Why the 2960 keeps showing up in RFQs
The Catalyst 2960 series was Cisco's dominant access-layer switch for the better part of a decade, which means an enormous number of existing networks — especially in education, healthcare, and mid-size enterprise — still run it. When a port fails or a network needs to expand, the instinct is often to buy "the same switch" for consistency. That instinct made sense five years ago; it doesn't anymore.
The end-of-support problem
Cisco publishes End-of-Sale and End-of-Support dates for every product line. Most Catalyst 2960 SKUs have already passed End-of-Support, meaning Cisco no longer issues security patches, bug fixes, or TAC support for them — regardless of whether you have an active support contract. Running unpatched network infrastructure is a growing liability, particularly for anything handling regulated data or reachable from less-trusted network segments.
Before buying 2960 hardware for any reason, check the specific SKU's lifecycle status on Cisco's site — some very late-life 2960-X and 2960-XR models have support dates extending further than the original 2960/2960-S line, but all are on a clock.
What the Catalyst 1300 actually replaces
The Catalyst 1300 series is Cisco's current answer for the segment the 2960 and the older Small Business 300-series both used to serve: managed access switching for SMB and branch deployments, without the full IOS-XE licensing complexity of Catalyst 9000. It brings a genuinely modern web management interface, multi-gig uplinks on higher-port-count models, PoE++ support, and — critically — active firmware and security support.
For buyers who liked the 2960's simplicity and price point but need current security support and modern uplink speeds, the 1300 series is the direct, actively-supported successor.
Buying on FUSE
FUSE stocks the current Cisco Catalyst 1300 series across EU warehouses in Malta, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany. We do not recommend or stock end-of-support Catalyst 2960 hardware for new deployments.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Catalyst 2960 still supported?
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Most Catalyst 2960 SKUs have passed their official End-of-Support date, meaning Cisco no longer issues security patches or bug fixes for them, even with an active support contract. A small number of later 2960-X/2960-XR SKUs may have support extending slightly further — always check the specific SKU's published lifecycle dates before purchasing.
Can I still buy new Catalyst 2960 switches?
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New-in-box 2960 units are increasingly hard to source through official Cisco channels as the line reaches End-of-Sale; most availability now is refurbished or grey-market stock, which carries additional risk around counterfeit hardware and voided support eligibility.
Is Catalyst 1300 a direct replacement for 2960?
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Functionally yes for most access-layer use cases — similar port-density options, similar price positioning — with the added benefits of a modern management UI, multi-gig uplinks, and active security support that the 2960 no longer has.
Does Catalyst 1300 support stacking like 2960-X did?
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Catalyst 1300 does not offer the same hardware stacking as the 2960-X series; it supports standard link aggregation (LACP) for redundancy instead. For deployments requiring true hardware stacking, look at the Catalyst 9200 series.
What's the security risk of running end-of-support switches?
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Unpatched switches can accumulate known, publicly documented vulnerabilities over time with no vendor fix available, making them a growing target — particularly for anything with management interfaces reachable beyond a fully trusted internal network. This is a real, compounding risk, not a theoretical one.
Where can I buy Cisco Catalyst 1300 switches in the EU?
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FUSE stocks the current Cisco Catalyst 1300 series across EU warehouses in Malta, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany, with trade pricing for resellers and integrators.
Buy networking equipment on FUSE
Multi-warehouse EU stock from Malta, Poland, Netherlands, and Germany — with EU-resident technical support and trade pricing for resellers, integrators, and MSPs.