Field Notice: FN74439 - Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Series Switches – Minimum Software Release Required to Support Hardware Changes - Software Upgrade Recommended

Cisco has introduced a hardware component update to Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Series Switches. As a result, all new hardware versions of the affected product identifiers (PIDs) will ship with an updated memory configuration. Switch behavior and performance remain unchanged under supported conditions.

To ensure operation, these latest hardware versions require specific minimum Cisco IOS XE Software releases. Customers should verify the hardware version and software release of affected units and upgrade to the required software version, where applicable.

Cisco has updated the memory configuration in the Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Series Switches.

The updated hardware may report higher memory utilization under equivalent workloads compared to previous hardware versions. This is expected behavior resulting from the revised memory configuration and does not impact product functionality, supported scale, or platform capabilities within documented specifications.

Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Series Switches with the updated hardware configuration require Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.18.5 or later, or Cisco IOS XE Software Release 26.1.2 or later.

If a downgrade of an affected switch to a software release earlier than Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.18.5 or Cisco IOS XE Software Release 26.1.2 is attempted, it will not complete the boot and initialization process and will remain non-operational.

Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Switches require a supported Cisco IOS XE Software release to ensure continued operation:

• All affected IE3100 Switches except IE-3100-18T2C-CC-E Switch: Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.18.5 or 26.1.2 and later.
• IE-3100-18T2C-CC-E: Cisco IOS XE Software Release 26.1.2 and later only.

Downgrading affected devices to earlier software releases is not supported and will prevent the devices from operating.

Customers should verify that the required software release is installed and upgrade as necessary. Software downloads and upgrade instructions are available through the Cisco Software Download Center.

Note: An RMA is not required for this condition.

The hardware update is applicable to Cisco Catalyst IE3100 Series Switches beginning with the listed version ID (VID) as shown in the following table. Units with a higher VID for the same PID also include the updated hardware configuration.

The VID is identified on the product compliance label, as shown in the following image. Customers can use the VID to determine whether a switch includes the updated hardware configuration.

The VID can also be accessed by using the show version CLI command, as shown in the following example:

Base Ethernet MAC Address          : 80:80:80:80:80:80
Motherboard Assembly Number        : 73-XXXXXX-XX
Motherboard Serial Number          : FVHXXXXXXXX
Model Revision Number              : V04
Motherboard Revision Number        : X
Model Number                       : IE-3100-18T2C
System Serial Number               : FVHXXXXXXXX
Top Assembly Part Number           : 68-XXXXXX-XX
Top Assembly Revision Number       : XX
Top Assembly SN                    : FVHXXXXXXXX
Top Assembly HW series             : A
Top Assembly el-mech SN code       : FVHXXXXXXXX
Top Assembly hw-date code          : 
CIP Serial Number                  : 0x80808080
SKU Brand Name                     : Cisco