Cisco IOS Explained – Part 3

The M releases are extended maintenance releases, for which Cisco will supply bug fixes for a period of 44 months. The T releases are standard maintenance releases, for which Cisco will only supply bug fixes for a period of 18 months.

Cisco IOS Packaging and Feature Sets

Nearly all of the Cisco equipment which is running IOS also has one or more “feature sets” or “packages”, normally eight packages for Cisco routers and five packages for Cisco network switches. As an example, Cisco IOS releases intended for deployment on Catalyst switches are obtainable as “standard” versions (supplying just basic IP routing), “enhanced” versions, which supply you with complete IPv4 routing support, and “advanced IP services” versions, which supply the improved features along with IPv6 support.

Each distinct package relates to one service category, including:

  • IP Data
  • Converged Voice & Data
  • Security & VPN

The precise feature set needed for a certain function can be found using the Cisco Feature Set Browser.

Starting with the 1900, 2900 and 3900 series of Cisco ISR Routers, Cisco revised the licensing model of IOS. Routers come out of the box with IP Base preinstalled, and supplementary feature pack licenses can be deployed as bolt-on additions to enlarge the feature set of the routing device. The obtainable feature packs are:

  • Data adds features including BFD, IP SLAs, IPX, L2TPv3, Mobile IP, MPLS, SCTP.
  • Security adds features including VPN, Firewall, IP SLAs, NAC.
  • Unified Communications (UC) adds features including CallManager Express, Gatekeeper, H.323, IP SLAs, MGCP, SIP, VoIP, CUBE(SBC).

An Interface Descriptor Block, long for IDB, is a part of memory or Cisco IOS internal data structure which comprises of information like the IP address, interface state, and packet statistics for networking data. Cisco’s IOS software keeps one IDB for each hardware interface in a specific Cisco switch or router and one IDB for each subinterface. The number of IDBs existing in a system differs with the Cisco hardware platform types.

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Cisco IOS Packaging FAQs – Part 3

A. For assistance with IOS package selection, please have a look at the Cisco IOS Packaging Product Bulletin available on Cisco’s website: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html

Q. Which Cisco tools can identify the memory impact of the new packages?

A.

• Cisco Software Advisor: http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Support/CompNav/Index.pl

• Cisco IOS Upgrade Planner: http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Software/Iosplanner/Planner-tool/iosplanner.cgi

• Cisco Feature Navigator: http://tools.cisco.com/ITDIT/CFN/jsp/index.jsp

By utilization of these tools together, registered clients and partners can search by feature or release, and can compare differentiated releases and feature sets.

IOS Packaging at Cisco

Q. Can clients transfer licenses for older packages?

A. Yes, clients will be allowed a one-time only opportunity to transfer licenses from the old packages that they are using today to a new package. No client action is necessary for updating the old licensing to the new ones.

Q. How can Cisco IOS Packaging be related to other differentiated Cisco packaging efforts?

A. Cisco IOS Packaging is just one part of a complete repackaging initiative at Cisco. The other pieces are Cisco IOS Streamlining, Cisco IOS Image Reduction, and Cisco IOS Extended Support.

For further information about these programs, please visit the below Cisco resource page: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html

Cisco IOS Future Roadmap

Q. What future Packaging changes are currently planned and in the pipeline for the future IOS upgrades?

A.

• Cisco IOS Packaging 12.2S for Cisco 6500 Series LAN Switches and Cisco 7600
Series Routers.

– This has happened. For further information about these programs, please see: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/prod_bulletin0900aecd80281b17.html

• Cisco IOS Packaging 12.2S for Edge/Core Routers for the Cisco 7200 Series Routers, Cisco 10000 Series Internet Routers, and more

 – This has happened. For further information about these programs, please see: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/prod_bulletin0900aecd80281b17.html

Q. Will Cisco be addressing the platforms which are not supported by these new packaging initiatives?

A. Cisco will continue to provide the older packages for such older platforms.

Cisco IOS Resources

Q. Where can we see a full mapping of older packages to the new IOS Packaging?

A. For migration information, please have a look at the Cisco IOS Packaging Product Bulletin: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html

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