The Time to Switch to XGS Firewall Hardware Is Coming Soon

The countdown to the End-of-Life date for the XG Series is running. At the end of March 2025, Sophos XG Firewall Hardware reaches End of Life.

Countdown - End of Life for Sophos XG Firewall Hardware

I have already written an article on this: Is buying the new XGS Hardware worth it?

Update 02.02.2024: A lot of time has passed and the conditions have changed. There is less time left. From the end of March 2024, 1-year licenses for XG hardware will no longer be available. Renewals are only possible on a monthly basis.

Update 25.07.2024: Sophos has announced that prices for XG Firewall license renewals will increase by 30% from October 1. Switching to the XGS series is therefore worthwhile.

Update 06.02.2025: Functionality in the base license is being restricted further. After updates stopped being free, additional limitations are now being introduced and the support license is becoming even more important.

FAQ

What does End of Life for the XG Firewall mean?

No more licenses can be purchased for the hardware appliance.
Sophos no longer provides support or warranty for these appliances.
There will be no more SFOS updates for the firewall.

Otherwise, everything will continue to work. If you have an XG Firewall without licenses and only use the firewall with the Base License, it will continue to function, but without security updates and protection features. For a firewall, that is at least questionable.

I still have an SG Appliance with SFOS installed, do I also have to switch to the XGS Appliance?

Yes, the SG Appliance is also affected by End of Life and, according to the Sophos calendar, still runs with all versions of SFOS v20.

How does the switch from XG to XGS hardware work, and is a reinstallation necessary?

Fortunately, a reinstallation is not necessary, unlike when switching from UTM to SFOS. The hardware reaches End of Life, but the Sophos Firewall OS (SFOS) remains the same. You can create a backup of the current firewall and restore the backup on the new XGS Appliance. The important point is that the backup must be compatible with the XGS Firewall. If the update path is followed, there should be no problems. If you have any questions, simply contact us or check it yourself on the following page: Backup-restore compatibility check

Are FlexiPorts from the XG Firewall compatible with the XGS Appliance?

None of the modules for the XG Firewall are still compatible with the XGS Firewall, so they must be purchased again.

Of course, there is also another promo for switching from XG to XGS hardware.

When you purchase a new Sophos XGS Firewall with a 1-year subscription, generous hardware discounts are available depending on the appliance.