Choose Stable Cisco IOS® XE Release for Enterprise Routing Platforms

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Updated:June 27, 2023
Document ID:215567

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The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.

    Introduction

    This document describes how to choose a stable Cisco IOS® XE release for enterprise routing platforms.  

    Background Information

    This document covers recommended releases for Catalyst 8000 Edge, ASR1000, ISR4000, CSR1000v, and ISR1000 Platforms.

    The software versions provided in this document are generally considered stable for the majority of deployments. Before you select a release, review the associated Release Note document and verify there are no open caveats that can impact the device based on its configured features. The Release Notes also contain tables that identify when Rommon, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) versions must be upgraded before you perform the Cisco IOS XE upgrade.

    Whenever possible, it is advised to install an Extended Maintenance (EM) release of Cisco IOS XE software. Where hardware support or support for a particular feature is not yet available in an EM release, a Standard Maintenance (SM) release is required. When the next EM release becomes available, it is advised to move from the SM to an EM version that provides the same hardware and software support.

    Cisco IOS XE Software Support

    Each Cisco IOS XE software release is classified as either an SM release or an EM release.


    SM Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 12 months from First Customer Shipment (FCS) with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software releases 16.8, 16.10, and 16.11.
    EM Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 36 months from FCS with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software releases 16.9, and 16.12.

    Note: Every subsequent third release (for example, Cisco IOS XE Software release 16.6, 16.9, 16.12, 17.3, 17.6, 17.9, and so on.) is an EM release.

    Recommendations

    Revision History

    Revision Publish Date Comments
    4.0
    27-Jun-2023
    Updated Title, Introduction, Background Information, Branding Requirements, Style Requirements, and Formatting.
    3.0
    13-Jun-2022
    Versions for each product were aligned with the software center’s current “gold star” releases.
    2.0
    05-Nov-2021
    Updated a URL.
    1.0
    04-Jun-2020
    Initial Release
    TAC Authored

    Contributed by Cisco Engineers

    • Cisco TAC Engineers

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