Guidelines for Cisco Wireless Software Release Product Bulletin
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PB738147
Updated April 2022
Cisco® Wireless Software provides the types of releases listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Cisco wireless LAN controller software release description
| Software release |
Description |
Benefit |
| Maintenance Deployment (MD) releases |
Software releases that provide bug-fix support and ongoing software maintenance. These releases are categorized as Maintenance Deployment (MD). These are long-lived releases with ongoing software maintenance. |
Provide customers with a software release that offers stability and long support duration with periodic Maintenance Releases (MRs). |
| Early Deployment (ED) releases |
Software releases that provide new features and new hardware platform support in addition to bug fixes. These releases are categorized as Early Deployment (ED). These are short-lived releases. |
Allow a customer to deploy the latest features and new hardware platforms or modules. |
Product migration options and release recommendations
Customers are encouraged to migrate their software according to the guidelines below.
Maintenance Deployment (MD) releases
Release 8.5 is planned as an MD release train for long life support with 8.5.171.0 as the targeted MD release.
● Release 8.5 is recommended for the following controller platforms - WLC2504, WLC5508, WLC7510, WLC8510, WiSM2. Release 8.5 is the last train for these platforms.
● Release 8.10 is recommended for the following controller platforms – WLC3504, WLC5520 and WLC8540.
● Release 8.10 is the next MD release train target for long life support.
● Federal customers (FIPS, UCAPL) are advised to use the latest 8.10 release
● Customers needing Common Criteria certification are advised to upgrade to 8.5.171.X escalation code. Upgrade to latest Escalation release, to get latest Escalation release refer to Cisco Recommended release document https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/200046-tac-recommended-aireos.html#anc9
Early Deployment (ED) releases
● For all customers currently in 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 migration to 8.5 is recommended.
● For all customers current in 8.6 through 8.10, migration to the latest 8.10 release is recommended.
Note:
● No more CCO releases for codes from 8.0 to 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9
Table 2. Upcoming and recommended releases
| Software release |
Status |
Recommended release |
| Release 8.10 |
Next release planned in Q2CY2022 |
● 8.10.171.0
|
| Release 8.5 (MD release train) |
Next release planned in 2HCY2021 |
● Refer TAC recommended build for Release 8.5
here
● Release for Cisco DNA and SD-Access
● Last release train for 8510, 7510, 5508, 2504, and WISM2 (8.5.X.0)
|
Table 3. EOL and deferred releases
| Release 8.9 |
● Migration to 8.10 is recommended
|
|
|
| Release 8.8 |
● Migration to 8.10 is recommended
|
|
|
| Release 8.7 |
● Migration to 8.10 is recommended
|
|
|
| Release 8.6 |
● Migration to 8.10 is recommended
|
|
|
| Release 8.5 |
● Migration to 8.10 is recommended
|
||
| Release 8.4 |
● Migration to 8.5 is recommended based on HW dependency
|
||
| Release 8.3 |
● Migration to 8.5 is recommended based on HW dependency
|
||
| Release 8.2 |
● Migration to 8.5 is recommended based on HW dependency
|
||
| Release 8.1 |
● Migration to 8.5 is recommended based on HW dependency
|
||
| Release 8.0 |
● Migration to 8.5 is recommended based on HW dependency
|
||
For up-to-date recommendations, please refer to: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/200046-tac-recommended-aireos.html
Cisco IOS XE Software releases
The Polaris Release Model consists of three (3) releases per year: One (1) Extended Maintenance (EM) release every July and two (2) Standard Maintenance releases, one in March and one in November. The Cisco IOS® XE Software support product bulletin describes the support timeline and EOL guidelines for Cisco IOS XE Software.
Standard Maintenance and Extended Maintenance releases
Each Cisco IOS XE Software release is classified as either a Standard-Support release or an Extended-Support release.
● Standard Maintenance release details
◦ A sustaining support lifetime of 12 months from First Customer Shipment (FCS) with scheduled rebuilds
◦ Rebuilds are typically released at 6-month intervals after FCS
● Extended Maintenance release details
◦ A sustaining support lifetime of 36 months from FCS with scheduled rebuilds
◦ These rebuilds are at 3, 4, 4 and 7-month intervals after FCS or via SMU support. The last 12 months of support will be via SMU.
Cisco IOS XE Software release versioning
Table 4. Catalyst 9800 software release support
| Support model |
Cisco IOS XE Software release |
| Standard Support |
16.10, 16.11,17.1, 17.2, 17.4, 17.5, 17.7, 17.8 |
| Extended Support |
16.12, 17.3, 17.6, etc |
Table 5. Upcoming and recommended releases
| Software release |
Recommended release |
Upcoming release |
| 16.12 |
16.12.5 |
No upcoming release |
| 17.3 |
17.3.5a+SMU |
17.3.6 |
| 17.6 |
17.6.3 |
17.6.4 |
Table 6. EOL and deferred releases
| Release 16.10 |
Migration to 17.3.4c is recommended |
|
| Release 16.11 |
Migration to 17.3.4c is recommended For more features, migrate to 17.6.2 |
|
| Release 16.12 |
Migration to 17.3.4c is recommended For more features, migrate to 17.6.2 |
|
| Release 17.1 |
Migration to 17.3.4c is recommended For more features, migrate to 17.6.2 |
|
| Release 17.2 |
Migration to 17.3.4c is recommended For more features, migrate to 17.6.2 |
|
| Release 17.3 |
No recommendation for migration |
|
| Release 17.4 |
Migration to 17.6.2 is recommended |
|
| Release 17.5 |
Migration to 17.6.2 is recommended |
|
| Release 17.6 |
– |
No recommendation for migration |
| Release 17.7 |
- |
- |
| Release 17.8 |
|
|
Read before upgrading: Any access point that is upgraded to Release 17.6 will be unable to join controllers running AireOS prior to 8.10.171.0, or 8.5.182.104 (IRCM). For more information, see CSCvx98176.
For up-to-date recommendations, please refer to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/214749-tac-recommended-ios-xe-builds-for-wirele.html.
Note: This represents the current plan for upcoming releases. This roadmap is subject to change at the sole discretion of Cisco, and Cisco will have no liability for delay in the delivery or failure to deliver any of the products or features set forth in this document.
For more information about these releases, go to: https://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10315/prod_release_notes_list.html.
Any authorized translation issued by Cisco Systems or affiliates of this Product Bulletin is intended to help customers understand the content described in the English version. This translation is the result of a commercially reasonable effort; however, if there are discrepancies between the English version and the translated document, please refer to the English version, which is considered authoritative.