Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality and hardware support for mid-range and low-end Ethernet LAN switching for enterprise access and distribution networks, and mid-range and low-end Metro Ethernet switching for service provider edge networks. These trains are intended to be short-lived and ultimately integrated into the 15M&T train.Ĭisco IOS Software Release 12.2SE and 15.0SE Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality and hardware support for emerging platforms and features. The first release in this train, Release 15.0SY, inherits hardware-enabled services from Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(50)SY. This train is designed primarily for enterprise campus distribution and core applications.
Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality and hardware support for Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switches running Supervisor Engine 2T and later models. Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality and hardware support for routers that were designed primarily for service providers, such as Cisco 7200 Series Routers, Cisco 7300 Series Routers, and Cisco 7600 Series Routers.
Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality in a converged release train that is designed primarily for Cisco Catalyst Switches and Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches. This software release family incorporates hardware support and software features that were introduced in the Cisco IOS Software 12.4T and 12.4 Mainline trains. Provides Cisco IOS Software functionality and hardware support for enterprise, access, and commercial networks. Current Primary Software Release Families and Trains for Cisco IOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software Software Release Family For the latest information about releases and hardware, see the Cisco Networking Software product page. The following table (Table 1) identifies and describes the primary software release families and trains for Cisco IOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software. Starting with Release 15.4(3)M&T, support for Cisco 5940 Embedded Services Routers was integrated into the Cisco IOS Software Release 15M&T train, which rendered subsequent, additional releases from the Release 15.1GC train unnecessary. For example, the Cisco IOS Software Release 15.1GC train was a short-lived train that included current features from the Cisco IOS Software Release 15M&T train and introduced support for Cisco 5940 Embedded Services Routers.
To expedite availability of new hardware support, a software release family may include a short-lived release train, which is a train that branches from a longer-term train. Each train has a corresponding latest release that incorporates the latest features and hardware support for the platforms on which it runs. For example, the Cisco IOS Software Release 15SY train coexists with the Cisco IOS Software Release 15M&T train. Because different software release families can apply to different platforms or market segments, several trains can be current at any point in time. For example, Cisco IOS Software Release 15.6(3)M is a release from the Cisco IOS Software Release 15M&T train. As such, it consists of individual software releases.
A train provides a vehicle for delivering software with a specific set of features to a specific set of platforms. Each software release family consists of one or more trains.
A software release family is software that shares a code base, applies to related hardware platforms, and has some overlap in the timeframe when it is actively supported. To better meet the requirements of different market segments, Cisco IOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software releases are organized into software release families and trains. This guide also provides an overview of the software lifecycle and examples of migration paths for common migration scenarios.įor Cisco Nexus 9000 and Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Software releases, see the Cisco NX-OS Software Strategy and Lifecycle Guide. This guide provides an overview of the release models and practices for the current, primary Cisco IOS Software and Cisco NX-OS Software releases, including the various release families and trains, release-naming conventions, packaging architectures, and image-naming conventions. To meet these requirements, Cisco has implemented software release models and practices that supplement the support provided directly by the software. Common Hardware Families and Platforms and Recommended Network Operating System SoftwareĬisco Networking Software-Cisco IOS Software, Cisco IOS XE Software, and Cisco IOS XR Software, collectively referred to as Cisco IOS Software in this guide, and Cisco NX-OS Software-continue to evolve to meet the rapidly changing requirements of the most demanding enterprise and service provider networks.