Difference in Available/Recommended Software

[robo764]

I just have a quick question that I wasn't able to find an easy answer for. When I browse the software available for download for our C9410R, I have 6 options: 1 "Software on Chassis" and then 5 options for different Supervisor Engines. For each of those Supervisor Engines (including the Catalyst 9400X Supervisor Engine-2XL that we have), the latest, recommended release is Dublin-17.12.3 ED. But the one from "Software on Chassis" has the latest, recommended at Cupertino-17.9.5 MD. From what I understand, we should be able to run 17.12.3 just as easily as 17.9.5. I understand that one is ED as opposed to MD, but I don't understand why 17.12.3 is not listed under the "Software on Chassis" software page, if it's available and recommended for all Supervisor Engine options.  At first, I thought that the "Software on Chassis" might just have the latest recommendation that would work, regardless of SUP, but since all of the SUPs support Dublin, that doesn't track. So I'm back to not understanding.  

[robo764]

I've found myself googling this question over a year later, and found my EXACT QUESTION, only to realize that it was me never getting an answer even after all this time.  

I also found someone who asked a similar question a few months later, but they also didn't get a response.

https://community.cisco.com/t5/switching/c9407r-ios-xe-upgrade-question/td-p/5206087

I'll just open a TAC case and post the response here. (and there maybe)

[Leo Laohoo]

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@robo764 wrote:
I'll just open a TAC case

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TAC will always say "upgrade to the latest (maintenance release) version".  What TAC do not want to say is:  Reboot the chassis to compensate for buggy software.  

I will always recommend access layer switch on IOS-XE to reboot (cold-reboot the better) once every 8 to 12 months because this will clear up any memory leaks that is happening in the background (control-plane) which cannot be "detected" by some NMS products, including DNAC.

[robo764 · Accepted solution]

There was a lot of response from TAC that didn't really answer the question of what the difference was, but I did ultimately receive this guidance:

You need to download image as per your supervisor not according to your chassis for chassis based swich like cat9400 and cat9600.