Knowing when your Cisco IOS XE version reaches end of software maintenance is essential for network compliance and vulnerability management. This guide covers the IOS XE lifecycle model, all 17.x release train dates, and how to determine whether your version is still receiving security fixes.
Quick answer: IOS XE 17.15.x (Long-Lived) is the current recommended release. IOS XE 17.12.x (Long-Lived) is in active maintenance. IOS XE 17.9 and earlier have reached or are approaching End of Software Maintenance.
⚠️ Always verify dates against official Cisco EoL product bulletins — this guide uses Cisco's standard release cadence for approximate dates where official bulletins are not yet published.
Understanding the Cisco IOS XE Release Model
Cisco IOS XE uses a two-track release model:
Standard Maintenance (SM) Releases
Ship approximately every 6 months. Receive roughly 12 months of software maintenance. Good for environments that want latest features. Examples: 17.3, 17.6, 17.9.
Long-Lived (LL) Releases
Designated for stable production deployments. Receive approximately 36 months of software maintenance — 3× the Standard window. Recommended for enterprise production networks. Examples: 17.3 LL, 17.6 LL, 17.9 LL, 17.12 LL, 17.15 LL.
⚠️ Cisco issues separate EoL bulletins for Standard vs. Long-Lived releases within the same version train. A 17.9 Standard release has an earlier end of maintenance date than 17.9 LL.
Cisco IOS XE 17.x Release Train — EOL Overview
| IOS XE Release | Type | First Released | End of SW Maintenance | End of Support | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17.15.x | Long-Lived | ~Q3 2025 | ~Q3 2028 | ~Q3 2030 | ✅ Current LL |
| 17.14.x | Standard | ~Q1 2025 | ~Q1 2026 | ~Q1 2028 | ✅ Active |
| 17.13.x | Standard | ~Q3 2024 | ~Q3 2025 | ~Q3 2027 | 🟡 Maintenance |
| 17.12.x | Long-Lived | Mar 2024 | ~Mar 2027 | ~Mar 2029 | ✅ LL – Active |
| 17.11.x | Standard | ~Q3 2023 | ~Q3 2024 | ~Q3 2026 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.10.x | Standard | ~Q1 2023 | ~Q1 2024 | ~Q1 2026 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.9.x | Long-Lived | Aug 2022 | Aug 2025 | Aug 2027 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.8.x | Standard | ~Q1 2022 | ~Q1 2023 | ~Q1 2025 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.7.x | Standard | ~Q3 2021 | ~Q3 2022 | ~Q3 2024 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.6.x | Long-Lived | Jul 2021 | Jul 2024 | Jul 2026 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.5.x | Standard | ~Q1 2021 | ~Q1 2022 | ~Q1 2024 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.4.x | Standard | ~Q3 2020 | ~Q3 2021 | ~Q3 2023 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.3.x | Long-Lived | Oct 2020 | Oct 2023 | Oct 2025 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.2.x | Standard | ~Q1 2020 | ~Q1 2021 | ~Q1 2023 | ❌ EOL |
| 17.1.x | Standard | ~Q3 2019 | ~Q3 2020 | ~Q3 2022 | ❌ EOL |
Dates marked ~ are approximate based on Cisco's standard cadence. Verify against official Cisco EoL bulletins.
Cisco IOS XE 16.x — Legacy Releases
All 16.x releases are end of life.
| IOS XE 16.x Release | Type | End of SW Maintenance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16.12.x (Fuji) | Long-Lived | Jan 2023 | ❌ EOL |
| 16.11.x | Standard | ~Apr 2021 | ❌ EOL |
| 16.9.x (Fuji) | Long-Lived | Oct 2021 | ❌ EOL |
| 16.6.x (Everest) | Long-Lived | Jan 2020 | ❌ EOL |
Key Release Notes
IOS XE 17.15 — Current Long-Lived
The current recommended Long-Lived release. Expected maintenance until approximately Q3 2028. Target version for networks being upgraded in the 2025–2026 window. Full support for Catalyst 9000, ISR 4000, and ASR 1000.
IOS XE 17.12 — Stable Long-Lived
Widely deployed in enterprise production. First released Q1 2024. End of software maintenance expected approximately March 2027. Solid choice for environments that cannot yet upgrade to 17.15.
IOS XE 17.9 — End of Life (August 2025)
One of the most widely deployed enterprise versions. End of Software Maintenance: August 2025. Networks still on 17.9 should upgrade to 17.12 or 17.15.
IOS XE 17.6 — End of Life (July 2024)
End of Software Maintenance: July 2024. No longer receiving security patches.
IOS XE 17.3 — End of Life (October 2023)
End of Software Maintenance: October 2023. Fully unsupported.
Quick Reference: Common Version Queries
| Version String | Train | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17.15.x | 17.15 | Long-Lived | ✅ In Maintenance (~2028) |
| 17.12.x | 17.12 | Long-Lived | ✅ In Maintenance (~2027) |
| 17.9.x | 17.9 | Long-Lived | ❌ EOL – Aug 2025 |
| 17.6.x | 17.6 | Long-Lived | ❌ EOL – Jul 2024 |
| 17.3.x | 17.3 | Long-Lived | ❌ EOL – Oct 2023 |
| 16.12.x | 16.12 | Long-Lived | ❌ EOL – Jan 2023 |
Platforms Running Cisco IOS XE
- Catalyst 9000 Series — 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800 (wireless)
- ISR 4000 Series — 4221, 4321, 4331, 4351, 4431, 4451, 4461
- ASR 1000 Series — 1001-X, 1001-HX, 1002-X, 1002-HX, 1004, 1006-X
- CSR 1000V / Catalyst 8000V — virtual router platforms
- Catalyst 8000 Edge — 8200, 8300, 8500
How to Check Your IOS XE Version
Router# show version
Cisco IOS XE Software, Version 17.12.04
Router# show version | include IOS XE
How to Upgrade (Catalyst 9000 Install Method)
# Download image to flash
copy tftp://server/cat9k_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin flash:
# Install
install add file flash:cat9k_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin
install activate
install commit
FAQ
What is IOS XE 17.12 end of life?
Long-Lived release. End of Software Maintenance approximately March 2027. Verify at cisco.com.
Is IOS XE 17.9 still supported?
No. End of Software Maintenance was August 2025. Upgrade to 17.12 or 17.15.
What is the difference between EoS and EoL for Cisco?
- End of Sale (EoS): Product can no longer be purchased
- End of Software Maintenance: No new software releases or patches
- End of Vulnerability Support: No more CVE patches
- End of Support (EoL): All support ends, including TAC
For software releases, End of Software Maintenance is the critical milestone.
What happened to Cisco IOS 15.x (Classic)?
All 15.x releases have reached end of life. Classic IOS 15.1 EOL was January 2023. Plan hardware refreshes to IOS XE-based platforms.
Live version data: endoflife.ai/cisco-ios-xe
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