Twenty-four 10/100 access ports, 2 SFP uplink slots at 1 Gbps, the LAN Base image and no Power over Ethernet describe the Cisco Catalyst 2960S-F24TS-L in a single line. It sits in the 2960-SF sub-series, the Fast Ethernet branch of the 2960-S generation rather than the Gigabit branch, consistently marked by that leading F wherever Cisco prints the full part number.
Reading the designation: F, T, S and L each carry a fact
Every letter in this model designation is doing work, and together they are the whole specification. The leading F marks the 2960-SF sub-series and means the access ports run at 10/100 rather than 10/100/1000. The T means the switch is data-only and sources no Power over Ethernet. The trailing S means the uplinks are 1G SFP slots rather than SFP+ ones. The final L means the software image is LAN Base rather than LAN Lite.
That last letter is the one with the widest consequences. LAN Base brings 255 active VLANs and, on this generation, it is the image that carries the stacking feature. A LAN Lite unit in the same sub-series would look almost identical on a purchase order and behave differently in a closet.
| Specification | Catalyst 2960S-F24TS-L |
|---|---|
| Access ports | 24 x 10/100 Fast Ethernet |
| Power over Ethernet | None |
| Uplinks | 2 x SFP, 1 Gbps |
| Software image | LAN Base |
| Active VLANs | 255 |
| Flash / DRAM | 64 MB / 128 MB |
| Stacking | FlexStack, optional module, 20 Gbps |
| Rack height | 1U, 1.75 x 17.5 x 15.2 in |
The 255 active VLANs, the 64 MB of flash and the 128 MB of DRAM are LAN Base figures for this generation, and they apply equally to the Gigabit members of the sub-series. What separates this switch from those is the 24 Fast Ethernet ports and the 2 SFP uplink slots.
Where a data-only Fast Ethernet switch still earns its place
A 100 Mbps access port is more than enough for a very large class of endpoints, and that class has not disappeared. Point-of-sale terminals, building management controllers, industrial panels, badge readers, printers and thin clients all sit far below 100 Mbps and will for their whole service life. Dropping both Gigabit and the PoE stage removes cost, heat and one more failure domain from a closet that never needed either.
The honest counterweight is that a Fast Ethernet access layer is a dead end for anything that grows. If the same ports will one day carry wireless backhaul, video or file transfer, this is not the switch to build on, and a Gigabit chassis costs little more to buy today.
There is a second, quieter argument for the data-only model that has nothing to do with bandwidth. A switch that sources no power has no PoE controller, no power budget to exhaust and no thermal load from powered ports, which makes it markedly easier to place in a cramped or poorly ventilated cabinet. In a communications room that is already warm, taking the power stage out of the equation is worth more than the specification sheet suggests.
Stacking, and why the L matters here
With a FlexStack module fitted this switch stacks at 20 Gbps with other 2960-S and 2960-SF LAN Base switches, and with a 2960-X LAN Base switch carrying a FlexStack-Plus module at a reduced 40 Gbps and four members. The module is optional and is not included with the chassis. Stacking is a LAN Base capability on this generation, which is why the final L in the designation is worth checking before a stack is planned around a used unit.
Where the F24TS-L sits in the 2960-SF range
Two variables separate the 24-port SF models from each other: whether they source power, and which software image they carry. This one is data-only on LAN Base, which is the middle position.
| Model | Access ports | PoE budget | Image | Stacking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2960S-F24TS-L | 24 Fast Ethernet | None | LAN Base | FlexStack |
| 2960S-F24TS-S | 24 Fast Ethernet | None | LAN Lite | Not offered |
| 2960S-F24PS-L | 24 Fast Ethernet | 370 W | LAN Base | FlexStack |
Where the closet needs Gigabit to the desk and 10 Gigabit out of it, the Catalyst 2960S-48FPD-L is the same generation built for that job. For a current-generation 24-port access switch the counterpart is a Catalyst 9300 24-port model, and a small site's routing usually sits on something like the Cisco ISR 4321.
Lifecycle and support horizon
Cisco's end-of-life notice EOL10043 covers this model along with the rest of the 2960-S and 2960-SF families. End-of-Sale was 6 November 2015, the Last Ship Date was 4 February 2016, End of Software Maintenance was 5 November 2016, End of Vulnerability and Security Support was 5 November 2018 and the Last Date of Support was 30 November 2020.
All of those dates are behind us, and the equivalent Catalyst 2960-X model is Cisco's published migration path. The practical position is that spares holding and third-party coverage replace a Cisco contract on this platform, which is exactly the arrangement most sites running Fast Ethernet closets already have in place.
Condition, testing and what ships
Units are refurbished enterprise hardware carrying the original Cisco part number, not equivalents or clones. Testing runs on receipt and again on despatch, with disassembly, cleaning, inventory, assembly and configuration in between. Whole systems including this switch carry the 2-year Enterasource warranty, and delivery is free FedEx Ground to the lower 48 states.
SFP transceivers, the FlexStack module and mounting hardware are separate lines unless quoted with the switch. Cisco software entitlement is not transferable with used hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the letters in the model designation 2960S-F24TS-L stand for?
Four separate facts. The leading F marks the 2960-SF sub-series and means 10/100 Fast Ethernet access ports. The T means data-only with no Power over Ethernet. The trailing S means the uplinks are 1G SFP slots rather than SFP+. The final L means the LAN Base software image rather than LAN Lite, which on this generation is also what makes the switch stackable.
Does a Catalyst 2960S-F24TS-L have any Gigabit ports?
Only the uplinks. The 2 SFP uplink slots run at 1 Gbps, while all 24 access ports on the front panel are 10/100 Fast Ethernet and will not negotiate higher. That combination is deliberate rather than accidental: the switch is designed to aggregate low-bandwidth endpoints and hand them off to a Gigabit distribution layer over fibre.
How many VLANs will a 2960S-F24TS-L carry?
Two hundred and fifty-five active VLANs, because it runs the LAN Base image. The LAN Lite variant of the same chassis is limited to 64 and cannot be upgraded to LAN Base afterwards, so the final letter of the designation decides that ceiling permanently at the point of purchase. LAN Base also carries the stacking feature on this hardware generation.
Can a 2960S-F24TS-L join an existing FlexStack?
Yes, with a FlexStack module fitted and provided the other members are 2960-S or 2960-SF switches on the LAN Base image. The stack runs at 20 Gbps and appears as a single logical switch with one configuration. The module is an optional part that is not supplied in the box, so a used chassis should be assumed not to have one unless the listing says otherwise.
What state is a refurbished 2960S-F24TS-L in when it arrives?
Tested, cleaned and configured to the order. The unit is bench tested twice, once on arrival to prove the hardware and once after reassembly immediately before packing. Cosmetic grading is recorded against the individual chassis and any defect appears on that unit's listing before it is offered rather than after it is delivered. The broader range is on the Cisco networking hardware page.
