GeoLocation IP Package Download In 7.4.2 FMC

[jmeetze]

We recently upgraded our FMC to version 7.4.2 and then 7.4.2.1, and I noticed in the release notes that they have added an IP Package Download option under the GeoLocation Updates tab in Content Updates.  

In the release notes for 7.4.2, they mention the following:

"In Version 7.4.2+ the IP Package Download geolocation option is disabled by default after being enabled by default in Versions 7.4.0–7.4.1. This option governs whether the system downloads an extra IP package that contains contextual data.

In most cases, upgrading to Version 7.4.2+ deletes any IP package. You cannot view contextual geolocation data for IP addresses until you manually enable the option and update the GeoDB. The exception is that if you are upgrading from a Version 7.2.x release where you manually enabled this option, the upgrade respects your settings."

I'm wondering why it was at one time enabled by default and now disabled by default?  If I go into my FMC and check the option to enable it, it gives a warning that says, "Warning: IP Package will be downloaded in the next update.  Please ensure that suficient disk space is available."  But it doesn't state how much disk space you need.  

So my question is, has anyone enabled this feature and have you noticed any impact to your system resources, in particular, disk space? Seems odd that they would disable something that was at one time enabled unless there was some negative impact to the system.  I'd like to get the extra contextual information from the IP Package but would like to know the impact first.  I've dealt with space issues in the past for upgrades and don't want to run into that again.  Just feel like there should be more information about the requirements and impact of enabling this feature.

Thanks,

J. Meetze

[Wrecktangle · Accepted solution]

@jmeetze, I was concerned as well.  The package itself is about 3.5GB that downloads to /var/sf/updates.  I monitored the folder and disk space (using df -h) on my FMC cli as best I could during the download and implementation.  It's a tar file that expands from 3.5GB to roughly 95GB.  It's not clear what happens to all that data after extracted from tar, but at the end of the process, that roughly 95GB disappeared and my FMC space was only down about 4GB.

[jmeetze]

@WrecktangleGreat job explaining this and showing the space the package takes up in your screenshot.  You did what Cisco should have done in the release notes so I appreciate that.