For organizations that must retain Catalyst 3560 switches due to budget constraints or specific hardware requirements, mitigation strategies include:
(Invoking related search suggestions.)
This is a critical step. Use the verify command to generate an MD5 checksum of the file you copied and compare it to the official value provided in the software's README file on Cisco.com. c3560ipservicesk9mz1502se11bin top
Upload the existing IOS image to a TFTP server as a fallback option:
feature set. This is one of the highest tiers available for these switches, providing full Layer 3 routing capabilities. It includes everything in the IP Base image plus advanced protocols like: Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Policy-Based Routing (PBR). Multicast routing (PIM). Security (K9) For organizations that must retain Catalyst 3560 switches
This is the most important section of this article. — that means no security patches for over four years (as of 2026).
: Upgrading from IOS 15.0(2)SE11 to IOS XE 17.x requires a complete hardware refresh, as the 3560 platform cannot run IOS XE. Configuration migration tools, such as the Cisco Configuration Professional or manual translation of IOS CLI to IOS XE equivalents, are typically needed. This is one of the highest tiers available
In this post, we will break down this specific IOS image, explain what "IP Services" means for your network, discuss the hardware requirements, and provide a guide on how to safely upgrade your switch.
delete /force flash:/old-image.bin (if needed)
— this means no security patches for over four years.
Many original 3560s shipped with only 32 MB flash. This image requires 64 MB free flash before upgrade. Check with show version or dir flash: .