Cisco Software Research Help

You have reached the Help page for the Cisco Software Research Tool. For more assistance with Cisco.com, refer to global help.

 

Introduction

The Cisco Software Research tool is a web-based tool that can help you choose the right software releases for your Cisco products. It presents powerful research with features that you can customize to fit your needs. This tool gives you instant access to Cisco suggestions based on stability, longevity, adoption rate, and other factors to help you make informed decisions.

Demo video

Benefits of the Cisco Software Research Tool

The Cisco Software Research Tool provides:

• Cisco suggestions for software
• Hardware compatibility based on memory and requirements
• Feature comparison to help you find software that best suits your needs
• Downloads with a single click
• Release information with security notes
• Related information to help make informed decisions

How to Access the Cisco Software Research Tool

You can access the Software Research Tool in your browser. Use our search functionality to get software results for select products.

 

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Software Research by Product

The Search by Product function lets you input parameters to search for available and suggested software releases. Enter the Cisco product to see results.

Optional fields for parameter input and selection include:

• Currently running releases and files
• Hardware Supported
• Features Supported

 

Product Search Field

This field is used to research a specific product.

1. Enter or select the Product in the Product field:

   1. You can enter the product directly into the field, or you can select the product from the drop-down list that is provided after you start entering your product into the field.

   2. To clear the field and start over, click "x" in the Product field.

   

    

2. You can also select See All to open the Select Product box to find your product:

   1. Click See All.

   2. When the Select Product dialog box opens, navigate through the product categories to the desired item.

   3. Select your product and click OK.

   4. You can select cancel at any time.

   

    

3. View software table results. See Software Research Results.

   

    

Optional Parameters

You can further refine the results by providing other parameters for research:

• Currently Running

  You can provide the release or file that you are currently running on the Cisco device. This information helps the tool provide targeted suggestions for your needs.

  1. Enter/Select Release in Currently Running Field. Select from drop-down list or enter the entire release name.

  2. Alternatively, you can enter/select the software file in Currently Running Field. Select from drop-down list or enter the entire file name.

  3. View software table results. See Software Research Results.

  

   

• Hardware Supported

  You can provide a list of the hardware that needs to be supported on the Cisco device. This information enables the tool to show software releases that support your specific hardware configuration.

  1. Click in the Hardware Supported field or select Select from list.

     The Select Hardware dialog box opens.

  2. To search for a specific item, click the search field box (with the magnifying glass) and enter the name of the item.

     You can also scroll through the Available Hardware list (in the box on the left). When you find an item that you want to select, click the right arrow to move it to the Selected Hardware list (in the box on the right). You can use the left and right arrows to move items back and forth until the Selected Hardware list contains the appropriate items.

  3. After you have moved all the desired items into the Selected Hardware list, select OK.

     

      

  4. View software table results. See Software Research Results.

  5. To change previously selected hardware, click the 'X' icon to remove the hardware currently selected. Then click in the Select Hardware box or click Select from list.

     

   

• Features Supported

  You can provide a list of the features that you need supported on the Cisco device. This information enables the tool to show software releases that support specific features.

  1. Click in the Features Supported field or select See All.

     

      

     The Select Feature dialog box opens.

  2. To search for a specific item, click the search field box (with the magnifying glass) and enter the name of the item.

     You can also scroll through the Available Feature list (in the box on the left). When you find an item that you want to select, click the right arrow to move it to the Selected Feature list (in the box on the right). You can use the left and right arrows to move items back and forth until the Selected Feature list contains the appropriate items.

  3. After you have moved all the desired items into the Selected Feature list, select OK.

     

      

  4. View software table results. See Software Research Results.

  5. To change previously selected features, click the 'X' icon to remove the features currently selected. Then click in the Features Supported box or click Select from list.

     

      

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Software Research Results

Our research results give you the opportunity to view suggested and available software for your upgrade needs. Software information includes train, release, lifecycle, release date, reviews, and so much more! The results area also allows you to filter and sort results to suit your needs.

The Compare Feature button in the research results allows you to select features you would like to compare. With the click of a button, you have instant access to view features side-by-side to make the best choice for your needs.

Show/Hide Files

Hover over the list of releases displayed in the results table to see the link to 'Show Details' of the images that are part of the release. Click the 'Show Details' link to display all images that are part of the release. The link then toggles to say 'Hide Details'.

The 'Show | Hide All Details' link can be used to Show or Hide details of all the releases for the specified product.

 

 

 

Sort/Filter on Column Headers

Fields located at the top of the software table enable you to filter and sort the data.

Complete these steps for each field:

1. Click the down arrow beside the field you want to filter on.

2. Select the item that you want to filter on from the list provided.

3. View the results.

   Note: If you do not select a filter or if you select a blank in the drop-down list, all information for that field will be displayed in the results.

 

Cisco Suggested

See Cisco Suggested Releases.

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on Suggested in the drop-down list to view Cisco suggested releases in the software results.

2. Select All to view all available releases based on initial software research results, or select Suggested to view only the suggested releases.

   Note: To reverse the sort order of a column, click the arrow next to the column name.

   

    

Release

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on release values in the drop-down list to view a specific software release in the software results.

2. Select All to view all releases based on initial software research results.

   

    

Train

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on Train values in the drop-down list to view software releases for that train in the software results.

2. Select blank to view all trains based on initial software research results.

   

    

Life Cycle

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on lifecycle values in the drop-down list to view software releases for that lifecycle in the software results.

2. Select blank to view all life cycles based on initial software research results.

   

    

Released

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on release timeframes in the drop-down list to view software releases published in that time frame in the software results.

2. Select blank or all to view all timeframes based on initial software research results.

   

    

Feature Set

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on feature set values in the drop-down list to view software releases for that feature set in the software results.

2. Select blank to view all information on feature sets based on initial software research results.

   

    

3. For each feature set in the results column of the software table, there is a file detail overlay that you can roll over to view more information.

   

    

DRAM

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on DRAM values in the drop-down list to view software releases that will support that memory value in the software results.

2. Select blank to view all DRAM values based on initial software research results.

   

    

Flash

Complete these steps:

1. Filter on Flash values in the drop-down list to view software releases that will support that value in the software results.

2. Select blank to view all Flash values based on initial software research results.

   

    

Ratings and Reviews

The ability to read product reviews and write a product review has been enabled for certain products. To access this feature, hover over the star icons under the 'Reviews' section of the software results table. To write a review, select the Write a Review link displayed in the Reviews hover.

 

Compare Features Button

Complete these steps:

1. Select check boxes on the right to view or compare features between different software files.You can select up to 2 files to compare or 1 file to view features.

2. Click the View/Compare Features button located at the bottom right corner of the software results table.

3. View feature results for the file(s).

   

    

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Cisco Suggested Releases

Cisco offers our top suggested software releases based on stability, longevity, adoption rate, and other factors to help you make informed decisions. The "Suggested" indicator is located on the far left column of the software results table beside of each set of suggested releases. All other available releases are designated without this label and are listed below the suggested releases. Use the scroll bar to view all available software releases.

Suggested Releases Example

 

 

Available Releases Example

Use the scroll bar to see all other available releases based on your research.

 

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Set Cisco Notification Alert

To set a notification for a software release:

1. Select Add Notification on the software listing page.

   

    

2. On the Add Notification dialog, you can choose to be notified about software updates to all releases, a specific release and newer, or a specific release. You can also select the notification frequency and the email address where you want to receive notifications.

   

    

3. After you have created a notification, you can edit it:

   1. On the software listing page, select Edit Notification.

   2. On the Edit Notification dialog, make the desired changes; then select Save.

      

       

If the notifications have been set at a different level in My Notifications, you can edit them in the My Notifications application.

To view all notifications or to subscribe to other kinds of notifications, go to the My Notifications application.

 

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Compare Features

You can view and compare features for Cisco products and download files from the Compare Features tab in the tool. Simply select the Compare Features tab to conduct feature research on two products, their releases, and/or individual files.

Use Product Search Fields to Compare Two Products

These fields are used to compare features for two products.

1. Enter or select a Product in the Product field. The options are:

   • Directly enter a product into the field.

   • Or select the product from the drop-down list that is provided after you start entering your product into the field.M/p>

   To clear your field and start over, click "x" in the Product field.

    

   You can also click Select to open the Select Product box to find your product:

   1. Click Select.

   2. When the Select Product box opens, navigate through the product categories to the desired item.

   3. Select your product and click OK.

   You can select Cancel at any time.

   

    

2. Once your first product is entered, you can view the unique-feature results for that one product.

   

    

3. Enter or select a product in the second Product field, following the same steps as above.

4. After you have entered the second product, you can view unique features for that product and view common features for the two products.

5. You may enter information in all fields after you enter the product in order to drill down for your unique features and common features. Please refer to currently running fields, feature set fields, and file fields.

   

    

Currently Running Fields

This optional parameter is used to select/input releases to see features for those releases.

1. Enter or select a release in the Currently Running field. You can select from the drop-down list or enter the entire release name.

   Note: To clear your field and start over, select "x" in the Currently Running field.

2. View unique features for that release.

   

    

3. You can also enter or select a release in the second Currently Running field in order to see common and unique features for each release.

 

Feature Set Fields

This optional parameter is used to select or input a feature set in order to see the features.

1. Enter or select a release in the Feature Set field. You can select from the drop-down list or enter the entire release name.

2. Select the feature set from the drop-down list in the next field.

   

    

3. An appropriate file will appear that you can download. For downloading release files, refer to Downloading Software.

4. To clear your field and start over, select "x" in the feature set field.

5. View feature results for the one feature set.

6. You can also enter or select a feature set in the second Feature Set field to see unique and common features.

   

    

Example: Feature Comparison Results Table with All Fields Filled In

This sample table shows the unique and common features for two products and/or releases.

 

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Downloading Software

Registration and Login Requirements

• Log in is required in order to access software that is designated with a lock. Guest-level users can access non-restricted software (firmware, drivers, and so on).

• If you do not have a login, you can obtain a login and create a user profile at the Cisco.com Registration page.

• A Service Contract must be associated to the user profile in order to access the software with View instructions.

 

Download

Complete these steps:

1. After you have selected the file you would like to download, click the download button and select Download from the drop-down list.

2. From the pop-up box, accept the user license agreement.

3. Download the software.

 

Add to Cart

Complete these steps:

1. After you have selected the file you would like to download, click the download button and select Add to Cart from the drop-down list.

2. Select the Download Cart link at the top to download all software files in your cart.

   

    

   

    

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Saving Searches

The Software Research Tool provides a personalized Save Search option. You can login and save search criteria for future use. The tool allows you to save up to 70 searches.

Save Search

Complete these steps:

1. After you have entered the research criteria you would like to save, select the Save Search button located under the Search by Product tab.

2. In the Save Search dialog, enter a name for this set of search criteria.

3. Select Ok to save the search criteria.

   

    

Load Saved Search

Complete these steps:

1. To load a saved search, click the Load Saved Search button under the Search by Product tab.

2. Select the name of the saved search you want to use.

   Note: If you do not see your saved search in the drop-down list, select Edit List to view more search names to load.

   

    

3. To edit a saved search, select Edit List in the drop-down list. You can then reorganize or delete named searches.

 

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Related Information

The related information module provides our users with information related to the releases selected in the software table. It includes the most recent information regarding releases displayed in the software results.

1. Select the release in the software results to view corresponding information in the Related Information module located at the bottom of the page.

2. Use the option buttons to switch between release notes, command references, security advisories, field notices, documentation, known bugs, and support community.

   

    

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Feedback

We welcome your comments and suggestions to help us improve the Software Research tool. A feedback link for the Software Research Tool is located in the upper right-hand corner of the tool. Providing your contact information gives us permission to contact you if we need any additional details to assist you.

 

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