<begin rant>
I run into that problem as well, cisco has been SO KIND to provide me with the software to manage them [B](COMPLETE AND TOTAL SARCASM!!!)[/B]
I’ve been in the run around with them for months, I keep getting those emails saying “this ticket will close in 4 days because there is no response” so I blast them with “I still need software and I still need these switches added to my account so I can service them” and good ol Mark Long will hit me with his “Our apologies, your product WS-C2960S-48LPD-L serial number EXPUNGED is not covered by a service contract. In order for you to receive support today you will need to purchase a service contract from your local partner / reseller.”
Such bullshit, I can buy a cheap DLink switch (I have a couple already) and have FREE software to manage them, spend a crap load on Cisco Switches, get no software to manage them. What a joke! I don’t see why a “service contract” isn’t provided with the switches, you pay an arm and a leg for these damn things!</end rant>