PRODUCT BULLETIN NO. 2863
Updated May 4, 2005
OVERVIEW
To make it easier for customers to find the right Cisco IOS Software release with the latest functionality and most recent fixes, Cisco is updating the Cisco IOS® Software Center and removing a significant number of obsolete releases. The Cisco Software Center updates began in April 2005 and will be ongoing.
This update changes the Cisco Software Center into a dynamic portal that contains current and selected older releases.
• All current releases and selected end of life releases will remain on the Cisco Software Center.
• Migration paths are posted in the Software Migration Table when releases are removed from the Cisco Software Center.
To improve usability, Cisco is redesigning the Cisco IOS Software Center portal to make it easer to locate, select, and download releases.
These important steps will contribute to operational simplification.
IMPLICATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS
The biggest change is that customers will need to maintain a library (archive) of their software. In most cases, customers will not need to migrate from their current releases.
• Support for all releases, including those removed from Software Center continues unchanged.
• As always, customers should check to see if a release in their network is deferred and take appropriate action.
RELEASE MANAGEMENT
Cisco Systems® and Cisco® channel partners can help customers implement the following release management best practices.
1. Develop and implement a release migration plan. As part of your plan, profile your network. Keep the plan and the profile up to date. Note: Using Cisco Discovery, Cisco and qualified Cisco channel partners can create a profile of your network.
2. Minimize the number of releases in your network, when possible, to gain operational, availability, and reliability benefits.
3. Keep releases current with the latest functionality, fixes, and security protection.
4. Maintain an archive copy of each image you are running in your network, ideally on a tftp server, and keep your image archives up to date. Note: If you copy an image from the archive you must license it. Unlicensed images cannot be used legally and are not supported.
5. Manage network software as part of your normal business processes that you use to manage desktop and server software.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, refer to the Cisco IOS Software Center Update Q&A: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5187/prod_bulletin0900aecd8029c13f.html
