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Cisco IOS Image Naming Convention, Packaging, and Deployment

Cisco IOS software is a network system software that supports a broad range of Internet and enterprise network

devices. The Internet was and is a driving force for the growth of Cisco IOS. Currently, Cisco IOS supports a broad area of networking technology, eg: IP, security, voice, VoIP, optical, wireless, content networking, and

storage networking.

Cisco IOS Trains 

A Cisco IOS Train is used to deliver Cisco IOS releases that evolve from a common code base.

In recent years, with the addition of thousands of new features, hundreds of new applications, and a wide array

of platforms, Cisco IOS software has diversified from one train to multiple trains of releases in order to supportdifferent feature sets for different customer needs.

Below lists the types of Cisco IOS release trains:

Train /

Release Description  Examples 

Mainline  Consolidates releases and fixes defects. Inherits features from previous generationT train, and does not add additional features. 12.2, 12.3,12.4.

T (Technology)

Introduces new features and fixes defects.

Provides support for new hardware.

12.2T,

12.3T.

S  Supports high-end backbone routing, and fixes defects.12.0S,

12.2S.

SB Targets at SP edge networks. Supports broadband and leased-line aggregation, and

MPLS Provider Edge (PE).12.2SB.

SE, SG. 

Supports mid-range and low-end Ethernet LAN switching for Enterprise access anddistribution networks, as well as mid-range and low-end SP Metro Ethernet

networks.

12.2SE,

12.2SG.

SR  Targets at high-end SP Carrier Ethernet, Broadband Aggregation and Subscriber

Services, Metro Ethernet, and MPLS Provider Edge (PE) networks.12.2SR.

SX 

Designed for at core and data center networks, enterprise campus, and service

 provider edge networks that require world-class IP and MPLS services. Supports

high-end Ethernet LAN switching for access, distribution, core, and data center

networks.

12.2SX.

E Targets at enterprise core and SP edge networks. Supports advanced QoS, voice,

security, and fixes defects.12.1E.

B  Supports broadband features and fixes defects.

12.2B,

12.3B.

Mainline and T Train Relationship 

Cisco uses at least the following 2 trains for releasing Cisco IOS software. With 2 trains, new features can be

introduced in a release without affecting the code base of the mainline train.i) Mainline train –  A train for mainline bug fixes. Does not incorporate new features.

ii) T train  –  A train for synchronized mainline bug fixes and new features.

Note: Bug fixes to maintenance releases on a mainline train are synchronized with subsequent maintenance

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releases on the child T train.

Mainline trains (eg: 12.2) are built from previous generation T trains (eg: 12.1T). Mainline trains (eg: 12.2) are parents of other T trains (eg: 12.2T). Ex: 12.1T > 12.2 > 12.2T > 12.3 > 12.3T.

Cisco IOS Image Naming Convention 

Cisco IOS Naming Convention 

Below lists the Memory Location codes:

Code  Description 

f The image runs from Flash memory.

m The image runs from RAM.

r The image runs from ROM.

l The image is relocatable.

Below lists the Compression Format codes:

Code  Description 

z The image is compressed in zip format.

x The image is compressed in mzip format.

Interim Builds are software from the Cisco IOS engineering build processes that the Cisco TAC released to

customers to address a specific issue on temporary basis. Customers who have an interim build running on their

network devices should contact Cisco TAC for assistance for replacing the interim build.

An interim build name has a train number plus a maintenance release number and decimal number in

parentheses, eg: 12.2(3.1).

Unlike conventional computer software versioning rules, a 12.3 IOS release is not necessary newer than a 12.2

IOS release, eg: a maintenance release of 12.2T can be released few months later than a maintenance release of

12.3.

Cisco IOS binary image name examples:

Image Name  Description 

c3725-entbase-mz-123- 12.3(2)T release with the Enterprise Base Feature set for the Cisco 3725

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2.T.bin platform.

Cisco IOS Packaging 

Cisco IOS Packaging 

Cisco IOS consists of 8 packages for Cisco routers and 5 packages for Catalyst switches.

4 packages are designed to satisfy the requirements of the following 4 service categories:1.

 

IP data

2.  Converged voice and data

3.  Security and VPN

4.  Enterprise protocols

3 additional premium packages offer new IOS features that address more complex network requirements. All

features merge in the Advanced Enterprise Services that integrates support for all routing protocols with voice,

security, and VPN capabilities.

Feature Inheritance > After a feature is introduced, it will be included in the more comprehensive packages.

This clarifies the feature contents of different packages and the relationship between them, which facilitates IOSimage and feature selection during migration.

 New Cisco IOS packaging naming convention:

Base  Entry-level image –  IP Base, Enterprise Base.

Services  Addition of IP Telephony Service, MPLS, VoIP, VoFR, and ATM – 

 SP Services, EnterpriseServices.

Advanced Addition of VPN, Cisco IOS Firewall, 3DES Encryption, SSH, IPSec and IDS  –  Advanced

Security, Advanced IP Services.

Enterprise Addition of multi-protocols, eg: IBM, IPX, AppleTalk  –  Enterprise Base, Enterprise Services.

Cisco IOS Deployment 

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Early Deployment (ED) releases provide new features and new platform and interface support in addition to

 bug fixes. There are 4 variations of the ED releases:

1.  Consolidated Technology Early Deployment (CTED). These are also known as the T train and areeasily identifiable by their name, which always ends with a T (Technology), eg: 12.2T and 12.3T. T

trains are very rich in features, protocols, and platforms support.

2.  Specific Technology Early Deployment (STED). STEDs are usually platform-specific. Ex: 11.1CA,11.1CC, 11.1CT, 11.3NA, 11.3MA, 11.3WA, and 12.0DA.

3. 

Specific Market Early Deployment (SMED). SMEDs are similar to STEDs, but they target specificmarket segments, eg: ISPs. Ex: 12.0S, and 12.1E.

4.  Short-lived Early Deployment, also known as X Releases (XED). XEDs do not provide regular

software maintenance revisions. If a bug is found in the XED before its convergence with the CTED, a

software rebuild is initiated and a number is appended to the IOS name. Ex: 12.0(2)XB1 and12.0(2)XB2 are the rebuilds of 12.0(2)XB.

A General Deployment (GD) release is major Cisco IOS software that reaches its GD milestone in its lifecycle

and Cisco feels that it is suitable for deployment anywhere in customer networks where the features andfunctionalities of the release are required. Criteria for reaching the GD milestone are based on, but not limited

to: customer feedback surveys from production and test networks using the release, customer engineer bug

reports, and reported field experience. Only major releases are candidates to reach the GD milestone.

A Limited Deployment (LD) release is major Cisco IOS software that reaches the LD phase of its lifecycle

during the period between its FCS (First Customer Shipment) and the GD milestone.

Note: GD and LD releases are not applicable to any future Cisco IOS maintenance releases or rebuilds starting

from Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4

Deferred (DF) releases are not available for download due to known critical defects as announced by a Deferral

Advisory. These releases should not be running on production routers and customers are strongly urged to

migrate from the affected image to the replacement image as advised in the Deferral Advisory.

Maintenance Deployment (MD) releases provide bug fixes and ongoing software maintenance.