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Cisco IOS Packaging

Cisco IOS Packaging Customer Q&A

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Cisco IOS Packaging

Cisco IOS Packaging

Q. What is Cisco IOS Packaging?
A. Cisco IOS® Packaging is an initiative that simplifies the image selection process by consolidating the number of packages and using consistent package names across platforms.
The first phase of Cisco IOS Packaging is specifically designed for Cisco 1700, Cisco 2600XM, Cisco 2691, the Cisco 3700 Series Access Routers, and the Cisco 1800, 2800, and 3800 Integrated Services Router family. It is available in Cisco IOS Software Major Release 12.3M/T, with additional enhancements in 12.4M/T.
Q. What are the objectives of Cisco IOS Packaging?
A.

• Simplification-Simplified software selection process and reduction in feature set confusion

• Consolidation-Streamlined the number of feature sets from as many as forty-four to eight

• Consistency-Consistent naming across platforms and tools

• Improve the perceived value of Cisco IOS Software

Q. What are the key customer benefits of Cisco IOS Packaging?
A.

• Improved Customer Experience Through Simplification

–Cisco IOS Packaging simplifies the customer's process of determining the most logical packages. The customer can save time in selecting software by referring to the Feature Inheritance Pyramid, which delineates the functionality of each new package:

–A customer who upgrades from one package to a more premium package continues to have all the features and services from the previous package plus all the added features in the new package. This takes the uncertainty out of the process.

• Consolidation and Consistency

–Customers can quickly and easily select the best software package for their desired functionality and specific platforms.

• Simplification of Upgrades and Migration

–The deployment of critical functionality is simplified. If the customer upgrades from one package to another package, the upgrade path is clearly defined and the customer is assured that they have access to the new desired functionality as well as all functionality in the package from which they are upgrading.

New Packages

Q. What are the eight new packages?
A.

• IP Base1, IP Base without Crypto2-Entry level Cisco IOS Software image (Classic IP Data + trunking and DSL)

• IP VoiceText Box: 1, IP Voice without CryptoText Box: 2-Adds VoIP, VoFR to IP Base (Adds Voice to Data)

• SP Services-Adds SSH/SSL, ATM, VoATM, MPLS, etc. to IP Voice (Adds SP Services to Voice & Data)

• Advanced Security-Adds Cisco IOS FW, IDS/IDP, NAC, SSH/SSL, IPsec VPN, etc. to IP Base (Add Security/VPN to Data)

• Enterprise BaseText Box: 1, Enterprise Base without CryptoText Box: 2-Adds Enterprise Layer 3 routed protocols (AT, IPX, etc.) and IBM support to IP Base (Add Multiprotocol Services to Data)

• Enterprise Services3, Enterprise Services without Crypto4-Adds full IBM support, Service Provider Services to Enterprise Base (Merge Enterprise Base & SP Services)

• Advanced IP Services-Adds IPv6, Advanced Security to SP Services (Merge Advanced Security & SP Services)

• Advanced Enterprise Services-Full Cisco IOS Software (Merge Advanced IP Services & Enterprise Services)

Q. What is the new naming convention and what do the names mean?
A. The new package names emphasize the inheritance characteristics of the new packaging framework. They also provide a high-level feature content description of the new packages, which further simplifies the image selection process.
The following categories summarize the new package naming:

• Base-Entry level package (i.e.: IP Base, Enterprise Base)

• Services-Adds MPLS, IP Telephony Services, VoIP, VoFR, and ATM (i.e.: SP Services or Enterprise Services)

• Advanced-Adds VPN, Cisco IOS Firewall, Cisco IOS IPsec and Intrusion Detection/Protection Systems (i.e.: Advanced Security and Advanced IP Services)

• Enterprise-Adds multi-protocols: IBM, IPX, Appletalk (i.e.: Enterprise Base, Enterprise Services)

Q. What is the inheritance principle and how does it benefit customers?
A. The new packaging is fundamentally based on an inheritance model. Each comprehensive package inherits all the features and services available in the package below it (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Feature Inheritance Pyramid

Package Selection Process

Q. How do I choose the best package for my network?
A. For help with package selection, please refer to the Cisco IOS Packaging Product Bulletin: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html
Q. What Cisco tools can determine the memory impact of 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 using these tools collectively, registered customers and partners can search by feature, or release, and can compare different releases and feature sets.

Packaging at Cisco

Q. Can licenses for older packages be transferred?
A. Yes, customers will be given a one-time only chance to transfer licenses from the old packages that they are on today to a new package. No customer action is required to update the license.
Q. How does Cisco IOS Packaging relate to other Cisco packaging initiatives?
A. Cisco IOS Packaging is one piece of a full repackaging effort at Cisco. The other pieces are Cisco IOS Streamlining, Cisco IOS Image Reduction, and Cisco IOS Extended Support.
For additional information about these programs, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html

Roadmap

Q. What future Packaging changes are currently planned?
A.

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

–Yes, this has occurred. For additional information about these programs, please visit: 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

–Yes, this has occurred. For additional information about these programs, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/prod_bulletin0900aecd80281b17.html

Q. Will Cisco address the platforms that do not support this new packaging initiative?
A. Cisco will continue to offer the older packages for those platforms.

Resources

Q. Where can I find a complete mapping of older packages to the new Cisco IOS Packaging packages?
A. For migration information, please refer to the Cisco IOS Packaging Product Bulletin: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps5460/index.html
Q. Where can I find/who can I contact for more information?
1New images as of 12.4: homonymic 12.3 images plus SSH/SSL/SNMPv3 for secure management (K9 iindicator in image/part number)
2Same feature set as corresponding 12.3 IPB/IPV/EB images, now renamed to reflect the missing secure management support
3This image simply gets the standard K9 indicator in image/part number
4New image as of 12.4: Enterprise Services without SSH/SSL/SNMPv3 secure management