Switches – 2950

Original state: 2950’s can use either an IOS called a standard image (SI) or enhanced image (EI). A particular 2950 model runs either SI or EI. An SI switch cannot be field upgraded to an EI switch. In other words, you need to choose the software before buying the switch. The intent of the original SI and EI images was to have a less expensive and less functional option (SI) and a slightly more expensive but more functional option (EI). The following links list the various models that run SI and EI images, respectively.

• 2950’s w/ SI image
• 2950’s with EI image

Current state: When researching 2950 IOS features in the past, I have personally seen cases in which the Cisco feature navigator claimed the SI image didn’t support a feature, but SI image switches actually did support the feature. In 2010, my latest search of the Feature Navigator implies that the SI and EI feature support has merged. I can imagine why Cisco might want to do that as the product matured. The graphic shows the images listed by the Cisco Feature Navigator for 2950s.

As such, it is ambiguous to me as to what features truly exist when the most recent versions of 2950 software are loaded into a switch originally intended as an SI switch versus an EI switch.