Specifications

Chapter 9 IOS® Software and Network Management
9-8
Cisco IOS® Software
Interim Builds
An interim build is software from an internal Cisco engineering build process that the Cisco
Technical Assistance Center (TAC) gives customers to use on a temporary basis to address
a specific issue. Customers who have an interim build installed on their network should
contact TAC for assistance in replacing the interim build.
Important Communications about Releases
Cisco issues many software advisories to customers for informational purposes only. Often,
software advisories describe problems with Cisco IOS Software that are platform specific
or occur under unusual circumstances, and therefore, do not affect most customers. Often,
no action is required by the customer.
Critical Release Communication Types
Cisco IOS Software Licenses
A Cisco IOS Software License includes the right to use a particular software release and
feature set on one router. In some cases, additional value-added functionality is provided in
software images but not covered by the "base" Cisco IOS Software License. The right to use
these features is offered through a feature license.
A feature license conveys the right to use a feature, but cannot add a feature to a software
release that does not support it. For example, purchasing a WAN Packet Protocols/Net flow
license for software Release 11.0 will not upgrade the software to support Net flow. Choose
a software release that supports all required features, then choose any necessary feature
licenses.
Cisco IOS Software Upgrade Licenses
Customers who purchase “base” software licenses may wish to increase their software
functionality or feature set at some point. The following illustrates the benefits of software
feature licenses as well as how they are used to provide increased software functionality.
Security Advisory
Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) issues a security advisory to alert customers to security issues
that directly impact Cisco products and to help customers repair the Cisco product.
Security Notices
Cisco issues Security Notices about issues that require a response to information posted to a public forum, or to
make recommendations to mitigate general problems affecting network stability.
Deferral Advisory
Cisco issues a deferral advisory to announce the removal of a Cisco IOS image from Cisco’s offerings and to
introduce a replacement image. A deferral advisory is most often issued to correct a defect. At the time that the
deferral of a Cisco IOS image is advised, customers are strongly urged to migrate from the affected image to the
replacement image.
Example Description
Upgrade A Feature Set (Single)
If a customer purchased a Router with Enterprise software, earlier and now wants to upgrade to
Enterprise with Firewall/IDS, the customer has one of two options
• With a valid maintenance contract, the customer may purchase the software feature license,
Firewall/IDS Upgrade, to upgrade from Enterprise to Enterprise with Firewall/IDS.
• Without maintenance, the customer will need to purchase a new software license
Enterprise/FW/IDS, in order to upgrade from Enterprise to Enterprise with Firewall/IDS.
Upgrade Feature Sets (Multiple)
If a customer purchased a router with IP software, product code and now wants to upgrade to
Enterprise with IPSEC 56, the customer has one of two options
• With a valid maintenance contract, the customer will need to purchase two software feature
license: IP to Enterprise and IPSEC 56 Upgrade. The first license upgrades from IP to
Enterprise, and the second upgrades from Enterprise to Enterprise/IPSEC 56.
• Without maintenance, the customer will need to purchase a new software license,
Enterprise/IPSEC 56, in order to upgrade from IP to Enterprise with IPSEC 56.