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Product Bulletin

Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2SX and 12.2SY

on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series

PB3511

Cisco Systems

announces updates to the software release designations effective May 23, 2012 for new

technology releases off of the Cisco

IOS

Software 12.2SX Major Release and 12.2SY Standard Maintenance

Release for the Cisco Catalyst

6500 Series.

This announcement provides clarity on software maintenance plans and does not change any Cisco standard end-

of-life policies, located at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_end-of-life_policy.html. The Cisco

standard end-of-life policy defines maintenance and support requirements for a major release, which for the Cisco

Catalyst 6500 Series is 12.2SX and 12.2SY. The end-of-life policy does not specify how long bug-fix maintenance

rebuilds can be expected on a new technology release such as 12.2(33)SXJ on Major Release 12.2S. Figure 1

shows the release numbering convention for Major Release 12.2S.

Figure 1. Release Numbering Convention for Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2S

Under current policy, after a new technology release becomes available on the same major release, bug fixes will

generally not be applied to previous new technology releases. In order to get comprehensive bug fixes, customers

must move to the latest new technology release identified by Cisco.

As long as maintenance is offered under the Cisco end-of-life policies for a major release, bug fixes will continue

to be applied to that release, but can only be expected to appear in the most recent new technology release of that

major release. For example, for Cisco IOS Software Major Release 12.2S, a move from Release 12.2(33) SXI to

Release 12.2(33) SXJ would be required after Release 12.2(33) SXJ is available in order to get bug fixes

through rebuilds.

To allow customers to qualify, deploy, and remain on a new technology release for more than 6 to 12 months with

active bug-fix maintenance plans, Cisco will now designate new technology releases on Major Release 12.2S as

either a standard maintenance release or extended maintenance release. A standard maintenance release will

offer regular bug-fix maintenance rebuilds for 12 months, and an extended maintenance release will offer bug-fix

maintenance rebuilds for 24 months.

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Product Bulletin Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2SX and 12.2SY on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series PB3511 ® Cisco Systems announces updates to the software release designations effective May 23, 2012 for new ® ® technology releases off of the Cisco IOS Software 12.2SX Major Release and 12.2SY Standard Maintenance ® Release for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series. This announcement provides clarity on software maintenance plans and does not change any Cisco standard endof-life policies, located at http://www.
PAGE 2
Under the new policy, bug fixes can be expected in any new technology release that is in an active maintenance state as defined by the standard maintenance and extended maintenance release designator. Figure 2 shows sample standard maintenance and extended maintenance releases and explains the new policy. Figure 2.
PAGE 3
Table 1 shows standard maintenance release goals and dates for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series. Table 1. Standard Maintenance Release Goals and Dates for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Goal Definition Date Posting to Software Download Center The date the software release is first available at http://www.cisco.com/kobayashi/swcenter/sw-ios.shtml. Day 0 End of standard maintenance The last date on which regular bug-fix maintenance rebuilds will be made available for this +12 months software release.
PAGE 4
Table 3. Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(50)SY Goals and Dates Goal Date Posting to Software Download Center July 12, 2011 End of standard maintenance July 26, 2012 End of critical maintenance March 1, 2013 End of Support July 31, 2017 12.2(33)SXJ Software Release Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXJ for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is the latest IOS release for Supervisor 720 and Supervisor 32 customers and is an extended maintenance software release.
PAGE 5
12.2(18) SXF Software Release Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(18)SXF for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series has reached End of Sale and the dates are provided in Table 7. Table 7. Cisco IOS Software Release 12.
PAGE 6
For More Information For more information about Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2SX and 12.2SY on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6017/prod_release_notes_list.html or contact your local account representative. For more information about Cisco IOS Software lifecycle goals and dates, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_end-of-life_policy.html. Printed in USA © 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.