 SFP plus 2 10/100/1000BASE-T uplinks.	cisco.com
PoE budget	PoE+ with a power budget of up to 740 W. Available PoE is 740 W on FPD/FPS models, 370 W on LPD/LPS/PD/PS models and 110 W on the 24PSQ-L. TD/TS models have no PoE.	cisco.com
Stacking	Optional FlexStack-Plus stacks up to 8 switches at 80 Gbps (2960-X LAN Base, 2960-XR IP Lite), or 40 Gbps in mixed stacks with 2960-S/SF. FlexStack-Extended also stacks up to 8 at 40 Gbps.	cisco.com
Power supply	2960-X models have one fixed internal power supply, with the external Cisco RPS 2300 as the redundancy option. The 2960-XR supports dual redundant field-replaceable supplies and ships with one by default.	cisco.com
Software and memory	Cisco IOS LAN Base or LAN Lite feature set (2960-XR: IP Lite only). 512 MB DRAM and 128 MB flash on LAN Base, or 256 MB DRAM and 64 MB flash on LAN Lite. LAN Lite cannot be upgraded to LAN Base.	cisco.com
Management interfaces	USB Type-B and RJ-45 console, USB Type-A for external flash storage, and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet (RJ-45) network management port	cisco.com

Extend or refresh the Catalyst 2960-X?

A 2960-X doing plain access work in a controlled segment is a reasonable candidate for continued maintenance. A switch already under a Cisco contract can stay covered to 31 October 2027, provided any renewal or extension is made by 29 January 2027. Units that missed the 31 October 2023 new-attachment deadline cannot be put under Cisco cover; for them, third-party maintenance generally provides diagnosis, replacement parts and engineers and can continue after Cisco's Last Date of Support (see Cisco third-party maintenance), and a quote can be requested through the maintenance coverage builder.

The case for refresh is about software. The 2960-X has had no bug-fix releases for almost three years, Cisco says only that it may release security remedies until 31 October 2027, and the fanless 24PSQ-L is already past its own security-support date. Cisco's bulletin maps the family to the Catalyst 9200L, for example WS-C2960X-24TS-L to C9200L-24T-4G and WS-C2960X-48FPD-L to C9200L-48P-4X, and the fanless notice names the C9200CX-12P-2X2G-E as that SKU's replacement. In audited or exposed segments, completing that migration before October 2027 avoids relying on switches whose newly reported vulnerabilities Cisco will no longer analyse.

Cisco's service-contract renewal window closes on 29 Jan 2027, nine months before LDoS. A unit that had no Cisco contract on 31 Oct 2023 (End of New Service Attachment) can no longer be put under one. (cisco.com)
Software has been security-only since 31 Oct 2023: no further bug-fix releases, only possible security remedies until 31 Oct 2027. (cisco.com)
The 2960-XR (IP Lite, dual field-replaceable power supplies) is a separate product family with its own notice, EOL13602 (amended 31 Jul 2025). It has the same End-of-Sale (31 Oct 2022) and Last Date of Support (31 Oct 2027). (cisco.com)
The fanless WS-C2960X-24PSQ-L follows its own notice, EOL14887. Its End of Vulnerability/Security Support passed on 29 Apr 2026, although its Last Date of Support is 30 Apr 2028. Cisco's series page lists this model with the family-wide 31 Oct 2027 date instead. Check the PID before quoting a date. (cisco.com)
Cisco's migration table maps 2960-X PIDs to Catalyst 9200L models. Examples: WS-C2960X-24TS-L to C9200L-24T-4G, WS-C2960X-48FPD-L to C9200L-48P-4X, and the C2960X-STACK module to C9200L-STACK-KIT. Stacking cables (e.g. CAB-STK-E-1M) have no replacement. (cisco.com)
Cisco says refurbished 2960-X units may be available in limited supply in certain countries through the Cisco Certified Refurbished Equipment program, first-come first-served, until the Last Date of Support. (cisco.com)
The switch shipped with Cisco's Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW), which lasts 'as long as the original end user continues to own or use the product'. The data sheet's end-of-life policy says that if manufacture is discontinued, warranty support is limited to five years from the announcement of discontinuance. (cisco.com)
Cisco's Hardware Warranty FAQ (updated 29 Jan 2025) says the warranty is given only to the original end user and cannot be transferred, so second-hand units carry no Cisco warranty. On discontinuance, E-LLW ends at the Last Date of Service set by Cisco's End-of-Life process. (cisco.com)

Catalyst 2960-X: what came before and what replaces it

The successor shown is the one the vendor names in its own end-of-life notice.

Keep your Catalyst 2960-X covered

Tell us how many you run and when your current cover ends, and we will come back with a like-for-like maintenance quote for that estate. Your model and its support status are attached to the enquiry automatically, so there is nothing to re-type.

Cisco maintenance in detail →

Behind the 2960-X is the 2960-S, a predecessor inferred from the 2960 product line rather than named by Cisco; the two can share a FlexStack-Plus stack at 40 Gbps. Ahead of it is the Catalyst 9200L, part of the Catalyst 9200 Series, which Cisco's bulletin names as the migration target; the Catalyst 9200 end of life page sets out where that platform stands. Networks pairing 2960-X access switches with 3650s should read the Catalyst 3650 end of life page too, without assuming the 2960-X dates apply.

Where the Catalyst 2960-X sits against related models

Each bar runs from release to the milestone that marks end of support for the model as a whole. Amber bars end on a third-party tracker's date, not the vendor's. A dashed open end means no end date is published — not that support is indefinite. Component and accessory dates (a management controller, a power module) are not treated as the model's.

Look up another model in the server & network end-of-life checker, or read what third-party maintenance covers.

Questions people ask about the Catalyst 2960-X

Is the Cisco 2960-X end of life?

Cisco announced its end of life on 31 October 2020 and stopped selling the 2960-X on 31 October 2022, but it is still within Cisco support: bulletin EOL13603 sets the Last Date of Support at 31 October 2027, and units with an active Cisco service contract are supported until then. The fanless WS-C2960X-24PSQ-L follows its own bulletin, with a Last Date of Support of 30 April 2028 but a security-support date that passed on 29 April 2026.

When does Cisco stop supporting the 2960-X?

On 31 October 2027, Cisco's published Last Date of Support for the main 2960-X family, which is also its End of Vulnerability/Security Support date. The last day to renew or extend an existing Cisco contract is 29 January 2027, and a unit that had no contract on 31 October 2023 cannot now be put under one.

Can I still get IOS updates for a 2960-X?

Not bug fixes: Cisco's software maintenance releases for the 2960-X ended on 31 October 2023. Until 31 October 2027 Cisco may still release scheduled security remedies; free updates for eligible customers without a contract are typically limited to Critical- and High-severity issues, decided case by case and requested through Cisco TAC. After 31 October 2027, Cisco PSIRT will accept but not analyse, fix or disclose newly reported vulnerabilities in the 2960-X.

What replaced the Catalyst 2960-X?

Cisco's end-of-life bulletin maps 2960-X part numbers to the Catalyst 9200L, part of the Catalyst 9200 Series. Examples include WS-C2960X-24TS-L to C9200L-24T-4G and WS-C2960X-48FPD-L to C9200L-48P-4X, while the fanless 24PSQ-L maps to C9200CX-12P-2X2G-E. Stacking cables such as CAB-STK-E-1M have no listed replacement.

Can I get third-party maintenance for a 2960-X?

You can request a quote. Third-party cover can run past Cisco's 31 October 2027 Last Date of Support and generally includes fault diagnosis, replacement parts and engineers. It is most relevant to second-hand 2960-X switches, which carry no Cisco warranty, and to units that missed Cisco's new-attachment cut-off on 31 October 2023.

Sources

Every date, rule and specification above was checked against these on 8 October 2026 by an independent verification pass. Vendors revise lifecycle notices; this page is re-checked by 8 January 2027.

End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Product Family (EOL13603) — cisco.com
End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960X Fanless SKU (EOL14887) — cisco.com
Catalyst 2960-X release — cisco.com
sec.cloudapps.cisco.com — sec.cloudapps.cisco.com
cisco.com — cisco.com
cisco.com — cisco.com
cisco.com — cisco.com

Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Lifecycle dates for the Catalyst 2960-X are re-verified against Cisco's own notices at each review; a date a vendor has not published is never filled in.