Cisco Recommended Catalyst SD-WAN Software Versions for Controllers and WAN Edge Routers

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Updated:May 19, 2026
Document ID:215676

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Introduction

This document provides guidance to customers on how to find the most suitable Catalyst SD-WAN software for Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN controllers and Edge routers, which includes vEdge and Cisco IOS® XE SD-WAN devices. The information in this document is not meant to be exhaustive and is intended to serve as a general guide to customers, especially in cases of mass deployments/upgrades. Beyond these recommendations, if customers are required to run a release to utilize newer software features or hardware, the recommendation is to choose Extended Maintenance release trains wherever possible.

Background Information

This document covers these software/components:

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (formely vManage), Validator (formely vBond), Controller (formely vSmart) 
  • Viptela OS (for vEdge100, vEdge1000, vEdge2000, vEdge5000, vEdge-Cloud, and ISR1100-4G/6G)
  • Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN

Cisco performs extensive internal testing and then evaluates software quality after publishing for general availability before making a recommended release. It includes the review of any new defects filed or found against the release, severity, or impact of those, as well as general field feedback. This evaluation happens for each new release.

Cisco SD-WAN Software Support Lifecycle

Each Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN software release is classified as either a Standard Maintenance release or an Extended Maintenance release. This applies to WAN Edge and controller software.

Standard Maintenance Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 12 months from First Customer Shipment (FCS) with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software Releases 17.8, 17.10, 17.11, 17.13 and 17.14. For controllers/vEdges, examples are 18.3, 19.1, 20.1, 20.4, 20.5, 20.7, 20.8, 20.10, 20.11, 20.13, 20.14 and so on.

Extended Maintenance Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 36 months from FCS with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software Releases 17.9, 17.12, 17.15 or 17.18. For vEdges, examples are 18.4, 19.2, 20.3, 20.6 and 20.9. For controllers examples are 20.9, 20.12, 20.15 and 20.18

Release 18.4/16.10 was the first Extended Maintenance SD-WAN release. Starting from Release 19.2/16.12 every subsequent third release is an Extended Maintenance release (for example, 19.2/16.12, 17.3/20.3, 17.6/20.6, 17.9/20.9, 17.12/20.12, 17.15/20.15 and so on).

Given that Standard Maintenance releases have much shorter support lifetimes whereas Extended Maintenance releases have longer support with more scheduled rebuilds/bug fixes, it is recommended that customers stay on Extended Maintenance releases wherever possible.

Current Recommended Releases Overview

Releases

Controllers

vEdge 100b, 100m, 1000, 2000, 5000 and vEdge Cloud Routers

Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN **

Recommended releases marked "golden star" on CCO

20.12.7.1, 20.15.5.2

20.6.6

20.9.7*

17.12.7b, 17.15.5

* - Only for vEdge-2000, vEdge-5000 and vEdge Cloud

** - Only routers that support the version will qualify. As hardware reaches end-of-life and cannot accommodate the latest versions, the "golded star" will remain on the last supported train for that hardware.

Cisco SD-WAN Hardware Compatibility Matrix

The most up-to-date information on the Cisco SD-WAN Hardware Compatibility Matrix is integrated into the Release Notes. See the Release Notes link in the Related Information section.

List of Resolved and Open Defects

The list of Resolved and Open Defects is integrated with the Release Notes. See the Release Notes link in the Related Information section.

Related Information

Revision History

Revision Publish Date Comments
20.0
19-May-2026
20.12.7.1, 20.15.5.2 marked as recommended controllers release, IOS-XE recommended software updated to 17.12.7b, 17.15.5
19.0
09-Mar-2026
20.12.6.1, 20.15.4.2 marked as recommended controllers release
18.0
08-Jan-2026
20.12.6/17.12.6 marked as recommended instead of 20.12.5/17.12.5a
17.0
24-Nov-2025
20.15.4.1/17.15.4c is marked as recommended
16.0
26-May-2025
software recommendations updated
15.0
27-Feb-2025
20.12.4.1/17.12.4a and 20.9.5.3/17.9.5e marked as recommended releases.
13.0
03-Dec-2024
20.12.4/17.12.4 is now a recommended version
12.0
04-Nov-2024
20.12.4/17.12.4 is not a recommended version
11.0
20-Sep-2024
20.12.3.1/17.12.3a marked as recommended
10.0
21-Jun-2024
20.9.5.2/20.9.5.1/17.9.5a marked as recommended
9.0
14-May-2024
20.6.6/17.6.6 release marked as recommended
8.0
09-Aug-2023
vManage 20.6.5.5 release is now recommended
7.0
13-Apr-2023
20.6.5.1 vManage release is recommended now, 17.6.5 is recommended for WAN Edge routers running IOS-XE. 20.6.5 is recommended for vEdge
6.0
28-Nov-2022
20.6.3.1 vMananage recommeded release added, 20.9.1/17.9.1a added
5.0
22-Apr-2022
Latest releases were added. 17.3.5/20.3.5 is a recommended software release now.
4.0
02-Feb-2022
Latest releases were added. vManage controller recommended was changed to 20.3.4.2
3.0
03-Dec-2021
17.6.2/20.6.2 release information was added
2.0
20-Oct-2021
Added new recommended stable long-term version for Edge routers and vManage controllers.
1.0
25-Jun-2020
Initial Release
TAC Authored

Contributed by Cisco Engineers

  • Eugene Khabarov
    Cisco Engineering
  • Nilesh Vilasrao Khade
    Cisco Engineering
  • Hemant Maena
    Cisco Engineering

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