Is Cisco Catalyst 2960 Still Worth It? EoL Status, Features, and Replacements
Selene Gong
The Cisco Catalyst 2960 series has officially reached its End-of-Life (EoL) and End-of-Support (EoS) status, meaning Cisco no longer provides security updates, technical support, or hardware replacement. While not recommended for production networks due to security risks and lack of vendor support, these switches can still offer value for homelabs and educational environments to practice Cisco IOS skills and basic network configurations at a low cost.
What Is the Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series?
The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series is a line of fixed-configuration, standalone campus LAN access switches released on September 18, 2005 to deliver Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for small to medium-sized networks. Models include Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities, LAN Base or LAN Lite software, and run on Cisco IOS, configured via CLI or Cisco Network Assistant.
Understanding Cisco Catalyst 2960 End-of-Life Status
Series Release: September 18, 2005
End-of-Sale: October 31, 2014
End-of-Support: October 31, 2019
The EoS status means no further security patches, bug fixes, or TAC support. Using the 2960 in production now poses compliance and security risks.
Key Features of Cisco Catalyst 2960
Shared Features (LAN Base & LAN Lite)
PoE Support: Simplifies deployments for IP phones and access points.
QoS: Supports traffic prioritization for essential applications.
CLI Management: Core Cisco IOS commands for VLANs, SSH, and security configurations.
LAN Base Enhancements
Gigabit Ports: Higher performance for demanding access layers.
Advanced Security: Enhanced ACLs and port security.
Redundant Power Options: Compatibility with Cisco RPS 2300.
Is Cisco Catalyst 2960 Worth It for Labs in 2025?
Yes, for homelabs and educational setups, Cisco Catalyst 2960 switches are still practical:
✅ Low-Cost Learning: Units often under $30 on secondary markets. ✅ Cisco IOS Practice: Train on VLANs, SSH, and ACL configurations. ✅ Basic Networking: Suitable for testing environments and device PoE power.
However, these benefits are only for non-production, learning environments due to security limitations.
Why Not Use Cisco 2960 in Production?
No Security Updates: Vulnerable to new exploits.
Outdated Speeds: Many models only offer 10/100 Mbps.
Limited PoE Standards: Lacks PoE+ or higher power delivery.
No IOS XE Support: Missing programmability and automation features found in newer models.
