If you’re a network administrator, you’ve probably been in this situation before: a critical piece of network equipment suddenly fails, and you can’t get replacement parts or technical support anywhere. This is exactly what happens when you miss those crucial EOS (End of Sale) and EOL (End of Life) deadlines.
If you’re running CISCO equipment, knowing which products are approaching end-of-support in 2025 and when you need to plan replacements is absolutely essential. Today, I’m going to walk you through a comprehensive overview of CISCO’s major network equipment EOS/EOL status to help you avoid getting caught off guard.
1. Understanding CISCO’s EOS/EOL Policy
First, let’s get familiar with CISCO’s product lifecycle policy. According to CISCO’s official EOS/EOL policy, all products go through the following stages:
Key Milestones and Definitions
| Stage | Description | Support Duration |
|---|---|---|
| EOS (End of Sale) | Product sales discontinuation | 6 months advance notice |
| Last Customer Ship Date | Final shipment date | 3 months after EOS |
| EOS Date | Technical support termination | Hardware: 5 years after EOS |
| LDOS (Last Day of Support) | Final support end date | Software: 2 years after EOS |
Understanding this policy helps you plan equipment replacements at the right time and avoid unexpected service disruptions.
2. Switch EOS/EOL Status
2-1. Catalyst Series Switches
Many models in CISCO’s flagship Catalyst switch family have already reached or are approaching their EOS/EOL dates.
Major Models Already at EOS/EOL
| Product Family | Key Models | EOS Date | LDOS Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst 6500 Series | 6513-E, 6509-E, 6506-E | 2022-2025 | 2027-2030 | Data center core switches |
| Catalyst 4500 Series | 4510R, 4507R+E, 4500-X | 2020-2023 | 2025-2028 | Enterprise distribution switches |
| Catalyst 3850 Series | All models | 2021-2024 | 2026-2029 | Access layer switches |
| Catalyst 3750-X Series | All models | 2019-2022 | 2024-2027 | SMB backbone |
| Catalyst 2960-X Series | All models | 2020-2023 | 2025-2028 | Entry-level switches |
Currently Supported Models
- Catalyst 9000 Series: CISCO’s current flagship switch lineup
- Catalyst 1000 Series: Latest models for smaller environments
- Catalyst Digital Building Series: Specialized for IoT environments
2-2. Nexus Series Data Center Switches
| Product Family | EOS Status | Recommended Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Nexus 5000 Series | Mostly EOS complete | Nexus 9000 Series |
| Nexus 6000 Series | EOS complete | Nexus 9000 Series |
| Nexus 7000 Series | Some models EOS | Nexus 9000 Series |
| Nexus 3000 Series | Legacy models EOS | New Nexus 3000 Series |
3. Router EOS/EOL Status
3-1. ISR (Integrated Services Router) Series
CISCO’s integrated service routers are also going through active generational changes.
Major EOS/EOL Completed Models
| Product Family | Key Models | EOS Date | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISR 800 Series | 860VAE, 890G | 2020-2022 | Support ending soon |
| ISR 1800 Series | 1841, 1810 | 2017-2019 | Support ended |
| ISR 2800 Series | 2811, 2821, 2851 | 2016-2018 | Support ended |
| ISR 3800 Series | Legacy models | 2019-2021 | Support ended |
Currently Supported Routers
- ISR 1000 Series: Active models for small branch offices
- ISR 4000 Series: Main enterprise branch router family
- ASR 1000/9000 Series: Service provider grade
3-2. ASR (Aggregation Services Router) Series
| Model | EOS Date | Expected LDOS | Recommended Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASR 9000 v1 Legacy | 2020-2022 | 2025-2027 | ASR 9000 v2 |
| ASR 1000 Legacy | 2019-2021 | 2024-2026 | New ASR 1000 |
4. Firewall and Security Equipment EOS/EOL Status
4-1. ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance) Series
The firewall product family is experiencing the biggest changes right now. As of 2025, most of the ASA 5500-X series have reached EOS.
Critical EOS/EOL Timeline
| Product | EOS Date | LDOS Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASA 5505 | Aug 2017 | Aug 2022 | Support ended |
| ASA 5512-X, 5515-X | Apr 2019 | Apr 2024 | Support ended |
| ASA 5508-X, 5516-X | Aug 2021 | Aug 2026 | Support ending soon |
| ASA 5525-X, 5545-X, 5555-X | Mar 2022 | Mar 2027 | Currently supported |
| ASA 5585-X | Dec 2017 | Dec 2022 | Support ended |
⚠️ Important Notice: If you’re still running ASA 5500-X series, you absolutely must have replacement plans in place by 2026-2027.
4-2. Recommended Migration Paths
CISCO provides the following migration paths for ASA 5500-X series users:
| Legacy Model | Recommended Replacement | Features |
|---|---|---|
| ASA 5508-X | FPR-1010 | Same ASA image support |
| ASA 5516-X | FPR-1120/1140 | Enhanced performance, FTD support |
| ASA 5525-X | FPR-2110 | Next-gen threat defense capabilities |
| ASA 5545-X | FPR-2130/2140 | High-performance processing |
| ASA 5555-X | FPR-4110/4120 | Enterprise-grade performance |
4-3. Firepower Series Status
| Product Family | Current Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FPR 1000 Series | Active model | ASA/FTD dual support |
| FPR 2100 Series | EOS Mar 2025 | Replacement needed |
| FPR 4100 Series | Active model | Enterprise-grade |
| FPR 9300 Series | Active model | Data center grade |
5. VPN and Wireless Equipment EOS/EOL
5-1. VPN-Related Equipment
| Product | EOS Date | Current Status | Replacement Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASA 5500 SSL VPN Licenses | 2022 | Support ended | AnyConnect migration |
| ISR G2 VPN Modules | 2020-2022 | Support ended | ISR 4000 Series |
5-2. Wireless Equipment
- Catalyst 9800 Series: Current flagship wireless controllers
- Legacy WLC 5500/8500 Series: Mostly EOS complete
6. Replacement Planning Guide for IT Professionals
6-1. Priority by Urgency
🔴 Immediate Replacement Required (Within 2025)
- ASA 5505, 5512-X, 5515-X (already end of support)
- Some Catalyst 2960-X models
- ISR 800/1800/2800 Series
🟡 Plan Replacement by 2026
- ASA 5508-X, 5516-X
- Catalyst 3850 Series
- Legacy Nexus 5000/6000 Series
🟢 Review After 2027
- ASA 5525-X, 5545-X, 5555-X
- Some Catalyst 6500 Series
Managing network equipment EOS/EOL isn’t just about replacing hardware. It’s directly connected to real operational risks like discontinued security patches, ended technical support, and stopped parts supply. Especially in 2025, with CISCO ASA 5500-X series and many Catalyst switches approaching end-of-support, not preparing in advance could mean unexpected costs and downtime. I hope this guide helps keep your network infrastructure running smoothly and reliably. 🙂