⚡ TL;DR | Go Straight to the Cisco IOS XE End of Life Audit
Version 17.9 (LTS) of Cisco IOS XE will be going end-of-life on the 29th of July, 2026. Cisco IOS XE is Linux-based network operating system that is used on a variety of Cisco products, including routers, switches, and wireless controllers. Make sure to update all installations in your network to minimize security risks.
What Is Cisco IOS XE?
Cisco IOS XE is a Linux-based network operating system designed by Cisco for their enterprise routers, switches, wireless controllers, and other devices. It’s built on the Linux kernel and uses a modular architecture, so that core networking functions can run as independent processes and individual services can be restarted without affecting the entire operating system. This improves system stability, reliability, and serviceability.
Cisco IOS XE provides a comprehensive platform for configuring, managing, and securing enterprise networks. It supports advanced routing, switching, wireless networking, software-defined networking (SDN), and built-in security features.
Cisco IOS XE Lifecycle
Cisco IOS XE currently has 2 major releases per year, usually published every six months. Starting with 26.1.1, all releases will be Extended Support releases with a support lifetime of 48 months from the GA date. For the first 30 months each version receives regular minor releases for software maintenance or critical bug fixes. For the last 18 months, updates only address security vulnerabilities. After those 48 months are up, the software will still receive service and support for 6 months.
Versions before 26.1.1 were released every 4 months. Here every 1st and 2nd release received standard support for 12 months with bug fixes and security updates. Every 3rd release received extended support as described above.
Cisco IOS XE Version 17.9 (LTS) End of Life
Version 17.9 (LTS) of Cisco IOS XE will be going end of life on the 29th of July, 2026. Make sure to update your installations to version 17.18 or higher version, in order to stay supported and keep receiving updates. Aside from being supported, version 17.18 also includes additional features and updates.
Find Outdated Cisco IOS XE Installations
Our team has created a new report that shows you which Cisco IOS XE versions in your network are end of life or will be going end of life. This allows you to prepare and update your installations before support ends. In Lansweeper Sites you can find this information in the OS Lifecycle space.
