Cisco's Catalyst 2960X-48FPS-L is the 48-port PoE+ member of the 2960-X line: 48 Gigabit access ports sharing a 740 W PoE budget, 4 SFP uplink slots at 1 Gbps, the LAN Base image and a 1RU chassis. Against the 2960-S generation it replaced, the change that matters most of all is stack bandwidth, which rises from 20 Gbps to 80 Gbps with a supported member count of eight.
Ports, PoE budget and uplinks
All 48 access ports are 10/100/1000 and all of them can source IEEE 802.3at PoE+. The switch holds a 740 W combined budget, and Cisco's own figures for this model put the maximum at 24 ports drawing the full 30 W of PoE+ or 48 ports drawing the 15.4 W of standard PoE. Uplinks are 4 SFP slots at 1 Gbps, which is what the trailing S in the model designation denotes across the 2960-X sub-series.
| Specification | Catalyst 2960X-48FPS-L |
|---|---|
| Access ports | 48 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet |
| PoE budget | 740 W combined |
| Max ports at 30 W PoE+ | 24 |
| Max ports at 15.4 W PoE | 48 |
| Uplinks | 4 x SFP, 1 Gbps |
| Software image | LAN Base |
| Forwarding rate | 107.1 Mpps |
| Forwarding bandwidth | 108 Gbps |
| Switching bandwidth | 216 Gbps |
| Active VLANs | 1023 |
| Rack height | 1RU, 1.75 in |
Stacking: 80 Gbps, eight members, and what it will and will not join
FlexStack-Plus is the stacking technology on the 2960-X and it runs at 80 Gbps across a maximum of eight members on the LAN Base image. That is four times the 20 Gbps a 2960-S FlexStack reaches, and it is the clearest single argument for the newer generation. A separate FlexStack-Extended option exists for longer-distance and floor-to-floor stacking; it runs at 40 Gbps with the same eight-member ceiling.
Cross-generation stacking is supported in one direction and blocked in another, and the distinction is worth getting right before a purchase order goes out. FlexStack-Plus is backward compatible with FlexStack, so a 2960-X LAN Base switch fitted with a FlexStack-Plus module can be stacked with a 2960-S or 2960-SF LAN Base switch fitted with a FlexStack module. The mixed stack runs at 40 Gbps and is limited to four members. A 2960-XR cannot stack with a 2960-X in either direction.
| Stack members | Supported | Stack bandwidth | Member limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2960-X with 2960-X | Yes | 80 Gbps | 8 |
| 2960-X with 2960-S or 2960-SF | Yes | 40 Gbps | 4 |
| 2960-X with 2960-XR | No | Not applicable | Not applicable |
LAN Base on the 2960-X against LAN Lite
LAN Base is what this switch carries and it raises the VLAN ceiling to 1023 active VLANs with 108 Gbps of forwarding bandwidth. The LAN Lite variants in the same sub-series, identified by a trailing LL, are capped at 64 VLANs and 50 Gbps, take only 2 SFP uplinks, and do not stack at all. Because LAN Lite is not upgradeable to LAN Base on this hardware generation, the image chosen at purchase is the image the switch keeps.
Power redundancy
Redundant power on the 2960-X is external. Cisco supports the Redundant Power System 2300 for this series, and the switch itself has no second internal supply bay. The Catalyst 2960-XR is the sub-series that takes dual internal field-replaceable supplies, and that difference, not the calendar, is the real reason to specify an XR over an X where power resilience is a requirement.
Where the 2960X-48FPS-L sits in the range
Two decisions separate this model from its immediate neighbours: uplink media, and generation. Against the 48FPD-L the access layer is identical and only the uplinks change. Against the 2960-S the ports and PoE budget are identical and the stack fabric changes.
| Model | PoE budget | Uplinks | Stack bandwidth | Active VLANs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2960X-48FPS-L | 740 W | 4 x SFP, 1 Gbps | 80 Gbps | 1023 |
| 2960X-48FPD-L | 740 W | 2 x SFP+, 10 Gbps | 80 Gbps | 1023 |
| 2960S-48FPS-L | 740 W | 4 x SFP, 1 Gbps | 20 Gbps | 255 |
The Catalyst 2960X-48FPD-L is the 10G-uplink version of this switch. The Catalyst 2960S-48FPS-L is the previous generation with the same front panel, and it remains the right buy when the job is matching an installed 2960-S closet rather than starting a new one.
Lifecycle and support horizon
Cisco covered the Catalyst 2960-X product family in end-of-life notice EOL13603, and the dates in it are the reason this generation is worth buying refurbished rather than the one before it. End-of-Sale for the hardware was 31 October 2022 and the Last Ship Date was 30 January 2023, so Cisco no longer supplies new units. The Last Date of Support for the hardware is 31 October 2027, and End of Vulnerability and Security Support falls on the same date.
That gap is the whole refurbished case on this platform: Cisco stopped selling the hardware, Cisco keeps supporting it, and the only route to a unit in between is the secondary market. End of Service Contract Renewal is 29 January 2027, which is the date that matters if the plan is to place a Cisco contract on the switch rather than to self-spare it.
Condition, testing and what ships
Units are refurbished enterprise hardware bearing the original Cisco part number. Every switch is tested on receipt, then disassembled, cleaned, inventoried, picked, assembled, configured and tested again on the bench before it is packed. Whole systems including this switch carry the 2-year Enterasource warranty, and delivery is free FedEx Ground to the lower 48 states.
FlexStack-Plus modules, stacking cables and SFP transceivers are separate line items. Cisco software entitlement is not included and does not transfer with used hardware; the image on the unit is the image described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Catalyst 2960-X and the 2960-S?
Stack fabric and forwarding capacity, on an otherwise similar 48-port PoE front panel. FlexStack-Plus on the 2960-X runs at 80 Gbps across eight members against FlexStack at 20 Gbps on the 2960-S. Forwarding bandwidth rises from 88 Gbps to 108 Gbps and the active VLAN ceiling from 255 to 1023. The support horizon also differs sharply, which is covered in the lifecycle answer below.
How many devices can a Catalyst 2960X-48FPS-L power over PoE+?
Cisco's figures for this model give 24 ports at the full 30 W an IEEE 802.3at PoE+ device may draw, or 48 ports at the 15.4 W standard PoE class, from a 740 W shared budget. Mixed closets fall between those two numbers, so the correct planning method is to total the class draw of the endpoints being connected rather than assume the port count is the limit.
Can a Catalyst 2960-X stack with a 2960-S or a 2960-XR?
With a 2960-S or 2960-SF, yes. Cisco states that FlexStack-Plus is backward compatible with FlexStack, so a 2960-X LAN Base switch with a FlexStack-Plus module stacks with a 2960-S or 2960-SF LAN Base switch with a FlexStack module. The mixed stack drops to 40 Gbps and four members. With a 2960-XR, no, in either direction; the XR stacks only with other XR switches.
Which SFP modules does the Catalyst 2960-X take?
This model takes 4 SFP transceivers running at 1 Gbps, and the D variants of the same sub-series take 2 SFP+ transceivers running at 1 or 10 Gbps. Transceivers are not supplied with the switch. Specify the exact optic type, wavelength and reach against the fibre plant when the switch is quoted, so the uplinks arrive matched to the distribution layer rather than to an assumption about it.
Is the Catalyst 2960-X end of life?
It is end of sale but not end of support. Under Cisco notice EOL13603 the End-of-Sale date for the hardware was 31 October 2022 and the Last Ship Date was 30 January 2023, while the Last Date of Support and the End of Vulnerability and Security Support both fall on 31 October 2027. That combination is what makes a refurbished 2960-X a supportable purchase rather than a legacy one.
What condition and testing do your refurbished Catalyst 2960-X switches get?
Each unit arrives, is tested, and is then stripped, cleaned and returned to stock as a known-good chassis. On order it is reassembled to the requested specification, powered up, configured and bench tested a second time immediately before packing. Physical condition is recorded per unit and disclosed on the listing. The rest of the range sits on the Cisco networking hardware page.
