Cisco Switch 4500X License

Cisco Catalyst 4500X / 4500E Switch Licenses — LAN Base to Enterprise Services

Buy genuine Cisco Catalyst 4500X and 4500E switch license upgrades with instant e-delivery. The Cisco WS-C4500X (16/24/32-port 10GE) and WS-C4500E modular chassis are enterprise-class core/distribution switches using a three-tier right-to-use (RTU) licensing model: LAN Base → IP Base → Enterprise Services. Each upgrade license moves your switch to a higher feature tier permanently — no Smart Account, no annual renewal. All 5 SKUs are $30 each. For other Cisco platforms, see our Catalyst 3560-X licenses and ASR 1000 licenses.

LAN Base

L2 switching, basic QoS, 802.1X — foundational campus access features

IP Base

Static routing, RIP, EIGRP stub, HSRP/VRRP, basic IPv6 — mid-tier L3

Enterprise Services

OSPF, BGP, EIGRP (full), MPLS, VRF-Lite, PIM — complete L3 feature set

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The Cisco Catalyst 4500E and 4500X are enterprise-class modular and fixed-configuration switches designed for campus distribution, collapsed core, and data center top-of-rack deployments. The 4500E is a modular chassis supporting redundant supervisors and up to 848 Gbps switching capacity. The 4500X is a fixed 1RU 10GE/40GE switch available in 16-port, 24-port, and 32-port SFP+ variants with optional 8×10GE uplink modules.

Both platforms share the same three-tier IOS licensing model: LAN Base → IP Base → Enterprise Services. Upgrades are permanent right-to-use (RTU) licenses — buy once, activate once, and the switch runs that feature tier permanently. No Smart Account registration, no CSSM, no recurring fees.

Feature Tier Comparison

  • LAN Base (LB) — Layer 2 switching, VLANs, STP/RSTP/MSTP, basic QoS/ACLs, port security, 802.1X, DHCP snooping, IGMP snooping. Sufficient for pure L2 access roles.
  • IP Base (IP) — All LAN Base + static routing, RIP, EIGRP stub, HSRP/VRRP, policy-based routing, Flexible NetFlow, basic IPv6. Enables limited L3 at the distribution layer.
  • Enterprise Services (ES) — All IP Base + OSPF, BGP, EIGRP (full), PIM (sparse/dense/SSM), MPLS LDP, VRF-Lite, full IPv6 routing (OSPFv3, BGP+), advanced QoS (HQoS), NetFlow v9. Full L3 feature set for distribution/core/DC roles.
Find your upgrade license: select chassis + upgrade path:
Chassis
Upgrade path

Available Upgrade Paths 5 Licenses

4500E Modular Chassis — Platform-wide Licenses

Part number Upgrade path Key features gained
L-C4500E-LB-IP LB → IP Static routing · RIP · EIGRP stub · HSRP/VRRP · basic IPv6
L-C4500E-LB-ES LB → ES Everything: static routing → BGP + MPLS + VRF-Lite — full single-step upgrade
L-C4500E-IP-ES IP → ES OSPF · BGP · EIGRP (full) · PIM · MPLS · full IPv6 · VRF-Lite · NetFlow v9

4500X Fixed 10GE Switch

Part number Applies to Upgrade path Key features gained
L-C4500X-IP-ES 24-port / 32-port IP → ES OSPF · BGP · EIGRP (full) · PIM · MPLS · full IPv6 · VRF-Lite · NetFlow v9
L-C4500X-16P-IP-ES 16-port only IP → ES Same as above — specific SKU for WS-C4500X-16P variant

Frequently Asked Questions — 4500X / 4500E Licensing

What is the difference between Cisco 4500E and 4500X switch licensing?

Both platforms use the same three-tier IOS licensing model (LAN Base → IP Base → Enterprise Services), but the license SKUs are chassis-specific and not interchangeable:

  • 4500E (L-C4500E-xx) — Modular chassis with redundant supervisor support. Three upgrade paths available: LB→IP, LB→ES, IP→ES. All are platform-wide (not port-count-dependent).
  • 4500X (L-C4500X-xx) — Fixed 10GE switch. Two SKUs: the standard L-C4500X-IP-ES for 24/32-port models, and the L-C4500X-16P-IP-ES specifically for the 16-port WS-C4500X-16P variant.

Always verify your exact chassis model before ordering — a 4500E license will not activate on a 4500X and vice versa.

What features does Enterprise Services add over IP Base on 4500?

Enterprise Services (ES) is the full L3 feature set. Compared to IP Base, it adds:

  • Dynamic routing: OSPF (v2/v3), BGP (v4/v6+), EIGRP (full — not just stub)
  • Multicast: PIM sparse/dense/SSM, MSDP, IGMP v3
  • MPLS: LDP, MPLS VPN (L3VPN), MPLS TE
  • VRF-Lite: Multiple routing tables for network segmentation
  • Advanced QoS: HQoS, per-VLAN QoS, MPLS QoS
  • NetFlow v9: Full export with flexible key fields

If your 4500 is serving as a distribution or core switch running dynamic routing protocols — you need Enterprise Services.

Can I upgrade directly from LAN Base to Enterprise Services?

Yes — on the 4500E only. The L-C4500E-LB-ES license takes you from LAN Base to Enterprise Services in a single step. This is more cost-effective ($30) than buying two upgrades sequentially (LB→IP at $30 + IP→ES at $30 = $60). Note: This single-step upgrade is not available on the 4500X — 4500X switches only offer the IP→ES upgrade path.

Why is there a separate license for the 4500X 16-port model?

The WS-C4500X-16P (16-port SFP+) has a different hardware architecture from the 24-port and 32-port 4500X variants — it uses a different baseboard and UDI identifier. Cisco requires a specific license SKU (L-C4500X-16P-IP-ES) tied to this variant's product ID. The standard L-C4500X-IP-ES license will not activate on a 16-port 4500X. When ordering, verify whether you have a 16-port or 24/32-port model.

How quickly will I receive my 4500 license after purchase?

Most 4500E/4500X upgrade licenses are delivered within 2–12 hours of order confirmation and UDI submission. Provide the output of show license udi from your switch. The license file (.lic) is sent by email — install via CLI with license install flash:license.lic and reload the switch to activate the new feature tier. If you need expedited delivery, contact us before ordering.

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Disclaimer: This is an independent reseller. We are not affiliated with Cisco Systems. All licenses are genuine Cisco licenses issued through authorized channels. Cisco, Catalyst, IOS, WS-C4500E, WS-C4500X, and related marks are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. The 4500E and 4500X are end-of-sale (EOS) hardware — these licenses are for existing deployments and replacement scenarios.