diff --git a/devstack/lib/ironic b/devstack/lib/ironic
index c6ab0d8cf9..037e85427d 100644
--- a/devstack/lib/ironic
+++ b/devstack/lib/ironic
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ fi
 # Ping timeout after the node becomes active
 IRONIC_PING_TIMEOUT=${IRONIC_PING_TIMEOUT:-}
 
+# Whether to allow devstack to continue when ironic-status upgrade check
+# finds unsupported drivers. Set to "true" to continue despite the error.
+IRONIC_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_DRIVERS=$(trueorfalse False IRONIC_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_DRIVERS)
+
 # Deploy to hardware platform
 IRONIC_HW_NODE_CPU=${IRONIC_HW_NODE_CPU:-1}
 IRONIC_HW_NODE_RAM=${IRONIC_HW_NODE_RAM:-512}
@@ -2165,11 +2169,14 @@ function init_ironic {
 
     # NOTE(rloo): We're not upgrading but want to make sure this command works,
     # even though we're not parsing the output of this command.
-    $IRONIC_BIN_DIR/ironic-status upgrade check
-
     $IRONIC_BIN_DIR/ironic-status upgrade check && ret_val=$? || ret_val=$?
     if [ $ret_val -gt 1 ] ; then
-        die $LINENO "The `ironic-status upgrade check` command returned an error. Cannot proceed."
+        # Allow continuing even with unsupported drivers if explicitly enabled
+        if [[ "${IRONIC_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_DRIVERS}" != "True" ]]; then
+            die $LINENO "The `ironic-status upgrade check` command returned an error. Cannot proceed."
+        else
+            echo "WARNING: Continuing despite upgrade check failure because IRONIC_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_DRIVERS=True"
+        fi
     fi
     if is_service_enabled ir-novnc; then
         create_systemd_container_dir
diff --git a/ironic/drivers/snmp.py b/ironic/drivers/snmp.py
index c5ed96658e..bd69ceb685 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/snmp.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/snmp.py
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ from ironic.drivers.modules import snmp
 class SNMPHardware(generic.GenericHardware):
     """SNMP Hardware type """
 
+    # NOTE(JayF) The SNMP driver depends on an old, out of maintenance library
+    #   pysnmp-lextudio; unless it is migrated to a modern library (pysnmp),
+    #   it will be removed in a future Ironic release. See bug #2106674.
+    # TODO(JayF) Remove this driver on or after OpenStack 2026.1 release.
+    supported = False
+
     @property
     def supported_power_interfaces(self):
         """List of supported power interfaces."""
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/snmp-driver-deprecation-ac612cb6c9412e1e.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/snmp-driver-deprecation-ac612cb6c9412e1e.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..79a80c754c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/snmp-driver-deprecation-ac612cb6c9412e1e.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    The SNMP hardware type and associated interfaces have been deprecated
+    for removal in a future Ironic release. It currently depends on an
+    outdated, unsupported library and unless it is migrated off that library
+    by the end of the 2026.1 cycle it will be removed.
+
+    Operators utilizing this driver will need to find an alternate way
+    to manage their machines. Alternatively, the Ironic community welcomes
+    contributions to keep this driver alive.
diff --git a/zuul.d/ironic-jobs.yaml b/zuul.d/ironic-jobs.yaml
index 43a6dfaa5b..25b2dbe1ee 100644
--- a/zuul.d/ironic-jobs.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/ironic-jobs.yaml
@@ -482,6 +482,7 @@
         IRONIC_TEMPEST_WHOLE_DISK_IMAGE: True
         IRONIC_VM_EPHEMERAL_DISK: 0
         IRONIC_AUTOMATED_CLEAN_ENABLED: False
+        IRONIC_ALLOW_UNSUPPORTED_DRIVERS: True
         # NOTE(TheJulia): Explicitly set scope enforcement to False until we
         # remove the legacy policies.
         IRONIC_ENFORCE_SCOPE: False