Contents

Introduction

Background Information

Cisco SD-WAN Software Support Lifecycle

Current Recommended Releases Overview

Cisco SD-WAN Hardware Compatibility Matrix

List of Resolved and Open Defects

Related Information

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:

- vManage

- Controllers (vBond, vSmart hosted in private and public clouds)

- 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 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 17.6, 17.9, 17.12 and 17.15 For vEdges, examples are 18.4, 19.2, 20.3, 20.6 and 20.9. For controllers examples are 20.6, 20.9, 20.12 and 20.15.

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).

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/vEdge5k, ISR 1100, and vEdge cloud

vEdge 100b, vEdge 100m, vEdge 1000, vEdge 2000 Routers

Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN

Recommended releases marked "golden star" on CCO

20.9.5.3, 20.12.5

vManage: 20.9.5.3, 20.12.5

20.6.6

20.9.7*

17.9.5f, 17.12.5a

* - Only for vEdge-2000

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

- Release Notes

- Cisco SD-WAN - Release and Compatibility

- Cisco SD-WAN

- Cisco SD-WAN Configuration Guides

- Cisco SD-WAN - Release and Compatibility

- End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices

- Technical Support & Documentation - Cisco Systems