Upgrading ASA microcode

[billmatthews]

A customer told me that Cisco recommended they upgrade the  "microcode" on their ASA5520.  This isn't my support problem, so I'm  just curious.  I'm familiar with upgrading the software on the ASA.  But  what is the microcode, and when/how might you need to upgrade it?

Thanks

[Jennifer Halim]

Any specific reason why your customer told you Cisco has recommended they upgrade the microcode on their ASA, and do they have any reference to any Cisco TAC ticket?

I haven't personally seen any microcode upgrade being performed but typically it is just a software upgrade to the ASA that will provide more features to the microcode.

[billmatthews]

I think it was related to a hardware issue.  But I was just wondering in general about the microcode out of curiosity.

So it's like a firmware, and generally updated automatically as you upgrade the ASA software?  It's not a separate process?

[Jennifer Halim · Accepted solution]

Absolutely correct.

[billmatthews]

Thanks!