Cisco adds Live Protect and extended fast upgrades to reduce campus network downtime

Cisco introduced Live Protect, a Cisco-validated runtime control that reduces exposure to a known vulnerability while equipment keeps running, and Extended Fast Software Upgrade (xFSU), which keeps forwarding running through most of a software upgrade. Cisco says xFSU cuts traffic downtime to under five seconds on Catalyst 9300 switches running IOS XE 17.15.2 or later. Live Protect does not replace patching and is limited to supported products and releases.

• Live Protect is a runtime shield, not a substitute for permanent patches
• xFSU separates control plane from data plane during full image upgrades
• Cisco cites traffic downtime under five seconds on Catalyst 9300 with IOS XE 17.15.2 or later
• Availability limited to supported platforms, releases and modes