The Cisco Catalyst 2960C-12PC-L is a compact 12-port Fast Ethernet switch with a 124 W Power over Ethernet budget, 2 dual-purpose uplinks and the LAN Base software image. At 1.75 inches high, 10.6 inches wide and 9.4 inches deep it is built to sit outside a rack rather than inside one, essentially the reason the compact 2960-C line exists alongside the rack-width models.
Built for the places a rack does not reach
A standard rack-mount switch is 17.5 inches wide. This chassis is 10.6 inches wide and 9.4 inches deep, which is a little over half a rack width and shallow enough to sit on a shelf, inside a wall box, under a desk or in a classroom cabinet. That is the entire purpose of the compact line: to put managed switching where there is no rack and no room to install one.
The places that describes are common and awkward: a classroom with four wall points and a projector, a hotel floor cupboard, a reception desk, a small retail unit, a meeting room with a table box, a nurse station. In each of them the alternative to a compact switch is a long cable run back to a comms room, and a switch that fits locally is usually the cheaper and tidier answer.
| Specification | Catalyst 2960C-12PC-L |
|---|---|
| Part number | WS-C2960C-12PC-L |
| Access ports | 12 x 10/100 Fast Ethernet with PoE |
| PoE budget | 124 W combined |
| Uplinks | 2 dual-purpose, one port active per pair |
| Power supply | Internal, mains connected |
| Software image | LAN Base |
| Height | 1.75 in |
| Width | 10.6 in |
| Depth | 9.4 in |
What 124 W supports across 12 ports
The budget is 124 W shared across the twelve powered access ports. At the 15.4 W ceiling a standard Power over Ethernet endpoint may draw, that covers 8 ports at full class, and lower-draw devices such as desk telephones typically consume 6 to 8 W each, in which case all twelve fit comfortably inside the pool. As with any shared budget, the reliable planning method is to total the actual class draw of the devices going in.
Twelve powered ports in a compact chassis is a useful density for the rooms this switch is built for. A classroom with a wall-mounted access point, a document camera, an intercom and a telephone is well inside both the port count and the budget, with room for a handful of wired endpoints alongside them.
An internal power supply, which is worth noting on this line
This model carries its own internal power supply and connects to a mains outlet. That distinguishes it from the CPD models in the same compact family, which have no internal supply and draw their power over an uplink from an upstream PoE switch. When specifying a compact switch for a location with no convenient socket, that distinction is the first thing to check, and it is decided by the part number rather than by configuration.
Dual-purpose uplinks
The two uplinks are dual-purpose: each pair contains a copper Gigabit port and an SFP slot, with a single port active at a time. Two usable paths from four connectors. In a compact deployment the copper side is used far more often, since these switches are usually reached over structured cabling rather than fibre, but the SFP option means the same unit works where fibre has been pulled to a satellite building.
Where the 12PC-L sits in the compact 2960-C range
Across the compact models the variables are the port count, the access port speed and how the switch is powered. This one has the most ports and the only meaningful PoE budget.
| Model | Access ports | PoE budget | Power source | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2960C-12PC-L | 12 Fast Ethernet | 124 W | Internal supply | 9.4 in |
| 2960C-8TC-L | 8 Fast Ethernet | None | Internal supply | 8.4 in |
| 2960CG-8TC-L | 8 Gigabit | None | Internal supply | 8.4 in |
Where a full wiring closet needs powering rather than a single room, the Catalyst 2960S-48FPS-L is the rack-width answer with a 740 W budget. The current-generation counterpart for a managed access switch is a Catalyst 9300 24-port model, and the routing tier at a small site is typically a Cisco ISR 4321.
Support position for the compact line
No Cisco end-of-life notice for the Catalyst 2960-C compact line appears in our verified source set, so no lifecycle dates are published on this page. Every date carried elsewhere across our Catalyst 2960 pages is tied to a named Cisco announcement, and the same standard applies here even though it leaves the section without figures.
Check the exact part number against Cisco's own end-of-life listing before relying on the hardware for a fixed period. Dates published for the rack-width 2960 sub-series describe different products and should not be transferred to the compact models on the strength of the shared family name.
Condition, testing and what ships
Units are refurbished enterprise hardware carrying the original Cisco part number. Each is tested on receipt, then disassembled, cleaned, inventoried and returned to stock; on order it is rebuilt, configured and bench tested again before packing, with the powered ports and both uplink pairs exercised. Whole systems including this switch carry the 2-year Enterasource warranty, and delivery is free FedEx Ground to the lower 48 states.
Mounting hardware and SFP transceivers are separate line items unless quoted with the switch. Cisco software entitlement is not included and does not transfer with used hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a Catalyst 2960C-12PC-L?
It measures 1.75 inches high, 10.6 inches wide and 9.4 inches deep, which is a little over half the 17.5-inch width of a rack-mounted switch. That footprint is what allows it to be installed on a shelf, in a wall box, under a desk or inside a classroom cabinet where a full-width chassis would not fit and no rack exists to hold one.
How many devices can 124 W of PoE power on a 2960C-12PC-L?
Eight at the 15.4 W ceiling a standard Power over Ethernet endpoint may draw, from a shared 124 W pool across the twelve powered ports. Devices such as desk telephones commonly draw 6 to 8 W, in which case all twelve ports fit inside the budget. Total the actual class draws rather than dividing the pool by the maximum figure.
Does a Catalyst 2960C-12PC-L need a mains outlet?
Yes. This model has an internal power supply and connects to mains power. That separates it from the CPD models in the same compact family, which carry no internal supply and are powered over an uplink from an upstream PoE switch. If the installation point has no socket, the CPD models are the ones designed for that situation.
How many uplinks does a compact 2960C-12PC-L have?
Two usable paths, presented as two dual-purpose uplinks where each pair contains a copper Gigabit port and an SFP slot with one active at a time. Compact installations most often use the copper side, since these switches are usually reached over structured cabling, but the SFP option is available where fibre has been run to a satellite building.
What condition is a refurbished compact Catalyst 2960-C in?
Cleaned, tested and configured to the order. Every chassis is bench tested twice, once on receipt to prove the hardware and again after reassembly immediately before packing, with the powered ports and both uplink pairs checked. Because compact switches are frequently visible in the rooms they serve, cosmetic condition is graded carefully per unit and stated on that listing. The range is on the Cisco networking hardware page.
