Release Notes for Cisco ESR6300 Routers, Release 17.18.1a

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Updated:August 18, 2025

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Updated:August 18, 2025
 

Cisco ESR6300 Embedded Series Router, IOS XE Release 17.18.1a. 3

New software features. 3

New hardware features. 3

Change in behavior 3

Resolved issues. 4

Open issues. 4

Known issues. 5

Compatibility. 5

Supported software packages. 6

Related resources. 7

Legal information. 8

 


 

Cisco ESR6300 Embedded Series Router, IOS XE Release 17.18.1a

This release notes document provides information about the new features, resolved and open issues, supported software packages and information on how to obtain support and documentation.

New software features

There are no new features introduced in this release.

New hardware features

There are no new features introduced in this release.

Change in behavior

There are no behavior changes in this release.

Notice of upcoming changes in the Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 release and beyond

Cisco is committed to safeguarding our products and customer networks against increasingly sophisticated threat actors. As computing power and the threat landscape have evolved, some features and protocols currently in use have become vulnerable to attack. While more secure alternatives are now available, legacy protocols may still be in use in some environments.

To improve network security, reduce the attack surface, and protect sensitive data, Cisco will begin phasing out legacy and insecure features and protocols, encouraging customers to transition to more secure alternatives. This process will be gradual and designed to minimize operational impact. The first phase begins with the Cisco IOS XE 17.18 release train. This is part of a broader initiative to make Cisco products more secure by default and secure by design.

Starting with the Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 release and in future releases, Cisco software displays warning messages when configuring features or protocols that do not provide sufficient security such as those transmitting sensitive data without encryption or using outdated encryption mechanisms. Warnings also appear when security best practices are not followed, along with suggestions for secure alternatives.

This list is subject to change, but the following is a list of features and protocols that generates warnings in releases beyond the version Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1a. Release notes for each release describes the exact changes for that release.

●     Plain-text and weak credential storage: Type 0 (plain text), 5 (MD5), or 7 (Vigenère cipher) in configuration files. 
Recommendation: Use Type 6 (AES) for reversible credentials, and Type 8 (PBKDF2-SHA-256) or Type 9 (Scrypt) for non-reversible credentials.

●     SSHv1 
Recommendation: Use SSHv2.

●     SNMPv1 and SNMPv2, or SNMPv3 without authentication and encryption 
Recommendation: Use SNMPv3 with authentication and encryption (authPriv).

●     MD5 (authentication) and 3DES (encryption) in SNMPv3 
Recommendation: Use SHA1 or, preferably, SHA2 for authentication, and AES for encryption.

●     IP source routing based on IP header options 
Recommendation: Do not use this legacy feature.

●     TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 
Recommendation: Use TLS 1.2 or later.

●     TLS ciphers using SHA1 for digital signatures 
Recommendation: Use ciphers with SHA256 or stronger digital signatures.

●     HTTP 
Recommendation: Use HTTPS.
Note
: HTTP SCEP config will still be supported.

●     Telnet 
Recommendation: Use SSH for remote access.

●     FTP and TFTP 
Recommendation: Use SFTP or HTTPS for file transfers.

●     On-Demand Routing (ODR) 
Recommendation: Use a standard routing protocol in place of CDP-based routing information exchange.

●     BootP server 
Recommendation: Use DHCP or secure boot features such as Secure ZTP.

●     TCP and UDP small servers (echo, chargen, discard, daytime) 
Recommendation: Do not use these services on network devices.

●     IP finger 
Recommendation: Do not use this protocol on network devices.

●     NTP control messages 
Recommendation: Do not use this feature.

●     TACACS+ using pre-shared keys and MD5 
Recommendation: Use TACACS+ over TLS 1.3, introduced in release Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1.

Cisco is committed to supporting customers through this transition. Subsequent releases in the Cisco IOS XE 17.18 train continues to support these features but displays warnings if they are used. Future release trains may impose additional restrictions on these features which will be communicated through release notes.

Resolved issues

You can also access the resolved caveats for this release through the Cisco Bug Search Tool.

Note: This software release may contain bug fixes first introduced in other releases. To see additional information, click the bug ID to access the Cisco Bug Search Tool.

This table lists the resolved issues in this specific software release.

Table 1.        Resolved issues for Cisco ESR6300 Router, Release 17.18.1a

Bug ID

Description

CSCwo24897

ESR6300 with SLR does not install 2G or uncapped license after reload.

CSCwn52402

In the platform, ESR-6300-NCP-K9, we may lose the configuration after removing the SLA trustpoint.

Open issues

There are no open issues in this release.

Known issues

This table lists the limitations for this release.

Table 2.             Known issues for Cisco ESR6300 Router, Release 17.18.1a

Product Impact

Description

Smart Licensing Using Policy

Starting with Cisco IOS XE 17.6.1, Smart Licensing Using Policy has changed how device information is displayed. When you configure a hostname for a product instance or device, only the Unique Device Identifier (UDI) is shown. The hostname is no longer displayed in licensing utilities and user interfaces as it was in previous releases. This change does not affect any licensing functionality, and there is no workaround for this limitation.

The licensing utilities and user interfaces affected by this change are:

●  Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM)
●  Cisco Smart License Utility (CSLU)
●  Smart Software Manager On-Prem (SSM On-Prem)

Example of revised content:
If you previously saw the device hostname in CSSM, you will now only see the UDI after upgrading to Cisco IOS XE 17.6.1 or later.

Note: This is a display change only and does not impact license operations or activation.

Key Exchange and MAC algorithms

Starting from Cisco IOS XE Release 17.10, the following Key Exchange and MAC algorithms are removed from the default list:

●  Key Exchange algorithm:

    diffie-hellman-group14-sha1

●  MAC algorithms:

    hmac-sha1

    hmac-sha2-256

    hmac-sha2-512

Note: You can use the ip ssh server algorithm kex command to configure the Key Exchange algorithm and the ip ssh server algorithm mac command to configure the MAC algorithms.

Compatibility

This section lists compatibility information on Cellular Module Modem Firmware, OEM/PRI and it lists the latest modem firmware available for each of the modems used by the Cisco IoT routers. See the Cisco Firmware Upgrade Guide for 4G LTE and 5G Cellular Modems for upgrade instructions.

Cisco IOS XE updates do not automatically update modem firmware. You should manually check and update all modems to the latest firmware version, including any related PRI and/or OEMPRI components. Refer to the following table for the most up-to-date information.

Table 3.             Cellular Module Modem Firmware for Cisco ESR 6300 Router, Release 17.18.1a

Cellular Module

Modem
and
Firmware version

Software download link

P-LTE-MNA

WP7610

02.37.03.05

 https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286324942/type

P-LTE-LA

EM7430

2.38.00.00

Generic:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286308413/type

Australia Telstra:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286311403/type

Japan:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286311416/type

P-LTEA-EA

EM7455

02.37.0x.00

Generic:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286308426/type

Europe:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286308426/type

Canada:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286319713/type

North America ATT:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286311442/type

North American Sprint:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286311455/type

North America Verizon:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286311429/type

P-LTEAP18-GL

LM960

32.00.1x9

Generic:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286324996/type

North America:

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286324947/type

P-5GS6-GL

FN980

38.03.0202

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286329300/type/

 

Supported software packages

This section provides information about the release packages associated with Cisco ESR6300 Router.

For latest software downloads, see the Software Download page.

Table 4.             Software packages for Cisco ESR6300 Router, Release 17.18.1a

Image type

Filename

Universal

c6300-universalk9.17.18.01.SPA.bin

Related resources

Table 5.             Related resources

Document

Description

Cisco IOS XE

Provides products supported by Cisco IOS XE.

Cisco ESR6300 Embedded Series Router

Provides data sheet for the specified routers.

Cisco Industrial Routers and Industrial Wireless Access Points Antenna Guide

Provides descriptions and installation instructions for wireless antennas supported on the Cisco Industrial Series Routers and Industrial Wireless Access Points.

Cisco IOS XE 17.x

Provides information about Cisco IOS XE 17.x releases and ordering details.

Cisco SD-WAN

Provides information about SD-WAN releases and resources.

Cisco IoT Field Network Director

Provides information about Cisco IoT Field Network Director releases and resources.

Cisco Industrial Network Director

Provides information about Cisco Industrial Network Director releases and resources.

Cisco IoT Operations Dashboard

Provides information about Cisco IoT Operations Dashboard releases and resources.

Smart Licensing Using Policy on the Cisco Catalyst IR1101, IR1800, IR8140, and IR8340 Routers 

or the 

Cisco Industrial IoT Licensing

Provides information about Smart Licensing Using Policy solutions and their deployment on IOS XE routers.

Cisco Support

You can submit a service request here.

 Cisco TAC

Provides most up-to-date detailed troubleshooting information.

Cisco Feature Navigator

Use CFN to browse Cisco products and find relevant features and licenses. allows you to compare platforms, determine common features between products, and identify unique product features. The CFN also has a tab that provides a MIB Locator


 

Legal information

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and phone numbers used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses and phone numbers. Any examples, command display output, network topology diagrams, and other figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses or phone numbers in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.

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