Cisco IOS software version details

Due to the reprinted articles, no picture is displayed!
 
One version can run on many platforms. Each platform supports many function sets, and each function set includes many functions.

These versions are packaged in a combination of multiple functions based on the hardware platform and customer requirements. Therefore, the number of different software packages may be quite large.

Many versions of Cisco IOS software are packaged in "feature sets" (also known as "software images. Cisco Systems companies can provide many different feature sets, each of which includes a specific subset of Cisco IOS features. Not all platforms provide all functional sets. In addition, some feature sets support different features when running on different platforms. Examples of function set categories are as follows:

What are the basic tokens? A set of basic functions for the hardware platform, such as IP, IP, and FW.
Token enhancement? An additional set of basic functions, including IP Plus, IP/FW Plus, and Enterprise Plus
Encrypt? Add a 56-bit (for example, Plus 56) data encryption feature set to a basic feature set or an enhanced feature set, for example, IP/ATM Plus IPSec 56 or Enterprise Plus 56. Starting from Cisco IOS software version 12.2, the encryption identifier is k8/k9; k8: less than or equal to 64-bit encryption (starting from version 12.2); k9: more than 64-bit encryption (starting from version 12.2)

What are the different types of Cisco IOS software versions?
Early Deployment (ED) version of Butler; as its name suggests, it is mainly used to launch innovative Internet technologies in a timely manner.
Major versions of middleware. It uses some new features introduced in several ED versions and extends these features to more platforms, this ensures the reliability of the user over a long period of time.
 General Deployment version; this is an important version that has been deployed and developed in a wide range of network environments. In addition, it has been proven to be a qualified version after extensive and in-depth reliability analysis, defect trend analysis, and customer satisfaction surveys.

What is an important version?
An important version is the main way to deploy Cisco IOS software products. Important versions integrate functions, platforms, features, technologies, and host diversity of previous versions of ED. The major version aims to provide stable and high-quality software for general deployment in the customer's production network. To ensure stability, Cisco Systems will not add any new features or platform support to a major version after it completes its first commercial delivery (FCS. (FCS refers to the date of the first delivery to the customer through any channel .)

Does Cisco perform regular maintenance and updates on important versions? Also known as maintenance versions, these updated versions are completely regression tested, adopt the latest released defect patches, and do not support any other new platforms or functions.

How are important versions identified?
The version number of an important version can identify this important version and its maintenance level. In Figure 7 below, 12.1 is the version number of this important version, and 7 is its maintenance level. The full version number is 12.1 (7 ).

Important version maintenance version

Figure 7: Major version number scheme

What is General Deployment authentication?
At a certain stage of the version life cycle, Cisco Systems will announce an important version that has been prepared for General Deployment (GD) certification. Only important versions can be eligible for GD. When Cisco Systems considers that the version meets the following conditions and is satisfied with this, it can be deemed that the version has met the GD certification milestone:
 This version has been widely used in a variety of different networks and proved to be reliable
The benchmark parameter obtained from the stability and defect trend analysis proves that the version is qualified.
The customer satisfaction survey proves that this version is qualified.

GD qualification is obtained through a specific maintenance version. Later versions of this version are maintained and updated by the GD version. For example, version 12.0 received GD certification in stage 12.9 (8. Therefore, 12.0 (9), 12.0 (10) and all subsequent versions are also GD versions.

Cisco Systems Inc from Customer Advocacy, TAC, Global Support, Network Support (Accounts) system Test Engineering, Cisco IOS Engineering team (Cisco IOS Engineering) and other departments have drawn key personnel to form cross-professional teams, these teams are responsible for evaluating each unresolved defect in an important version. Only such a team has the right to authenticate GD.

What is an earlier deployment version?
Based on an important version, the ED version is a way to quickly provide new features and meet customers' requirements for early product availability.

Same as important versions, the ED version must undergo the same test process and be regularly maintained. Each updated maintenance version includes new features, additional platform support, and bug fixes. If a defect occurs in a "parent" Important version, it must be fixed in this important version and Its ED version at the same time. When we find a defect in an ED version, we will analyze the defect and determine whether it is generated in the ED version or in the basic important version. The ED version cannot obtain GD certification because the purpose of the ED version is to launch new features.

There are two types of ED:
 T version? The T (technology) version uses the current major version as the basis for providing new functions and platform support. These versions can be easily identified based on their names. Their names always end with "T", such as Cisco IOS 12.1 T.
 X version? Version X is usually based on version T (such as 12.1 T). Version X only supports a limited number of platforms. The X version usually has an "X" letter in its name, for example, 12.1 (1) XB.

Version X is usually not maintained. However, the new features in Version X are generally integrated with the subsequent update versions of its "parent" technology version to provide continuous maintenance versions. For example, 12.1 (1) XB has introduced some new platforms and features. Therefore, continuous support for these platforms and functions can be provided in subsequent maintenance versions 12.1 (3) T and 12.1T.

In addition to version T and Version X, Cisco Systems also provides other target ED versions:
Region technology or market region? These versions are issued under the supervision of a specific platform and a division (BU) of Cisco Systems Corporation. They can be identified by two letters attached to a major version number. For example, Cisco IOS software version 12.1 (1) DC can support Cisco 6400 Universal Access Concentrator (Unified Access Concentrator) and should only be used for customers that are using Cisco 6400.
What is the region market (ISP, telecommunications company, enterprise, etc )? These versions can go beyond specific technical barriers or barriers to provide commercial solutions for a specific market segment. In addition, these versions are created specifically for specific platforms related to the target market. These versions can be identified by a letter appended to a major version number. For example, Cisco IOS 12.0 S (for the ISP market) provides a series of technical solutions covering multiple business units, and telecom service providers are very interested in these solutions. Cisco IOS version 12.1E focuses on adding new features and features to the enterprise market.

What are the main differences between the ED version and the important version?
We only need to take a look at the name to distinguish the important version from the ED version. Important versions use numbers such as 12.0, while ED uses names ending with one or more letters such as 12.0T or 12.0XE.

Figure 8: Example of the ED version number? Version 12.0 (5) T

12.0 important versions
12.0 tb ed version
ED identifier
Important versions and maintenance levels

How to explain the ED version number?
In addition to the information specific to the ED version, the ED version can also identify the "parent" Important version and its maintenance level.

In, 12.0 (5) T indicates the following information:
The basis of the version 12.0 (5) T of the received version is the important version 12.0.
Release version 12.0 (5) T is a maintenance version. It combines all defect fixes compiled for version 12.0 until its fifth maintenance version 12.0 (5.
Release version 12.0 (5) T is a maintenance version that includes any additional features and defect fixes that were introduced in earlier versions of version 12.0T.
Release version 12.0 (5) T is a maintenance version, which may include new features not introduced in earlier maintenance versions of version 12.0T.

What is the development process of important Cisco IOS software versions and T versions?

Figure 9: Major version and T version Development Process

Fixed feature set for important versions? General Deployment qualifications for defect patches only
Comprehensive defect patches for the ED version
New Features and important versions of the ED version
ED version
Time

During the development of Cisco IOS software, important versions and ED versions are closely related.

As shown in, the features of major version 12.0 are fixed on its FCS. Major version 12.0 is the integration of early versions of ED.

Cisco Systems usually provides maintenance updates every eight weeks until the GD qualification is reached. Cisco IOS 12.0 is qualified for gd in the 12.0 (8) phase.

At the same time as releasing this important version, Cisco Systems also launched an ED version of 12.0 TB. This ED version includes the same features as this important version, plus some new features that are continuously added to various maintenance versions.

The bug fix in version 12.0 can also be applied to version 12.0T.

The final maintenance version of 12.0T can be used as the basis for the next important version, that is, version 12.1 in this figure. Cisco Systems has also created a new technology version, namely, 12.1 TB.

In this way, this process will start again.

What are the life cycle milestones of important and T versions?
Cisco IOS software uses a time-based release strategy that enables Cisco Systems to quickly provide new feature or defect fixes in a predictable manner. The customer can track the release of version Life Cycle milestones and version upgrade paths, and better plan upgrade tasks with active support for versions.

It corresponds to the first maintenance update version of an important version. In the early stages of the life cycle, each major version receives regular maintenance every eight star period, and in the late stages of the life cycle, each major version receives regular maintenance every 13 weeks. Remember: Cisco Systems does not add any features during the lifetime of an important version.

The sales cutoff date (EOS) refers to the last date on which the customer can order the product through the customer service or manufacturing department. The customer or project (CSE) support department that has signed the maintenance contract can still pass the on-site support Office (FSO) until the version reaches the end of life (EOL) and CCO.

Figure 10 critical version and T version Life Cycle milestones

General Deployment (GD) sales end date (EOS) scheduled maintenance end date (EOE) end date (EOL)
Time (unit: month)

Note: The timetable is only for guidance and reference.

The Customer Service Regular Maintenance deadline or engineering design deadline (EOE) refers to the engineering maintenance version released on the previous regular basis. The Engineering Design Department no longer actively applies any defect fixes on this version, regardless of the source or severity of the defect (this does not include security and Millennium Bug ). Customers can continue to order products through FSO and CCO.

EOL is the support of this version and the final stage of the project. After that date, Cisco system staff will no longer provide formal support for the software version and will delete the software version from CCO.

Which version should customers use?
Cisco ios ed can provide new functions once released. It is suitable for customers who are developing and creating strategic network architectures, developing cutting-edge applications, or simply seeking for competitive advantages.
Major Cisco IOS versions are suitable for networks that require adoption of new technologies and continuous quality and maturity improvement. It is more suitable for customers who want to get advanced integration technologies introduced in earlier versions of ED and benefit from better maturity of important versions.
The sparse GD version is suitable for networks that require the most reliable and mature technologies. It is suitable for customers who are running important, business-critical applications.

In short, Cisco IOS software is the industry's leading and most widely deployed network system software. It can provide intelligent network services on flexible network infrastructure, it can quickly deploy Internet applications.

To simplify IOS selection, Cisco has adopted the new IOS feature set plan-the IOS feature package starting from the main release version 12.3. It has been confirmed that the new feature set plan will be used in vrouters 1700, 2600xm, 2691, and 3700 (to maintain compatibility in main release, some old feature sets can be selected, and only the new eight feature sets exist in the T series ). The new feature set plan includes the following eight feature set packages:

IP Base
IP Base is the most basic IOS feature package. All other packages include all the features of IP Base. The new IP Base includes the plus feature set functions in most earlier versions. IP Base provides DSL connection, Ethernet switch module support, 802.1q routing, and Trunk functions on Ethernet interfaces.
IP Base is the default IOS of the router. This means that, starting from IOS 12.3, you do not need to use IOS with the plus feature set for trunk.
IP Voice
IP Voice adds the Voice feature based on the IP Base feature set. Including VoIP and VoFR. The IP voice feature set also supports all voice interface cards and the signaling protocols they use. For example,. 323 and MGCP signaling.
Advanced Security
Advanced Security adds network Security and VPN support based on the IP base. It includes features such as IOS FireWall, IDS, and SSHV1 in earlier versions. It can be used as an Easy VPN Client or server. All encryption algorithms are supported, including 3Des and AES. All are supported in this feature set.
SP Services
SP Services is a feature set that fully supports voice encapsulation and transmission Services. It adds support for SSHv1 and provides a complete solution for running data and voice on IP, FR, and ATM networks. This feature set also supports Netflow and IP v6.
Enterprise Base
Enterprise Base integrates data connection and Qos features. Includes other routing protocols and IBM services. Such as support for AppleTalk, Novell, and IPX protocols .? Enterprise Base is a superset of IP Base and supports all features supported by IP Base.
Advanced IP Services
Advanced IP Services integrates data, voice, security, and VPN features. Advanced IP Services supports all features of the SP Services and Advanced Security feature set, including VPN, IDS, and Cisco IOS firewall.
Enterprise Services
Enterprise Services supports IPX, Apple Talk, and IBM Services, and supports both voice and ATM Services. This package supports all the features of SP Services and adds support for the layer-3 routing protocol in the EnterPrice Base feature set. This feature set provides complete support for IBM services and voice services.
Advanced Enterprise Services

Advanced Enterprise Services supports all routing protocols, including voice, network security, VPN, and all other feature sets (such as IPv6 and Netflow ), advanced Enterprise Services is the most abundant feature set.

Author: "on the road ..."