Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers End-of-Life & EOSL Dates
The Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers is a hardware in Cisco's 5500 product line. End-of-sale and end-of-service-life dates are listed by part number below, each linked to the Cisco EOL bulletin.
Every tracked Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers SKU group is past Cisco end of service life (last group Jan 2025). Units in production should be treated as unsupported. For past-EOSL units, weigh third-party maintenance, spares, replacement, or a documented run-to-failure. Cisco’s named migration path: 3 successor part numbers.
End of sale
May 2018 – Dec 2021
End of security support
Jul 2021 – Jan 2025
Last date of support
Jul 2023 – Jan 2025
Part numbers
53
22
months since the last part number lost support
Why this score
- Past end of service life: the first part numbers 40 months ago, the last 22 months ago
- Vendor-published date, source-linked
- Vendor-named replacement / migration path available
- Category: hardware
Support-lifecycle timing and source confidence only. Higher means more runway. It is not a risk, safety or compliance rating. How it is calculated
Part numbers in this family
Dates vary across 2 groups in this family, so every row carries its own. Find your exact part before you plan.
| Part number | End of sale | End of security support | Last date of support | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR-5540-AC-750W | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | |
| AIR-CT5520-CA-K9 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | |
| AIR-CT5520-50-K9 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller supporting 50 APs w/rack kit |
| AIR-CT5520-K9 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller w/rack mounting kit |
| AIR-CT5520-K9-PM | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller w/rack mounting kit |
| C1-AIR-CT5520-K9 | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | Cisco ONE - 5520 Wireless Controller w/rack mounting kit |
| LIC-CT5520-1AP-INT | Dec 2021 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | Past support | Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller 1 AP Lic integrated with AP |
| PROMOCT5508-1-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | |
| AIR-5508H-500-2PK | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | |
| AIR-CT5508-500-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | |
| AIR-5508H-HA-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr for HA, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT100-1140A30 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n FCC Cfg5508-100 30AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT100-1140E30 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n ETSI Cfg5508-100 30AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT12-1140A5 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n FCC Cfg5508-12 5AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT12-1140E5 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n ETSI Cfg5508-12 5AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT25-1140A10 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n FCC Cfg5508-25 10AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT25-1140E10 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n ETSI Cfg5508-25 10AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT50-1140A20 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 802.11a/g/n FCC Cfg5508-50 20AP WCS Demo Promo ends 8/1/10 |
| AIR-CT5500-RK-MNT | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Rack Mounting Kit for the Cisco 5500 Wireless Controller |
| AIR-CT5508-100-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 100 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-100-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 100 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-100K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 100 AP (TAA) |
| AIR-CT5508-100PROM | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Wireless Controller w/ 100 AP Lic and Promo 100 IOS Lic |
| AIR-CT5508-12-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 12 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-12-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 12 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-12PROM | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Wireless Controller w/ 12 AP Lic. and Promo 12 IOS Lic. |
| AIR-CT5508-25-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 25 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-25-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 25 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-250-2PK | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 2x 5508 WLC Promo Ends 12/24/10 min 150x AP-3500 to qualify |
| AIR-CT5508-250-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 250 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-250-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 250 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-250K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 250 AP (TAA) |
| AIR-CT5508-25PROM | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Wireless Controller w/ 25 AP Lic. and Promo 25 IOS Lic. |
| AIR-CT5508-50-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 50 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-50-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 50 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-500-2PK | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 2x AIR-CT5508-500-K9 |
| AIR-CT5508-500-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller for up to 500 APs |
| AIR-CT5508-500K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for up to 500 AP (TAA) |
| AIR-CT5508-50PROM | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Wireless Controller w/ 50 AP Lic. and Promo 50 IOS Lic. |
| AIR-CT5508-CA-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Series Controller with Zero AP count. For RMAs only |
| AIR-CT5508-CALPEK9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 5508 Controller for Internal RMA use (0 AP Lic - NO DTLS ) |
| AIR-CT5508-HA-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for High Availability |
| AIR-CT5508-HA-K9Z | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Controller for High Availability |
| AIR-CT5508-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Base PID for Cisco 5508 Series Controller |
| AIR-CT5508FIPSKIT | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | AIR-CT5508 FIPS Kit |
| AIR-CT5508H-100-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr, up to 100 APs, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT5508H-250-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr, up to 250 APs, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT5508H-50-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr, up to 50 APs, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT5508H-500-2X | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | 2x AIR-CT5508-500-K9, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT5508H-500-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr, up to 500 APs, Hospitality |
| AIR-CT5508H-HA-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5508 Series Wireless Ctlr for HA, Hospitality |
| AIR-PWR-5500-AC | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controller Redundant Power Supply |
| C1-AIR-CT5508-K9 | May 2018 | Jul 2021 | Jul 2023 | Past support | Cisco ONE - 5500 series WLAN Controller w/ 0 AP lics |
Options from here
The Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers is past Cisco end of service life. These are the paths teams take from here:
Keep it in production past the OEM cutoff with an independent maintainer.
Buy spares now, while units still circulate on the secondary market. Current eBay listings for 5500 Series Wireless Controllers ↗
It is unsupported today. Set a migration timeline and budget.
Low-criticality role: document the risk, harden backups, retire on your terms.
Independent and informational. EOSL.ai sells no hardware and no maintenance, and lists no paid placements. Third-party maintenance keeps unsupported gear in production past the OEM cutoff; whether it fits depends on the role the asset plays.
5500 Series Wireless Controllers questions
Is the Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers end of life?
Yes. Every dated Series Wireless Controllers SKU group is past its last date of support.
What is the last date of support for the Series Wireless Controllers?
Last dates of support across Series Wireless Controllers SKU groups range from Jul 2023 to Jan 2025.
When does Cisco stop releasing security fixes for the Series Wireless Controllers?
Between Jul 2021 and Jan 2025, depending on the SKU group. That is the End of Vulnerability/Security Support date in the Cisco EOL bulletin: the last date Cisco may release a remedy for a security vulnerability in the hardware.
Where do these Series Wireless Controllers dates come from?
Every end-of-sale and end-of-service-life date on this page links to the official Cisco EOL bulletin it was taken from.
What is the replacement for the Series Wireless Controllers?
Cisco's end-of-life bulletin lists 3 successor part numbers as the recommended migration path for the Series Wireless Controllers. Exact per-part-number replacements are in the linked bulletin.