Introduction
This document helps customers to find the most reliable Wireless LAN Controller software available. The Cisco Wireless TAC (Technical Assistance Center) recommends AireOS builds from each train of released AireOS software. These recommendations may be updated on a weekly basis.
Escalation Builds/Maintenance Interims
In some cases, the TAC recommended build might be an escalation or maintenance interim/beta build. Such builds are not available on CCO (Cisco.com), but have important bug fixes (beyond what is available in CCO code), and will be operational in production at customer sites for several weeks.
Note that, in some cases, the beta/escalation/interim build will contain support for unreleased features and/or hardware. TAC does not support unreleased features or hardware - until official release, such support will come from the Business Unit (BU).
For released features and platforms, these builds are fully supported by TAC and the BU.
In order to request a TAC recommended escalation/maintenance interim build, open a Cisco TAC case on your Wireless LAN Controller contract.
TAC Recommended Builds
AireOS 8.10
TAC recommends AireOS 8.10.151.0. In general, TAC recommends that customers with 802.11ax (Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6) access points run the latest available 8.10 release.
AireOS 8.9
AireOS 8.9.100.0 and 8.9.111.0 are deferred. The 802.11ax APs require 8.9 or above; TAC recommends the latest available 8.10 release for deployments with these APs.
AireOS 8.8
TAC supports AireOS 8.8.130.0, which is the last 8.8 release - see the End of Life bulletin.
AireOS 8.7
AireOS 8.7.106.0 is a short-lived release with no maintenance planned - see the End of Life bulletin. Customers who require new features that are unavailable in 8.5 should run 8.10.
AireOS 8.6
AireOS 8.6.101.0 is a short-lived release with no maintenance planned, and is deferred - see the End of Life bulletin. Customers who require new features that are unavailable in 8.5 should run 8.10.
AireOS 8.5
AireOS 8.5 is a long lived train. It's the last train for the following platforms: AP1600, AP2600, AP3500, AP3600, AP1552 (128MB version), AP802, WLC2504, WLC5508, WLC7510, WLC8510, WiSM2. See the Product Bulletin for 8.5 End of Life plans. AireOS 8.5 has two branches:
8.5 Mainline
The 8.5 Mainline branch supports 5508/8510/5520/8540/3504/2504/7510/WiSM2/vWLC controllers. It supports intercontroller mobility (IRCM) between AireOS and old "New Mobility" ("Converged Access") controllers (5760/3850/3650.) It does not support IRCM with 9800 controllers. For 8.5 Mainline deployments, TAC recommends 8.5.171.0.
8.5 IRCM
The 8.5 IRCM branch supports only 5508/8510/5520/8540/3504 controllers. It supports IRCM between AireOS and 9800 controllers; it does not support IRCM with old "New Mobility" controllers. For 8.5 IRCM deployments, TAC recommends 8.5.176.0; earlier 8.5 IRCM releases were 8.5.164.0 and 8.5.164.216.
AireOS 8.4
AireOS 8.4 is a short-lived release with no maintenance planned, and is deferred. Any deployment that requires post-8.3 features or hardware should run 8.5 instead.
AireOS 8.3
TAC supports 8.3.150.0 and 8.3.150.x Escalation code (available now from TAC.) 8.3 is the last train for the following platforms: AP1040, AP1140, AP1260, AP1552 (64MB version), OEAP600. 8.3.150.0 is the final CCO release of 8.3 - see the End of Life bulletin.
AireOS 8.3.150.x Escalation
- For 8.3 deployments with AP-COS, TAC recommends 8.3.150.x Escalation (available upon request.)
- 8.3.150.x Escalation has all of 8.3.150.0's bugfixes, as well as several key bugfixes which are not present in 8.3.150.0, including the following:
AireOS 8.2
For deployments that require features or hardware introduced after 8.0, TAC supports 8.2.170.0. No further 8.2 releases are planned.
AireOS 8.1
8.1.131.0 is the final maintenance release of AireOS 8.1, and is deferred. The recommended upgrade path for AireOS 8.1 customers is to 8.3 or, if feasible, 8.5.
AireOS 8.0
For AireOS 8.0 customers, TAC supports 8.0.152.0. No further 8.0 releases are planned.
8.0.150.0 and 8.0.152.0 are susceptible to the AID Errors problem (CSCve81314 (local mode APs) and CSCve81269 (FlexConnect APs)). This is fixed in 8.0MR5esc, available from TAC. See the Field Notice for more details.
Mobility Express
For Mobility Express deployments, TAC recommends using the latest 8.10 release.
General AireOS Release Recommendations
For general AireOS Release Recommendations, see:
Note for CIMC Software on 5520s and 8540s
5520 and 8540 controllers shoud have CIMC 3.0(4r) or 4.0(2n) installed
- If CIMC 2.x or 3.x is installed, upgrade to CMC 3.0(4r)
- If CIMC 4.0x is installed, upgrade to CIMC 4.0(2n)
See the CIMC Utility Upgrade section of the 8.10.142.0 release notes for more details.
Note for Software Defined Access (SDA)
Always refer to the SDA Compatibility Matrix for code combination recommendations that work best for SDA. It lists specific combinations of code on Cisco DNA Center, the Identity Service Engine (ISE), switches, routers and Wireless LAN Controller codes that have been tested by the SDA Solution Test team at Cisco.
Related Information
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