Recommenede software for Catalyst 9300

[rasmus.elmholt]

Hi

I have a Catalyst 9300-24UX-A and have read the recommended software bulletin from April: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-9300-series-switches/bulletin-c25-740038.html

When I look at software.cisco.com the recommended version 16.6.3 is not available. Only from 16.8.1 and upwards.

Does anyone have input to this or any experience with a stable software version. Version 16.6.3 is the suggested version for most of the other 9300 models.

[Seb Rupik]

Hi there,

In absence of a Cisco recommended release it is also prudent to pick the one with the most revisions. The 9300 has pretty slim pickings at this time (just two minor releases!), but you should opt for v16.9.2, unless there is an open caveat documented on that release which would impact your production environment.

cheers,

Seb.

[rasmus.elmholt]

What I find strange is that they recommend the version for this exact model, and the switch arrives with that version(16.6.3) but it is not available on the website.

[Seb Rupik]

Seven months is a long time in software releases, especially for a new platform. Such old recommendations will not stay valid for long.

The fact your switch arrived with 16.6.3 gives you a good idea of when it was boxed up from the assembly line.

That said, normally the Cisco download site shows old releases, sometimes under 'Deferred', you see this with nearly every other 9300-xx platform. Not sure why v16.6.x is no longer visible under the 9300-24UX

cheers,

Seb.

[balaji.bandi]

C9300 Ships with 

Everest-16.6.3 default - we have tested many features and all stable in the live environment.

If you looking updated you can go below one until you have reason. if not i will stick with 16.6.3

Everest-16.6.4a MD

[rasmus.elmholt]

Hi
Thank you for the feedback.
I am now running test on this platform and the CLI analyzer tells me I have some problems, but I cannot figure out if it is a serious problem or just cosmetic.

---From CLI analyzer---
This C9300-24UX device running 16.6.3 experienced the following problem:

Following forwarding asic drops are found. Please check show platform hardware fed sw active fwd-asic drop exceptions command

Non zero delta value found- 53 for IPV4_CHECKSUM_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 4 for ROUTED_AND_IP_OPTIONS_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 1 for ALLOW_NATIVE_EXCEPTION_COUNT
Non zero delta value found- 1 for IGR_MISC_FATAL_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 1 for IGR_EXCEPTION_L5_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 54 for IGR_EXCEPTION_HARDWARE_PARSE_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 85 for ALLOW_NATIVE_EXCEPTION_COUNT
Non zero delta value found- 3 for SOURCE_ROUTE_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 85 for IGR_MISC_FATAL_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 1 for 0
Non zero delta value found- 38 for ALLOW_NATIVE_EXCEPTION_COUNT
Non zero delta value found- 2 for SOURCE_ROUTE_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 38 for IGR_MISC_FATAL_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 93 for ALLOW_NATIVE_EXCEPTION_COUNT
Non zero delta value found- 3 for SOURCE_ROUTE_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 93 for IGR_MISC_FATAL_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 1 for 0

[Leo Laohoo]

Can you try upgrading the firmware to 16.6.4a?

[rasmus.elmholt]

Now I have upgraded to 16.6.4a and I am still seeing the same errors.

This C9300-24UX device running 16.6.4a experienced the following problem:

Following forwarding asic drops are found. Please check show platform hardware fed sw active fwd-asic drop exceptions command

Non zero delta value found- 16 for IPV4_CHECKSUM_ERROR
Non zero delta value found- 20 for ROUTED_AND_IP_OPTIONS_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 16 for IGR_EXCEPTION_HARDWARE_PARSE_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 3 for STP_OR_FLEXLINK_DROP
Non zero delta value found- 1 for 0
Non zero delta value found- 16 for ROUTED_AND_IP_OPTIONS_EXCEPTION
Non zero delta value found- 1 for 0

[balaji.bandi]

Worth Opening a TAC case, investigate further with dev team.

[Leo Laohoo]

IOS-XE for Cat 9K are very, very limited. This also means that the firmware is expected to be unstable and buggy.
Just read the Release Notes, choose from the limited options and pray.