Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Upgrade Guide

PDF

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Upgrade Guide

Manage software maintenance upgrade images

Updated: July 1, 2026

Want to summarize with AI?

Log in

Manages SMU images by adding, viewing, activating, deactivating, or removing them using vManage. Provides step-by-step instructions for handling SMU images and describes related behaviors and outcomes.

Use Cisco SD-WAN Manager to add, upgrade and activate, or deactivate and remove an SMU image.

Note

When you activate or deactivate an SMU image, the device may reboot, depending on the SMU image. A non-reload SMU type does not trigger a device reboot. A reload SMU type triggers a device reboot.

Procedure

  1. Add an SMU image using the Cisco SD-WAN Manager software repository.

    See the Cisco SD-WAN Manager Add Software Images to Repository procedure in the ​Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide.

  2. View SMU images using the Cisco SD-WAN Manager software repository.

    See the Cisco SD-WAN Manager View Software Images procedure in the ​Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide . Note the following points when viewing SMU images:

    • The Available SMU Versions column displays the number of SMU images available for the current base image version (Cisco IOS XE image version).

    • View the defects that are associated with an SMU image by clicking a desired entry in the Available SMU Versions column. In the Available SMU Versions dialog box, you can view the defect ID, the corresponding SMU version, and the SMU types, such as non-reload or reload.

    • In the Available SMU Versions dialog box, delete an SMU version by clicking the delete icon next to an SMU version.

  3. Upgrade an SMU image using the Cisco SD-WAN Manager software upgrade window.

    See the Cisco SD-WAN Manager Upgrade the Software Image on a Device procedure in the ​Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide . Note the following points about the SMU image that you choose to upgrade:

    • In the devices table, the Available SMUs column displays the number of SMU images that are available for the current base image version.

    • View a list of all available SMU versions and the upgrade images for a device by clicking a desired entry under the Available SMUs column. In the Available SMUs dialog box, you can view the SMU versions, SMU types, and the state of an SMU version.

      The SMU version is in the format base_image_version . cdet_id.

    • In the Upgrade dialog box, optionally check Activate and Reboot to activate an SMU image and perform a reboot of the Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN device automatically.

      After you check the Activate and Reboot check box, Cisco SD-WAN Manager installs and activates the SMU image on a device and triggers a reload based on the SMU type. For more Information about activating a software image, see the Cisco SD-WAN Manager Activate a Software Image procedure in the ​Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide.

    After a successful upgrade of an SMU image, the Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN device sends a corresponding success message.

  4. Deactivate an SMU image and remove the image from a device using the Delete a Software Image procedure in the ​Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Monitor and Maintain Configuration Guide.

  5. Do not enable the Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN device interface on the ISR1100 device.

  6. Add the serial.viptela file to Cisco SD-WAN Manager to add the device.

  7. From the Cisco SD-WAN Manager menu, choose Configuration > Devices > Migrate Device to migrate from viptela operating system to Cisco IOS XE operating system.

  8. Enable the Cisco IOS XE Catalyst SD-WAN device interface to bring up the control connections.

  9. Verify the device sync up in Cisco SD-WAN Manager.