Catalyst 2960-XR EOL Date: Oct 2027, Not 2026

Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR 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 (EOL13602)	31 October 2020	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended, updated 31 Jul 2025): End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960XR Product Family EOS
End-of-Sale Date: HW	31 October 2022	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
Last Ship Date: HW	30 January 2023	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
End of SW Maintenance Releases Date: HW	31 October 2023	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
End of New Service Attachment Date: HW	31 October 2023	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
End of Service Contract Renewal Date: HW	29 January 2027	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
End of Vulnerability/Security Support: HW	31 October 2027	Vendor-published	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)
Last Date of Support: HW	31 October 2027	Vendor-publishedCisco's own 2960-XR support page contradicts itself. Its product-details block shows End-of-Support 31-OCT-2027, but its Supported Models section says 'All of the following have an End-of-Support date of October 31, 2026'. The amended bulletin gives 2027-10-31.	Cisco EOL13602 (Amended)

Where the Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR stands today

EOL13602 was announced on 31 October 2020, and the amended bulletin was updated on 31 July 2025. The switches went off sale on 31 October 2022 and the last units shipped on 30 January 2023. On 31 October 2023, two milestones passed together: End of Software Maintenance Releases and End of New Service Attachment. Contracts already in place can be renewed until 29 January 2027, and security support and the Last Date of Support end together on 31 October 2027. Cisco's support page gives the current status as 'End of Sale'.

That support page also contradicts itself. Its product-details block shows End-of-Support as 31 October 2027, but its Supported Models section says 'All of the following have an End-of-Support date of October 31, 2026'. The amended bulletin gives 31 October 2027, which is the date to plan against; expect some third-party trackers to show 2026. Other switches on the same network have their own dates; see the server and network end-of-life checker.

Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR: 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.

What still works after Cisco support ends

Bug-fix releases for the 2960-XR ended with End of Software Maintenance on 31 October 2023, but Cisco may still release planned security remedies until 31 October 2027. Software updates are a contract entitlement. Section 2.3, 'Software Download', of the Smart Net Total Care service description, which governs contracts created before SNTC became Cisco Support on 15 June 2025, lists operating system updates, work-around solutions and patches to reported software problems. The XR is available only with the Cisco IOS IP Lite feature set.

An uncovered XR can no longer be put on a Cisco contract, since attachment closed on 31 October 2023, though existing contracts can be renewed until 29 January 2027. An owner without a contract can ask Cisco TAC for a free update by citing the relevant advisory URL; Cisco treats these 'on a case-by-case basis', and they are 'typically limited to Critical- and High-severity vulnerabilities'. Cisco also says certified remanufactured units from Cisco Refresh may be offered in some countries in limited supply, on a 'first-come, first-served basis until the Last Date of Support has been reached'. Beyond 31 October 2027, vulnerabilities reported to Cisco PSIRT for the XR will be accepted but not analysed, fixed or disclosed, and no CVEs will be issued.

End of SW Maintenance Releases (2023-10-31) has passed, so there will be no further bug-fix releases. Cisco may still release planned security remedies until End of Vulnerability/Security Support on 2027-10-31. (cisco.com)
Software updates are a contract entitlement. Section 2.3 'Software Download' of Cisco's Smart Net Total Care service description covers 'Operating system updates, work-around solutions, or patches to reported Software problems'. That description applies to SNTC contracts created before 15 Jun 2025, when Cisco rebranded SNTC as 'Cisco Support'. (cisco.com)
Without a contract: customers ask Cisco TAC for a free update on an exception basis, citing the advisory URL. Cisco decides 'on a case-by-case basis', and free updates are 'typically limited to Critical- and High-severity vulnerabilities'. (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)
After the Last Date of Support (2027-10-31), Cisco PSIRT will accept vulnerability reports but will not analyse, fix or disclose them, and will issue no CVEs. (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)

Vendor support you can still buy

Cisco Support (rebrand of Smart Net Total Care, effective 15 June 2025) — Cisco's service-and-support contract. For this model, only existing contracts can be renewed (next entry). (cisco.com)
Contract renewal only - existing contracts (until 2027-01-29) — New service attachment closed 2023-10-31 (EOL13602). (cisco.com)
Cisco Refresh (certified remanufactured) units — Cisco says these may be available in limited supply in certain countries, 'first-come, first-served basis until the Last Date of Support has been reached'. (cisco.com)

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

Each 2960-XR is a 24- or 48-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, 1.75 inches high, with uplinks of either four 1G SFP or two 10G SFP+. PoE+ models provide 370W or 740W of available PoE power, and Perpetual PoE keeps PoE+ power flowing while the switch reloads. FlexStack-Plus stacks up to eight switches, with 80 Gbps of stack bandwidth on the 2960-XR, so a contract should list every stack member and its uplink configuration.

Power supplies need the closest look. The XR takes a field-replaceable modular power supply with room for a second, and dual redundant supplies are supported; the data sheet lists the PWR-C2-250WAC, PWR-C2-640WAC and PWR-C2-1025WAC for it. EOL13602 also lists the PWR-C2-250WAC (and /2) and the C2KXR-PWR-450WAC, -450WDC, -60WAC and -835WAC 'FRU Power Supply and Fan for C2960-XR Series' units and their spares, each with 'There is currently no replacement product available for this product.' The PWR-C2-640WAC and PWR-C2-1025WAC are not listed in that bulletin. Record which supply sits in each slot before requesting a quote for Cisco third-party maintenance, which generally covers diagnosis, replacement parts and engineers.

Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR: 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.

Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR hardware, from Cisco’s own specification documents
Specification	Detail	Source
Ports and uplinks	24 or 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports; uplinks either 4x 1G SFP or 2x 10G SFP+	cisco.com
PoE	PoE+ models with 370W or 740W of available PoE power; Perpetual PoE keeps PoE+ power during a switch reload	cisco.com
Stacking	FlexStack-Plus: up to eight 2960-X/2960-XR switches; 80 Gbps stack bandwidth (2960-XR IP Lite)	cisco.com
Power supplies	Field-replaceable modular power supply with room for a second; dual redundant power supplies supported. PSU part numbers listed for 2960-XR: PWR-C2-250WAC, PWR-C2-640WAC, PWR-C2-1025WAC	cisco.com
Software	Available only with the Cisco IOS IP Lite feature set	cisco.com
Form factor	Height 1.75 in (4.45 cm); 1RU rack-mount kits listed	cisco.com

Extend or refresh the Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR?

Keeping 2960-XRs in service until October 2027 is a reasonable plan while Cisco's security support lasts. Switches that missed the October 2023 attachment deadline cannot join a Cisco contract; for those, an alternative to Cisco SmartNet can provide hardware cover, while switches already on contract have until 29 January 2027 to renew.

The calculation changes after 31 October 2027, when Cisco stops analysing or fixing vulnerabilities for the XR. EOL13602 names Catalyst 9200 switches as replacements (C9200-24P, C9200-24T, C9200-48P, C9200-48T and C9200-48PL), and Cisco's support page also suggests the Catalyst 9200 Series; Catalyst 9200 end of life shows where that line stands. Budgeting the change during 2027 lets replacements land before security support ends rather than after it, and a stack can be moved as a unit instead of member by member as switches fail.

Cisco's support page gives two different end-of-support dates: 31-OCT-2027 in the product details and October 31, 2026 in the Supported Models section. Use the amended bulletin's 2027-10-31, and expect some third-party trackers to show 2026. (cisco.com)
Uncovered units can no longer be added to a Cisco contract (End of New Service Attachment 2023-10-31). Existing contracts can be renewed until 2027-01-29. (cisco.com)
EOL13602 also ends PWR-C2-250WAC(/2) and the C2KXR-PWR-450WAC, -450WDC, -60WAC and -835WAC 'FRU Power Supply and Fan for C2960-XR Series' units (and spares), each with 'There is currently no replacement product available for this product.' PWR-C2-640WAC and PWR-C2-1025WAC are not listed in the bulletin. (cisco.com)
Cisco's support page suggests the Catalyst 9200 Series. (cisco.com)

Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR: what came before and what replaces it

The successor shown is the one the vendor names in its own end-of-life notice. No predecessor is shown because none could be sourced.

Keep your Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR 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 →

Although it sits in the 2960-X / 2960-XR family, the 2960-XR, released on 28 June 2013 and sold only with IOS IP Lite, takes its dates from its own bulletin, EOL13602. An estate that also runs 2960-X switches should compare the two on the Catalyst 2960-X end of life page before planning a single refresh for both.

Where the Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR 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 Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR

Is the Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR end of life?

It is end of sale, not yet end of support. Cisco stopped selling the 2960-XR on 31 October 2022, and its amended bulletin EOL13602 sets the Last Date of Support at 31 October 2027.

Is 2960-XR end of support in October 2026 or October 2027?

Cisco's amended bulletin EOL13602 gives 31 October 2027, and the product-details block on Cisco's support page agrees. The Supported Models section of that same page says October 31, 2026, and some third-party trackers may show 2026; plan against the bulletin's 2027 date.

Can I still download firmware for the 2960-XR?

Software updates are a Cisco contract entitlement. Bug-fix releases ended on 31 October 2023, though Cisco may release planned security remedies until 31 October 2027. Without a contract, Cisco TAC decides free updates case by case when you cite the advisory URL, typically only for Critical- and High-severity vulnerabilities.

What replaces the Catalyst 2960-XR?

EOL13602 names Catalyst 9200 switches: the C9200-24P, C9200-24T, C9200-48P, C9200-48T and C9200-48PL. Cisco's support page also suggests the Catalyst 9200 Series.

Can I add a 2960-XR to a Cisco support contract now?

Not if it is currently uncovered: End of New Service Attachment was 31 October 2023. A switch already on contract can be renewed until 29 January 2027. For uncovered units, a quote for third-party hardware maintenance can be requested instead; such cover generally includes diagnosis, replacement parts and engineers.

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.

Cisco EOL13602 (Amended, updated 31 Jul 2025): End-of-Sale and End-of-Life Announcement for the Cisco Catalyst 2960XR Product Family EOS — cisco.com
Cisco Catalyst 2960-XR release — cisco.com
Cisco Support (rebrand of Smart Net Total Care, effective 15 June 2025) — cisco.com
sec.cloudapps.cisco.com — sec.cloudapps.cisco.com
cisco.com — cisco.com

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