Product Bulletin 1654

Cisco IOS Advisory

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE:
This Product Bulletin introduces a new mechanism to communicate field issues regarding Cisco IOS software. Cisco proactively works with the customer to announce any known defects that might affect their network and also announce the availability of the recommended solution.

DETAILED INFORMATION:
Deferral Advisory The purpose of the Deferral Advisory is to announce the removal of affected IOS image(s) from Cisco's offerings (i.e. CCO) and to introduce replacement IOS image(s). At the time that the Deferral of an IOS image is advised, customers are strongly urged to migrate from the affected image(s) to the replacement image(s). For support and notification information please see the Advisory Matrix section of this document. CAUSES The Deferral Advisory is the mechanism used to limit customer exposure due to: Severe defects found after the images are released Defects which may disable the functionality of a major feature Failures caused by configuration command line inputs or show commands Data corruption, Memory leaks, Routing table compromised or Framing errors Other defects that are serious enough to be considered show stoppers

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BENEFITS: Access - To stop the ripple effect of a defect in the field by removing the images from CCO Communication - To announce the recommended solution and its availability date on CCO

EXAMPLE: A. A defect (i.e. DDTsXXXXX) is found in the field on Cisco IOS release 12.2(2) B. Cisco determines that this defect (DDTsXXXXX) requires a Deferral Advisory based on one or more of the CAUSES for deferrals listed above. C. Cisco IOS 12.2(2) is REMOVED from CCO and the "What's HOT" Message is updated.

D. The replacement, Cisco IOS 12.2(2a) is available as the recommended solution on CCO.

Software Advisory
The purpose of the Software Advisory is to announce the introduction of a solution to a defect. This defect will affect certain customers running specific network architectures. Cisco has determined that the defect does not impact the general use of the IOS release. At the time that the Software Advisory of an IOS image is posted on CCO, customers running the affected image(s) are recommended to upgrade to the rebuild or maintenance containing the replacement image(s). Meanwhile customers that are NOT affected by the defect still have the option of downloading the affected image(s) from CCO. For support and notification information please see the Advisory Matrix section of this document. CAUSES The Software Advisory is a mechanism used to communicate to users the following: Description of defects that impact a specific subset of users within a limited customer base. Cosmetic enhancements that increase customer experience with IOS. Migration path and availability dates to the most recent updates in IOS codes.

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BENEFITS: There are some clear benefits of having a Software Advisory categorization: Communication - To communicate a Software Advisory to the field and report its recommended solution and availability date on CCO. Access - Customers who are not affected are still able to download their images from CCO. By having the Software Advisory category for images, customers have the choice to determine whether or not they still want to continue downloading Software Advised images.

EXAMPLE: A. A defect (i.e. DDTsXXXXX) is found in the field on Cisco IOS release 12.2(2). B. Cisco determines that this defect, DDTsXXXXX, requires a Software Advisory based on its limited impact to customers and low severity assessment. C. Cisco IOS 12.2(2) remains available on CCO, while 12.2(2a) is created to provide the replacement images. D. The replacement, Cisco IOS 12.2(2a) is available as the recommended solution. The "What's NEW" message section of CCO is update.

Software Advisory Vs. Deferral Advisory

Migration to a replacement image can be made at the customer's discretion for a Software Advisory, whereas migration is strongly urged for a Deferral Advisory. Generally, Software Advisories are processed for images that do not have service affecting bugs allowing customers to either migrate to the replacement images at their own discretion or remain utilizing their installed images.

For support information please see the Support Information section of this document.

Obsolescence Advisory
The purpose of the Obsolescence Advisory is to remove older IOS maintenance releases that have become outdated and not recommended for new installations. As the affected release(s) are removed from CCO, Cisco will no longer ship these releases. For support and notification information please see the Advisory Matrix section of this document.

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Advisory Matrix
DEFERRAL ADVISORY A Deferral Advisory halts access to affected image(s) and provides Cisco recommended solutions. Migration to solution image(s) is strongly urged for customers running the affected images. An affected image(s) is severe enough to disrupt network traffic. Most, if not all, affected customers are urged to upgrade to the replacement image(s). Customers are notified via the What's Hot section of CCO, Upgrade Planner and possibly Field Notices. Images are supported as defined by the service contract. If customers are affected, they are strongly urged by the TAC to migrate to the replacement image(s) as soon as it's available. For those customers who have AES/NSA service contracts, your designated technical lead will also be able to provide you with migration path information. The terms and conditions that governed your rights and obligations and those of Cisco, with respect to the original images, will apply to the replacement image(s). CCO: The affected image is removed. ACCESS Cisco will no longer ship the affected image(s). New orders will be shipped with the replacement image(s) automatically. SOFTWARE ADVISORY A Software Advisory notifies customers of replacement image(s). Migration to replacement image(s) is optional to the field. An affected image(s) is not severe enough to disrupt network traffic, but important functions may not be usable. Customers running an affected image(s) have the choice to upgrade at their own discretion. Customers are notified via the What's New section of CCO. OBSOLESCENCE ADVISORY An Obsolescence Advisory provides customers with the most current maintenance releases of Cisco IOS software by removing outdated releases from CCO. Generally when more than 4 releases are posted to CCO, Cisco will remove the oldest posted release. Note: The release that is being obsoleted is generally in good order.

DEFINITION

CONDITION

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Customers are notified via the What's New section of CCO.

SUPPORT FOR IMAGES

Images are supported as defined by the service contract. Only if they are affected, customers are recommended by the TAC to migrate to the replacement image(s). For those customers who have AES/NSA service contracts, your designated technical lead will also be able to provide you with migration path information. The terms and conditions that governed your rights and obligations and those of Cisco, with respect to the original images, will apply to the replacement image(s). CCO: The replacement image(s) and affected image(s) remain available on CCO. Cisco will no longer ship the affected image(s). New orders will be shipped with the replacement image(s) automatically.

Images are supported as defined by the service contract. Only if they are affected, customers are recommended by the TAC to migrate to the replacement image(s).

The terms and conditions that governed your rights and obligations and those of Cisco, with respect to the original images, will apply to the replacement image(s).

CCO: The Obsolete image(s) are removed. Cisco will no longer ship the Obsolete image(s) as per the End of Sales (EOS) announcement for the Cisco IOS release.

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SUPPORT INFORMATION
TAC supports customers who are running defective image(s), as defined by the service contract, however, customers are recommended by the TAC to migrate to the replacement image(s) only if they are affected. For those customers who have AES/NSA service contracts, their designated technical lead will also be able to provide you with migration path information. The terms and conditions that governed your rights and obligations and those of Cisco, with respect to the original images will apply to the replacement image(s).

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
There are several methods of Notification of such advisories. The first method is that of posting the Advisory details on What's Hot (Deferral Advisory) and What's New (Software and Obsolescence Advisory). The second method of notification is through the customer notification tool. This notification tool will email customers that have downloaded the affected images through CCO and whom have agreed to receive such email notifications from Cisco.

DEFINITIONS
WORD/ACRONYM Deferral Software Advisory Obsolescence Affected Image Replacement Image Showstopper bugs IOS TAC CCO IOS Upgrade Planner What's New DESCRIPTION Process to address access to affected image(s) and provide Cisco recommended solutions. Process to notify of replacement image(s) to customers. Provide customers with the latest available IOS software by removing older releases. Image targeted for replacement. Image containing fix(es) for the affected image(s). A software defect that significantly impacts customers using typical network configurations and there is either no workaround or the available workaround is not a viable solution in typical customer topologies. Cisco Systems' Internetworking Operating System Cisco Systems' Technical Assistance Center Cisco Connection Online found at http://www.cisco.com/ http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Software/Iosplanner/Plannertool/iosplanner.cgi? Location on CCO where Software Advisories are posted: http://www.cisco.com/cgibin/Software/Newsbuilder/Builder/newsbuilder.cgi?f_dir=kobayashi%2Fsw -center%2Farticles&no_days=90&viewer=customer&subject=ios Location on CCO where Deferral Advisories are posted: http://www.cisco.com/kobayashi/sw-center/sw-ios.shtml

What's Hot

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