The Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series is Cisco's enhanced modular chassis family for enterprise core and aggregation networks, built in 3, 4, 6, 9, 9-slot vertical and 13-slot versions. Our Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series category lists six chassis. This guide covers chassis sizes, supervisors, line cards, power, IOS feature sets and Cisco's support dates, so you can match a spare to the switch you already run.
Short answer: Pick the chassis with the same slot count, power supplies and airflow as the one you are replacing, then match the supervisor: Supervisor Engine 2T or 6T. Cisco support for every 6500-E chassis has ended, so buy 6500-E hardware as spares or to extend an existing core, and plan new builds on the Catalyst 9400 or 9600.
Which Catalyst 6500-E chassis should you choose?
Choose by slot count and rack space. The 6503-E and 6504-E suit small cores or distribution blocks, the 6506-E and 6509-E are the common campus core sizes, and the 6513-E gives the most line card slots. Count the supervisor slots too, because two of the chassis slots go to supervisors in a redundant build.
| Chassis | On our site | Slots and height (Cisco) | Cisco Last Date of Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst 6503-E | WS-C6503-E | 3 slots, 4RU | April 30, 2024 |
| Catalyst 6504-E | WS-C6504-E | 4 slots, 5RU | April 30, 2024 |
| Catalyst 6506-E | WS-C6506-E, WS-C6506-E-RF | 6 slots, 11RU | October 31, 2025 |
| Catalyst 6509-E | WS-C6509-E-RF | 9 slots, 14RU | October 31, 2025 |
| Catalyst 6509-V-E | Not currently listed | 9 slots, 21RU | October 31, 2025 |
| Catalyst 6513-E | WS-C6513-E | 13 slots, 19RU | October 31, 2025 |
Cisco sells every 6500-E chassis without power supplies or a fan tray, so plan those separately. The -RF suffix marks a refurbished unit. Cisco rates all six chassis for 0 to 40°C operating temperature.
Which supervisor engine fits a 6500-E chassis?
Two supervisor families fit every 6500-E chassis: Supervisor Engine 2T and Supervisor Engine 6T. Supervisor Engine 2T is the native 6500-E supervisor, and Supervisor Engine 6T is the newer Catalyst 6800 supervisor that also runs in 6500-E chassis. Older chassis estates may still run Supervisor Engine 720 or 32, which Cisco also lists for these chassis.
The supervisor sits in fixed slots: slots 1 and 2 in the 6503-E and 6504-E, slots 5 and 6 in the 6506-E, 6509-E and 6509-V-E, and slots 7 and 8 in the 6513-E. Plan the same supervisor model for both members of a redundant or VSS pair.
- Supervisor Engine 2T: the VS-S2T-10G-XL and the VS-S2T-10G have a 2-Terabit switch fabric for up to 80 Gbps per slot, with two 10G X2 and three Gigabit SFP uplinks. The XL version holds up to 1024K IPv4 routes against 256K on the standard model.
- Supervisor Engine 6T: the C6800-SUP6T-XL has a 6-Tbps switch fabric, eight 1/10G SFP+ uplinks and two 40G QSFP uplinks. Cisco lists no service modules for it, so keep Supervisor Engine 2T if your chassis runs a firewall, wireless or network analysis module.
Both families support Virtual Switching System (VSS), which joins two chassis into one logical switch. With Supervisor Engine 2T, Cisco rates a 6513-E at 2 Tbps and a VSS pair at 4 Tbps.
Which line cards work with Supervisor Engine 2T and 6T?
The WS-X68xx and WS-X69xx cards built for these supervisors work with both, because each carries a DFC4 or DFC4XL forwarding card. Older 67xx cards need a matching forwarding card, so check what is installed on each card before you mix generations in one chassis.
The 6800-series Gigabit cards include the WS-X6824-SFP-2T, a 24-port Gigabit SFP fiber card, along with 48-port SFP and 48-port copper versions. The WS-X6816-10G-2TXL adds 16 10G ports that take X2 optics, and the WS-X6908-10G-2T and WS-X6904-40G-2T carry 10G and 40G links. Cisco allows the WS-X68xx cards in any slot of the smaller chassis and in slots 1 to 6 and 9 to 13 of the 6513-E.
With Supervisor Engine 2T, the WS-X6748-GE-TX, the WS-X6704-10GE and the other 67xx cards run with a centralized forwarding card (CFC) or a DFC4 upgrade. Supervisor Engine 6T lists those cards only with a DFC4 or DFC4XL upgrade.
What power and airflow does a 6500-E chassis need?
Each chassis takes its own power supply range, so match the supplies to the chassis rather than to the switch you are replacing. The 6503-E takes the 1400W AC supply, the 6504-E takes the 2700W supply, and the larger chassis take 3000W, 4000W, 6000W or 8700W AC supplies or DC supplies.
For the 6506-E, 6509-E, 6509-V-E and 6513-E, Cisco lists AC supplies such as the 3000W WS-CAC-3000W-RF and the 6000W WS-CAC-6000W-RF, both refurbished, the 4000W WS-CAC-4000W-US and the 8700W Enhanced supply. Add up supervisor and line card power before you choose a size, and install two supplies for redundancy. Cisco supports AC and DC mixing in one chassis.
Airflow is side to side on every chassis except the 6509-V-E, which uses front-to-back airflow for hot-aisle and cold-aisle rooms. Leave clear space at both sides of a side-to-side chassis. The 6509-V-E has redundant, hot-swappable fan trays; the other chassis use one hot-swappable fan tray.
Which IOS feature set does a 6500-E supervisor need?
The feature set belongs to the supervisor's Cisco IOS image, not to the chassis. Supervisor Engine 2T runs IP Base, IP Services, Advanced IP Services or Advanced Enterprise Services. Supervisor Engine 6T runs IP Services or Advanced Enterprise Services. Confirm the image on any supervisor you buy, because it decides the routing features on day one.
Cisco sold its Supervisor Engine 2T chassis bundles with IP Services only. Ask for the show version output with your quote, so the replacement supervisor matches the image and release your core runs.
What support dates and upgrade path should you plan around?
Cisco support for the Catalyst 6500-E has ended. The 6503-E and 6504-E reached end of sale on April 30, 2019 and their Last Date of Support on April 30, 2024. The 6506-E, 6509-E, 6509-V-E, 6513-E and Supervisor Engine 2T reached end of sale on October 30, 2020 and their Last Date of Support on October 31, 2025.
Software maintenance releases for the larger chassis and Supervisor Engine 2T ended on October 30, 2021, so keep the IOS release your core has validated and hold spares on the shelf. Supervisor Engine 6T is covered by Cisco's Catalyst 6807-XL bulletin, with a Last Date of Support of April 30, 2027.
Cisco names the C9606R Catalyst 9600 chassis as the replacement for the 6506-E and the Cisco C9610 Series chassis for the 6509-E, 6509-V-E and 6513-E. For the 6503-E and 6504-E, Cisco points to the Catalyst 9400 or Catalyst 6800. Browse the Cisco Catalyst 9600 Switches category for new cores, and see our Cisco Catalyst 6800 buying guide if you also run a 6807-XL.
What should a Catalyst 6500-E RFQ include?
- Chassis: part number, slot count and how many spares you need.
- Supervisor: Supervisor Engine 2T or 6T, standard or XL, and whether it runs in a redundant or VSS pair.
- IOS image: the feature set and release from show version.
- Line cards: each card part number and its forwarding card (CFC, DFC4 or DFC4XL).
- Service modules: any firewall, wireless or network analysis module in the chassis.
- Power: AC or DC, the wattage and the number of supplies.
- Fan tray: one for each chassis, since Cisco ships the chassis without one.
- Optics: the SFP, SFP+, X2 or QSFP optic for each uplink, by fiber type and distance.
Catalyst 6500-E FAQ
Which supervisor engines work in a Catalyst 6500-E chassis?
Supervisor Engine 2T (VS-S2T-10G and VS-S2T-10G-XL) and Supervisor Engine 6T (C6800-SUP6T-RF and C6800-SUP6T-XL) both fit every 6500-E chassis. Cisco also lists Supervisor Engine 720 and 32 for these chassis. Supervisor Engine 6T supports no service modules.
What is the difference between the 6509-E and the 6509-V-E?
Both have nine slots. The 6509-E is 14RU with side-to-side airflow and one fan tray. The 6509-V-E is 21RU, with front-to-back airflow for hot-aisle and cold-aisle rooms and redundant, hot-swappable fan trays.
When did Cisco support end for the Catalyst 6500-E?
The 6503-E and 6504-E reached their Last Date of Support on April 30, 2024. The 6506-E, 6509-E, 6509-V-E, 6513-E and Supervisor Engine 2T reached theirs on October 31, 2025. Supervisor Engine 6T follows the Catalyst 6807-XL bulletin, with support until April 30, 2027.
Which IOS feature sets does Supervisor Engine 2T support?
Supervisor Engine 2T runs IP Base, IP Services, Advanced IP Services or Advanced Enterprise Services. Supervisor Engine 6T runs IP Services or Advanced Enterprise Services. Confirm the image installed on each supervisor before you order.
Does a Catalyst 6500-E chassis include power supplies and a fan tray?
No. Cisco sells each 6500-E chassis without power supplies or a fan tray. The 6503-E takes 1400W AC supplies, the 6504-E takes 2700W supplies, and the larger chassis take 3000W to 8700W AC supplies or DC supplies.
What replaces a Catalyst 6500-E in a new design?
Cisco names the C9606R Catalyst 9600 chassis as the replacement for the 6506-E and the Cisco C9610 Series chassis for the 6509-E, 6509-V-E and 6513-E. For the 6503-E and 6504-E, Cisco points to the Catalyst 9400 or the Catalyst 6800.
About this guide
Prepared by M&F Collaboration, a B2B reseller of Cisco networking, collaboration, power, and UCS hardware based in West Chicago, Illinois. Chassis, supervisor, line card, power, software and lifecycle details were checked against Cisco's Catalyst 6500-E data sheets, supervisor engine data sheets and end-of-life bulletins. When a marketplace listing title disagrees with Cisco's data sheet, we follow the data sheet.
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