How to read a Cisco EOL notice
Cisco publishes six or more milestone dates per notice. Here is what each one means for budget, security, and contract renewal.
The milestones that matter
End-of-Sale Date: the last day to order the part through normal channels.
End of SW Maintenance Releases: the last day bug fix releases are built for the platform.
End of Vulnerability/Security Support: the last day security fixes are published. This is usually the date that drives compliance conversations.
Last Date of Support: the final day any support contract can be used. After this, the OEM will not take the case.
Reading the fine print
Notices are scoped to specific part numbers, not product families. A Catalyst 9300-24P and a 9300-48U can carry different dates.
Service contract renewal is usually blocked in the final year before Last Date of Support, so plan a migration or a TPM transition at least twelve months out.
Working out what a renewal should cost? The calculator gives you a range in about a minute.
Open the TPM savings calculator