Guide
What replaces my old Cisco switch?
The Catalyst 2960-X, 3650 and 3850 are no longer sold, and support has ended or ends soon. Here is what Cisco names as successors, what is different – and the same for the Meraki MR access points that are being discontinued.
Side by side
Comparison
| Feature | Catalyst 9200L 48-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials) C9200L-48P-4G-E | Catalyst 9300L 48-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials) C9300L-48P-4G-E | Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE+ (Network Essentials) C9300-48P-E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ports | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| PoE budget (W) | 740 | 505 | 437 |
| Uplink | 4× SFP | 4× SFP | Network module selected separately (C9300-NM-…) |
| Management | CLI, Catalyst Center | CLI, Catalyst Center | CLI, Catalyst Center |
| Licence | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials/Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – choose it under Accessories and support (or let us add the right licence in the quote) | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials/Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – choose it when adding to the quote basket | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials or Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – Network Advantage models (-A) require Catalyst Advantage. Choose it on the product page or in the quote basket |
| Our price |
Our price
€3,725
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€5,304
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€7,167
excl. VAT · hardware
|
| Add |
All prices are maximum prices – the quote is never higher, and often lower for larger volumes. Prices are excl. VAT, shipping extra. How the maximum price works
Short answer
The Catalyst 2960-X is replaced by the Catalyst 9200L, and the Catalyst 3650 and 3850 by the Catalyst 9300 or 9300L. The Meraki MR36, MR44 and MR46 stop selling at the end of 2026; we recommend the CW9162I-MR, CW9164I-MR or a Wi-Fi 7 model. The biggest difference is the licence: the new switches require a Catalyst subscription.
Which models are affected?
The dates apply to the most common models according to Cisco's and Meraki's own lists. Each old part number has its own page with us, showing the dates, Cisco's successor and what is different.
| Old model | End of sale | Support until | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst 2960-X | 2022-10-31 | 2027-10-31 | Catalyst 9200L |
| Catalyst 3650 | 2021-10-31 | 2026-10-31 | Catalyst 9300 / 9300L |
| Catalyst 3850 | 2020-10-30 | 2025-10-31 (passed) | Catalyst 9300 |
| Meraki MR36, MR44, MR46 | 2026-12-31 | 2031-12-31 | CW9162I-MR, CW9164I-MR or Wi-Fi 7 |
Read more: All end-of-sale models
What is different about the new switches?
- Licence: the 2960-X, 3650 and 3850 had perpetual licences; the Catalyst 9200L and 9300 require a Catalyst subscription for 3, 5 or 7 years
- Stacking: the 2960-X used FlexStack-Plus, the 9200L uses StackWise-80 – old stacking cables do not fit
- Uplink modules: the 3850 modules (C3850-NM) do not fit the Catalyst 9300, which has its own C9300-NM modules
- WLAN controller: the 3650's built-in controller is gone – that function moves to a Catalyst 9800
Read more: Catalyst 9200 or 9300? · Uplink modules · How Cisco licensing works
What about the Meraki access points?
According to Meraki's list, the MR36, MR36H, MR44, MR46 and MR46E stop selling on 31 December 2026, with support until 31 December 2031. They will keep working for several years, but for new deployments or larger replacements a newer model is the better choice. The CW9162I-MR and CW9164I-MR are Wi-Fi 6E in Meraki mode; the Wi-Fi 7 models (CW917x) can run with both Meraki and Catalyst.
Read more: Which access point?
Can we buy support for the old units?
As long as Cisco's support date has not passed, support contracts and licences for existing units can be extended. After the last date of support there is no support at all, including security updates. Send the serial numbers and we will price it.
Conclusion
How we would choose
Common replacements:
Catalyst 9200L 48-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials)
Replaces the Catalyst 2960-X with 48 PoE+ ports – same port layout, fixed uplinks.
Catalyst 9300L 48-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials)
Replaces the Catalyst 3650 when fixed uplinks are enough.
Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE+ (Network Essentials)
Replaces the Catalyst 3850 or 3650 when you want modular uplinks and StackPower.
Catalyst 9162I WiFi 6E, 2x2 (Meraki)
Replaces the Meraki MR36 and MR44 in regular offices.
Frequently asked questions
Questions we often get
Do we have to replace the 2960-X now?
No, Cisco provides support until 31 October 2027. But new units can no longer be bought, so plan the replacement in good time – ideally when you rebuild anyway.
Can the new switches be stacked with the old ones?
No. The Catalyst 9200L and 9300 use different stacking cables and cannot be stacked with the 2960-X, 3650 or 3850. Replace a whole stack at a time.
Will our SFP modules work in the new switches?
Usually, if they are Cisco modules of the same speed. Send the part numbers and we will check them against Cisco's compatibility list.
What about 3850 switches that already have no support?
Support ended on 31 October 2025, so the units no longer receive security updates. We recommend replacing them with the Catalyst 9300.