What is the latest IOS version to upgrade Cisco C9300-48P switch

[secure24inc]

Hello Cisco Team,

We want to upgrade one of the Catalyst C9300-48 switches which is currently running on Version 16.6.6. Could you please help us in providing the correct version to which we can upgrade and also provide the upgrade path? 

Below is the details of the switch:

Cisco IOS XE Software, Version 16.06.06
Cisco IOS Software [Everest], Catalyst L3 Switch Software (CAT9K_IOSXE), Version 16.6.6, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2019 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Thu 11-Apr-19 03:51 by mcpre

ROM: IOS-XE ROMMON
BOOTLDR: System Bootstrap, Version 16.8.1r [FC4], RELEASE SOFTWARE (P)

Technology Package License Information:

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Technology-package Technology-package
Current Type Next reboot
------------------------------------------------------------------
network-advantage Permanent network-advantage
dna-advantage Subscription dna-advantage

cisco C9300-48P (X86) processor with 1392597K/6147K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FCW2334C1D0
14 Virtual Ethernet interfaces
52 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
8 Ten Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
2 Forty Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
2048K bytes of non-volatile configuration memory.
8388608K bytes of physical memory.
1638400K bytes of Crash Files at crashinfo:.
11264000K bytes of Flash at flash:.
0K bytes of WebUI ODM Files at webui:.

Base Ethernet MAC Address : f4:bd:9e:d4:10:80
Motherboard Assembly Number : 73-18274-04
Motherboard Serial Number : FOC233332EC
Model Revision Number : A0
Motherboard Revision Number : B0
Model Number : C9300-48P
System Serial Number : FCW2334C1D0


Switch Ports Model SW Version SW Image Mode
------ ----- ----- ---------- ---------- ----
* 1 62 C9300-48P 16.6.6 CAT9K_IOSXE INSTALL


Configuration register is 0x102

Thanks & Regards,

Gautam Venna

[Leo Laohoo]

Upgrade to the latest 16.6.X.

[secure24inc]

Hello Leo,

Thanks for the update!!!

One more question: Can we upgrade the switch directly from 16.6.6 to 17.3.5 ?

Thanks & Regards,

Gautam Venna

[Leo Laohoo]

I would not recommend 17.3.X. 

If you still want to go up to 17.X.X then use 17.6.4.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

BTW, where to look for this info: https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286313983/type/282046477/release/Bengaluru-17.6.4

"One more question: Can we upgrade the switch directly from 16.6.6 to 17.3.5 ?"

Release notes for 17.3.5, can be found through the above reference, should note any consideration when upgrading.

Also BTW, although 17.3.5 is a Cisco recommended release so is 17.6.4, and as @Leo Laohoo works extensively with Cisco switches, his recommendations should be carefully considered.

[Leo Laohoo]

@Joseph W. Doherty, something to warm your heart ... 

Runaway Switch: Data-Plane memory leak, 6 x 9300, IOS-XE 16.6.3, Uptime: 102 days

The above stack no longer responds to console nor SSH -- We call it a "runaway switch".

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Well at least it took several months. 

(Hmm, I sometime wonder if Cisco has been hiring many former Microsoft software developers.)