Contents

Introduction

Background Information

Cisco IOS XE Software Support

Recommendations

Introduction

This document describes how to choose a stable Cisco IOS® XE release for enterprise routing platforms.

Background Information

This document covers recommended releases for Catalyst 8000 Edge, ASR1000, ISR4000, CSR1000v, and ISR1000 Platforms.

The software versions provided in this document are generally considered stable for the majority of deployments. Before you select a release, review the associated Release Note document and verify there are no open caveats that can impact the device based on its configured features. The Release Notes also contain tables that identify when Rommon, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) versions must be upgraded before you perform the Cisco IOS XE upgrade.

Whenever possible, it is advised to install an Extended Maintenance (EM) release of Cisco IOS XE software. Where hardware support or support for a particular feature is not yet available in an EM release, a Standard Maintenance (SM) release is required. When the next EM release becomes available, it is advised to move from the SM to an EM version that provides the same hardware and software support.

Cisco IOS XE Software Support

Each Cisco IOS XE software release is classified as either an SM release or an EM release.

SM Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 12 months from First Customer Shipment (FCS) with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software releases 16.11, 17.2, and 17.5.

EM Release - A sustaining support lifetime of 36 months from FCS with scheduled rebuilds. Examples are Cisco IOS XE Software releases 16.9, and 16.12.

Note: Every subsequent third release (for example, Cisco IOS XE Software release 16.12, 17.3, 17.6, 17.9, 17.12 and so on) is an EM release.

Recommendations

Product Family

Recommended Versions

Known Caveats/ Notes

Release Notes

Catalyst 8500

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms

Catalyst 8500L

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes Catalyst 8500 Series Edge Platforms

Catalyst 8300

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes Cisco Catalyst 8300 Edge Platforms

Catalyst 8200

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes Cisco Catalyst 8200 Edge Platform

Catalyst 8200L

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes Cisco Catalyst 8200 Edge Platform

Catalyst 8000v

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes for Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software

ASR1000

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

- Earlier versions of 17.x are aware of FN - 70611

- When you upgrade RP2 from older versions to 16.12+ be familiar with the ROMMON/CPLD requirements.

Release Notes for Cisco ASR 1000 Series, Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.6.x

CSR1000v

17.3.8a

17.4 and beyond requires Catalyst 8000v.

Release Notes for Cisco CSR 1000V Series, Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.3.x

ISR4000

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes for Cisco 4000 Series ISRs, Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.9.x

ISR1100

17.6.6a or 17.9.4a

Depending on feature requirements.

Release Notes for Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Routers, Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.9.x

Additional Considerations

- Version 17.6, 17.9 and 17.12 continue to receive long-term bug fix support with additional rebuilds to incorporate fixes in the future.

- Starting in Version 17.11.1 and later, Weak Cryptographic Algorithms Are Not Allowed by Default. Please review FN - 72510 for additional details.

Related Information

- Recommended Releases for Cisco SD-WAN

- Cisco IOS XE 17 - Release Notes - Cisco

- Cisco Support and Downloads