Cisco Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(1) Guide D’Information
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Q&A
CISCO IOS SOFTWARE MAJOR RELEASE 12.4
This document was developed to address the most frequently asked questions from our Sales Teams about Cisco IOS
®
Software Major Release 12.4.
GENERAL
Q.
What type of customer will be interested in deploying Release 12.4?
A.
Release 12.4 benefits from the new functionality delivered in Release 12.3T, as well as from the stability inherent in a maintenance-only
release. Generally, the following customers are likely to benefit from an upgrade to Release 12.4:
•
Customers who are currently running Release 12.3T. Release 12.4 will provide the maintenance for the Release 12.3T family after it reaches
its End of Engineering milestone.
For information about the Cisco IOS Software lifecycle, refer to
Cisco IOS Software Product Lifecycle Dates & Milestones, Product Bulletin
No. 2214
.
•
Customers who require the functionality or hardware support delivered in Release 12.3T coupled with the ongoing maintenance and
stability delivered in Release 12.4.
For detailed descriptions, refer to
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 New Features and Hardware Support, Product Bulletin No. 2852
.
•
Customers who are using any of the Release 12.3 Special Releases, which are now part of Major Release 12.4. For information about these
releases, refer to:
Q.
Where can customers download Release 12.4?
A.
Customers can download any release product from
Software Center
(requires Cisco.com login).
This site also provides valuable Cisco IOS Software information about hardware/software compatibility, and ordering procedures. Please ensure that
you are entitled to access and download the release through an active SMARTnet contract or purchased feature license.
Q.
Are there memory requirements related to the deployment of Release 12.4?
A.
Prior to installing Release 12.4, please consult the
Cisco IOS Upgrade Planner
(requires Cisco.com login) for memory requirements, which may
vary depending upon hardware produce and image feature set selections.
TYPES OF CISCO IOS SOFTWARE RELEASES
Q.
What type of release is Release 12.4?
A.
Release 12.4 is a major release. Major releases consolidate features/functions previously introduced in technology releases. A major release
emphasizes stability and reliability. No features or functions are added after First Commercial Shipment (FCS). Major releases, matured through
maintenance releases, are designed for areas of the network carrying business-critical applications.
For additional information about the Cisco IOS Software lifecycle, refer to
Cisco IOS Software Product Lifecycle Dates & Milestones, Product
Bulletin No. 2214
.