ASA 8.3 or 8.4

[jmprats]

Hi, I'm a bit confused with the new ASA versions Cisco has published (8.3 and 8.4).

What is supposed 8.2 users have to do?

Cisco is not going to evolve 8.2 anymore? making it a must migrate to the new concept of NAT? or 8.2 with standard NAT will continue to develop and I can stay in it?

Is 8.4 for new platform hardware? so it is best to migrate to 8.3 than 8.4?

Help! 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4?

[PAUL GILBERT ARIAS]

This is just my personal opinion.

Normally the path is to continue upgrading the OS since new features and fixes appear. I know 8.3 has a major difference on NAT so that might hold you back from upgrading. If you are not having any issues with your current version then you might stay there but I am almost sure that in the event of a failure on the OS Cisco will suggest that you upgrade. Version 8.3 and 8.4 has some memory requirements which I believe are the same as version 8.2.

Here are the release notes showing the memory requirements for version 8.4:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/security/asa/asa84/release/notes/asarn84.html#wp321918

And for 8.2 so that you can compare:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/security/asa/asa82/release/notes/asarn82.html#wp37821

I hope this helps.

[mirober2]

Hello,

ASA 8.2 is still fully supported, so there is no need to upgrade at this time unless there are new features in 8.3 or 8.4 that you'd like to take advantage of. Those new features are all listed here:

ASA 8.3:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/security/asa/asa83/release/notes/asarn83.html#wp432043

ASA 8.4:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/security/asa/asa84/release/notes/asarn84.html#wp432043

As Paul mentioned, there are some significant changes to config syntax and memory requirements in versions above 8.3, so make sure you read the release notes and migration guides before upgrading if you choose to do so. Here are some that will help:

Migration Guide for ASA 8.3:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/security/asa/asa83/upgrading/migrating.html

ASA 8.3 Upgrade - What You Need to Know:

https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-12690

Hope that helps.

-Mike