Cisco Manufacture Date Lookup by Serial Number

How to read a Cisco serial number

Most modern Cisco hardware, including Catalyst switches and ISR routers, uses an 11-character serial number in the format LLLYYWWSSSS:

To get the year, add the year code to 1996. A year code of 08 means 2004, 22 means 2018 and 30 means 2026. The week code tells you when in that year the unit was built: week 12 is March, week 30 is late July and week 48 is late November.

Example: FOC2212X1AB has factory code FOC, year code 22 (1996 + 22 = 2018) and week 12, so it was built in March 2018.

Cisco doesn't publish a complete list of factory codes, so the tool shows the code as it appears rather than guessing a location.

Where to find the serial number

• On the device: a label on the chassis, usually on the rear panel or underside. The original box label shows it too.
• From the CLI: show version shows the chassis serial, listed as "System serial number" on Catalyst switches and "Processor board ID" on many routers.
• For every component: show inventory lists each part the device can identify, including the chassis, power supplies, modules and transceivers, with a serial for each.

You can paste the full output of either command straight into the tool. It picks out the serials and part numbers for you.

What the build date does and doesn't tell you

• It is the build date only. It isn't the purchase date, warranty start date or support contract status. Those depend on when and how the unit was bought and what contract covers it.
• It doesn't tell you end-of-life status. Cisco sets end-of-sale and end-of-support dates per model, so a recently built unit can still be an end-of-life model.
• Meraki serials don't include a date code. They start with Q and are grouped in fours (Q2XX-XXXX-XXXX).
• Some products use other formats. Certain cable modems and older product lines don't follow the 11-character format. The tool flags these rather than returning a wrong date.

Why the manufacture date is worth checking

• Buying used: know exactly how old a unit is before it goes into your network.
• Auditing a site or fleet: paste show inventory output from each device to see the age of every switch, power supply and optic in one table, then download it as a CSV.
• Planning a refresh: find the oldest hardware first and budget around it.
• Selling or trading in: model, condition and age are the first things a buyer asks for.

Selling, trading in or replacing older Cisco hardware

XS Network Tech buys new, used and end-of-life networking hardware. Send us a list of what you have and we'll come back with an offer within 24 hours, paid by EFT or as trade credit toward your next order. Pickup can be arranged Australia-wide. See how it works on our Sell to Us page, or read what to do with old network hardware.

Need a replacement or spare? We stock new and used Cisco, including end-of-life models that are hard to find through standard distribution. Every used unit is tested in-house and carries a 12-month XS Network Tech warranty. Read how we test used hardware, browse Cisco switches and Cisco routers, or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the manufacture date of a Cisco switch?

Get the 11-character serial from the label, show version or show inventory. Characters 4 and 5 are the year code: add 1996 to get the year. Characters 6 and 7 are the week. Or paste the serial into the tool above.

Does this work for Meraki hardware?

No. Meraki serials don't contain a date code, so the tool flags them instead of returning a date.

Is the manufacture date the same as the warranty start date?

No. The serial only tells you when the unit was built. Warranty and support coverage depend on the purchase and any service contract on the device.

Can I check a whole stack or site at once?

Yes. Paste a list of serials, or the show inventory output from each device. The tool returns a table you can copy or download as a CSV, with the oldest unit called out.

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