Thanks Garrett. So, what would a solution today look like? A 3800? A 2800? I'm not sure which current models can act as bridges and which cannot.  ... View more

Although it is NOT list on the EoS/EoL list found here:Cisco Unified IP Phone 7900 Series - End-of-Sale Models - Cisco I was able to fing this: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/collaboration-endpoints/unified-ip-phone-7940g/end_of_life_notice_c51-729487.html EoS notice says it should be orderable through the end of March but they probably depleted the remaining inventory earlier than expected. ... View more

Yes, I agree. I found this: https://communities.cisco.com/message/131717#131717 " You're right that the 4500E is being positioned as our modular answer to linecards.  With the 6500/6800s, the business units have been focusing on positioning these are Distribution & Core switches.  So no longer are they focusing on packing it with linecards. However, to address this more completely, we are introducing a new technology called "Catalyst Instant Access" where we can physically attach IA access switches to a 6500/6800, but have them act as logical switches or extensions.  Very similar to DC Campus FEX technology, but in the Campus, supports PoE+, inherits the features of the 6K, but all configurations are done on the 6k.  This simplifies the configuration (instead of configuring every access switch), simplifies management, and presents this as a new network design." The old EoS announcement located here http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps708/eol_c51-698807.pdf  used to say something in the migration options about 'if you need PoE, migrate to the 6800 Instant Access" but that wording seems to have mysteriously changed. It would appear that, while not abandoning the non-E 6500 completely, Cisco has decided to move away from providing access layer functionality on that chassis by removing options like PoE for endpoints (phones, access points, etc), thus stranding, or at best, putting many customers who are using the 6500 for access layer switching and need to add to it, in a very precarious position. Based on this observation and given the quote above, it looks like the days of using the Cat6500 for high denisity access layer switching may be over and Cisco is trying to reposition the 6K as a core/distribution switch only. It is ironic that the guidance given is to move away from the 6500 to the 4500 or 6800 platforms (other chassis based systems capable of high port densities). Which leads one to question "why can I do access layer in these two (2) chassis based systems but not in the third which we have been doing for 10+ years?" Sounds like a lot of customers will either need to start using new switches to take over these non-longer available functions or have to dramitically re-architect portions of their networks. Everybody loves unplanned crisis, right? Cisco will tell you the Cat6K isn't dead. But it leaves me wondering if its not on life support and if so, for how long? It seems to have been relegated to a 'speeds and feeds' type high density/high speed forwarding box with services. Its going to be hard to go back and tell customers using the 6K for haccess layer functionality "Well, way back then, you should have bought a 4K instead of a 6K." Not a good position to be in. Many chose the 6K over the 4K or 3K (stacked or standalone) for a reason. Some of those decisions were based on capabilities that existed years ago and those capabilities (or lack thereof) drove customers to pick the 6K for reasons that were relevant at the time. Regardless of the circumstances, there are now challenges for those customers who went with the 6K for access layer aggregration that aren't as in your face as "Project Keystone" non-E migration. This isn't really something I have heard spelled out specifically. It has been hinted at, eluded to and otherwise obscurely referrenced but maybe I was asleep at the switch when this was discussed. However, I have not heard anything called out by Cisco as saying "we will no longer support access layer functionality on the 6K" (but we will on the OTHER two chassis systems we offer). Weird. But at least it isn't dead........................................................ Not surprisingly, the website isn't up to date and has incorrect information. Most of the cards listed on the website TODAY are no longer available (see attached file taken today from the Cat6K Interfaces and Modules page found here:  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps708/products_relevant_interfaces_and_modules.html ... View more