IOS firmware updates (SmartNet required)?

[jonathan.colburn.sastre]

Good Morning Everyone,

Hope you are well. 

Currently running the following Firmware:

Cisco IOS Software, IOS-XE Software, Catalyst 4500 L3 Switch Software (cat4500e-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 03.06.00.E RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc3)

Our technical support company says it's required to have a Smartnet license to be able to upgrade the network to the latest firmware. 

I have upgraded firmware on multiple switches before and I've never required to pay a license for such thing. 

This said, I would like the experts to tell me if you do need one or if such, who do I contact to provide the proof that we don't. 

Thank you and have a good day,

J

[Leo Laohoo]

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@jonathan.colburn.sastre wrote:

Our technical support company says it's required to have a Smartnet license to be able to upgrade the network to the latest firmware.

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The answer to this question is both a yes and a no. 

A valid Service Contract is needed to download firmware files from the Cisco website. 

Sometimes Cisco will publish a Security Bulletin and in a lot of cases and in a lot of these Security Bulletins there is a "Customers Without Service Contracts" section.  This section usually have the following statement: 

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Customers who purchase directly from Cisco but do not hold a Cisco service contract and customers who make purchases through third-party vendors but are unsuccessful in obtaining fixed software through their point of sale should obtain upgrades by contacting the Cisco TAC: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/web/tsd-cisco-worldwide-contacts.html

Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.

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Hope this helps.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

"I have upgraded firmware on multiple switches before and I've never required to pay a license for such thing."

Cisco Enterprise switches?  If so, possibly you've been breaking the law.

Besides the security exceptions cases that @Leo Laohoo notes, I recall some Cisco switches, marketed for SMB, sometimes had lifetime software upgrade licenses, in fact, I recall (?) the original 3750 switches had such a license (which I also recall was later changed to no longer have that).

[Leo Laohoo]

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@Joseph W. Doherty wrote:

I recall some Cisco switches, marketed for SMB, sometimes had lifetime software upgrade licenses

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Ooops.  @Joseph W. Doherty just reminded me of this:  Cisco Catalyst IOS Software Update Program for Cisco Catalyst 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500 and 9600 Series switches

Why is this important? Because of this: 

Free major and minor releases:

◦    Free major and minor release updates are available to an original customer moving from one release to another within the same perpetual license level (i.e. Cisco Network Advantage or Cisco Network Essentials).

◦    No support contract is required to obtain these releases.

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Also want to add this:  2017 Cisco Catalyst IOS Software Update Program for Catalyst 2000, 3000, and 4000 Series Switches

Hope this helps.