Cisco declares the IDS-4235 and IDS-4250 EOS/EOL

[a.arndt]

Just in case this isn't general knowledge, here are the official announcements WRT Cisco ending the sale of the afore mentioned IDS appliances, in order to make way for the new IPS appliances (The IPS-4240 and IPS-4255 respectively).

IDS-4235:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/vpndevc/ps4077/prod_eol_notice0900aecd801d74d2.html

IDS-4250:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/vpndevc/ps4077/prod_eol_notice0900aecd801d74d8.html

Those who are curious about the new products can check them out here...

IPS-4240:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5768/index.html

IPS-4255:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5769/index.html

Hope this info proves useful to someone other than myself,

Alex Arndt

[marcabal]

Just an FYI:

The EOS for the IDS-4250 applies specifically to the IDs-4250-TX.

The IDS-4250-SX and IDS-4250-XL are not being EOS as of yet because the newer IPS-4255 does not support the fiber ports that the IDS-4250-SX and IDS-4250-XL appliances support.

The IPS-4255 only supports copper ports, and so only the IDS-4250-TX is being EOS at this time.

[melangnghe]

Thanks Alex, This is a real surprise.

Do you know if the IPS works with taps or they work with span port only.

Simone.

[cgiulini]

Am I correct to interpret this as meaning that signature updates will no longer be provided after May 31, 2006 for these platforms?

Thanks,

Chad

[marcabal]

That does appear to be what it implies.

But I am not sure if that is what the writers of the document meant.

We are in the process of contacting the managers responsible for the EOL/EOS document and verifying whether or not this was intentional, an accidental mistake that needs to be corrected, or if it needs further clarification.

I will let you know what I find out.

[klwiley]

I can state categorically that the signature updates for these platforms will continue as will software upgrades for some time in the future. They both will support 5.0 and I have not yet started a phase out of signature updates for these platforms. I can not state how long they will be supported, but would feel safe in saying that they will be supported with signature updates for at least the next year and possibly as long as 2 years.

As an example we EOS the 4230 over 2 years ago and still update signatures on it. 5.0 is the first SW upgrade to not support the 4230 platform.

[cgiulini]

Thanks very much for the follow-up and clarification!

[a.arndt]

Sorry for the delayed response Simone, just got back from Christmas vacation...

WRT the IPS working with TAPS and/or SPAN ports, it depends on how you deploy it. IIRC, the appliance will actually be run "in-line" when deployed as an IPS. If you don't want to use these features and instead prefer to use the system in IDS-mode, I can see no reason why it wouldn't work the way it does now; fully compatible with either a TAP or SPAN data feed.

I hope this helps,

Alex Arndt