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Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.1 Special and Early Deployments

Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 (GD)

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Document ID: 20306


Main Release Summary

End of Life Announcement

Description

 Cisco Systems, Inc. released Cisco IOS® Software Release 12.1 software in March, 2000 as the newest general purpose IOS main release vehicle.  Conceptually, Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(1) is equivalent to 12.0(8)T without any additional new features. In other words, Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(1) is 12.0(7)T plus bug fixes. 

Starting with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(1), no new features will be added to maintenance revisions of the 12.1 releases.   Successive maintenance revisions will only provide bug fixes.  Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1T, which parents to 12.1 main line, will be the IOS vehicle for introducing new features and new platforms to the market place. 

The main goal of Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 is to consolidate previously released Cisco IOS features and platforms into a highly stable software branch.  This provides customers currently on Cisco IOS Early Deployment vehicles with an upgrade path which leads to a GD candidate software. 

Target Market

 Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 is for general purpose use by Enterprises.

Product and Feature Support

Related Cisco IOS Releases

 Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 is based on 12.0(7)T.   Beta releases of Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(1) are numbered as 12.1(0.x).  These are pre-12.1(1) images that are superset of 12.0(7)T plus additional bug fixes. 

Product/Feature Integration

 No New Features and/or Platforms are added to the main line release.

Maintenance Releases

Description
Maintenance build image are the Cisco officially released software images. They endure full regression tests and must achieve a set of release criteria. 

Identifying a Maintenance Release

Online
The show version command in the running software will show "Software Release" in the banner.
Off-line:
The version label will display the major release with a maintenance release in parenthesis. 
Example: 
12.1(#x) 
12.1 = major release designator
# = version number of maintenance release (whole numbers only) 
x = Rebuild character from a-z, lower case. Use to designate a rebuild of the maintenance release version #. A rebuild is when Cisco adds more bug fixes to the existing maintenance release. 

Maintenance Cycle

There will be a maintenance version of this release every eight weeks to provide bug fixes.

Maintenance Cycle Defects Resolved Download Image
every 8 weeks  

Interim Builds

 Interim builds are not recommended and are not fully tested. Customers will only be provided with interim builds when a critical defect renders the maintenance release unusable. 
 
8-week maintenance cycle: Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 will provide a maintenance release every eight weeks.
14-week maintenance cycle: Weekly interim build will be made available to development and critical customers.
 

Maintenance Release Synchronization Points

 Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 will provide regular interims and maintenances.  For more information, see the Projected Release Dates for Cisco IOS Software Product Bulletin.

Recommended Migration
From To
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0(x)T Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1(1) or later
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.0X Releases Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 or 12.1T

The migration path is the logical superseding software. The uniqueness of each network requires that customers verify support for hardware, features, and protocols prior to a massive network upgrade. For more information, see the Projected Release Dates for Cisco IOS Software Product Bulletin. 

Year 2000 (Y2K) Compliant

 Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 is Y2K Compliant.

General Deployment (GD) Plan

 Cisco IOS Software Release 12.1 is targeted for GD certification.   

Life Cycle

 Cisco IOS Software Release Reference Guide
End of Life Announcement

Milestones Y2K Compliance Release Designation

CCO FCS: March 21, 2000

MFG FCS:

GD: March 18, 2002 - 12.1(13)

EOS: To be announced.

EOE: To be announced.

EOL: December 12, 2003.

 Yes GD

Comments

 For more information, see the following pages: 

Updated: Nov 02, 2003 Document ID: 20306