Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 End-of-Life Notice

Staying informed about the lifecycle of crucial software solutions is paramount for maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring continued support. This document serves as a comprehensive overview of the end-of-sale and end-of-life announcements for the Cisco Policy Suite 24.2. Understanding these dates and implications is vital for organizations currently leveraging this software. We will delve into the key milestones, affected product identifiers, and the available support options as we navigate the transition away from this specific version of the Policy Suite.

Product Overview

Product Definition

The Cisco Policy Suite (CPS) is a robust policy control and enforcement platform designed to help service providers manage and monetize network resources effectively. It enables dynamic policy creation and enforcement based on subscriber identity, service type, application, location, and various other criteria. CPS supports a wide range of use cases, including differentiated Quality of Service (QoS), traffic management, sponsored data, and real-time charge control. By providing granular control over network traffic, CPS allows service providers to optimize network performance, introduce innovative services, and enhance the subscriber experience. The software operates within complex network architectures, integrating with various network elements and management systems to deliver comprehensive policy management capabilities at scale.

Product Model Configuration

While the end-of-life announcement specifically pertains to Cisco Policy Suite version 24.2, it’s important to understand the nature of software releases within the Policy Suite family. Different versions and configurations exist to support various deployment scenarios and feature sets. However, this particular notice focuses on the end-of-life process for the 24.2 release, which includes the core software components necessary for its functionality.

Product Technical Specifications

As a software-centric product, the technical specifications of Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 are primarily defined by its performance capabilities, scalability, and supported protocols, rather than traditional hardware metrics like port counts or physical dimensions. Its performance is highly dependent on the underlying hardware infrastructure on which it is deployed and the complexity and volume of policies being enforced. The software is designed for high availability and can be deployed in various architectures to meet specific performance and redundancy requirements.

Hardware Architecture Requirements (Illustrative Based on Typical Deployments)

The optimal hardware configuration for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 deployments varies greatly depending on the required transaction throughput, subscriber count, and policy complexity. Typically, it requires a robust server infrastructure, often virtualized, with sufficient processing power, memory, and storage to handle peak loads. Network connectivity and latency within the deployment significantly impact performance.

It is crucial to consult Cisco documentation or a Cisco representative for precise hardware sizing and requirements based on specific deployment needs and anticipated load.

Software Architecture

The Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 software architecture is built upon a distributed, highly scalable, and fault-tolerant framework. It typically comprises several key components working in concert to deliver policy control. These components often include policy servers, charging servers, subscriber data repositories, and management interfaces. The platform supports industry-standard protocols like Diameter for communication with network elements such as Policy and Charging Enforcement Functions (PCEFs) and Online Charging Systems (OCSs). The management interface provides tools for policy creation, monitoring, and reporting. The software is designed to operate within a complex ecosystem of network elements and BSS/OSS systems, ensuring seamless integration and data exchange for real-time policy decisions and enforcement.

Understanding End-of-Life Milestones

The announcement of a product’s end-of-life signifies a structured process of phasing out a specific version or product line. For the Cisco Policy Suite 24.2, several key dates mark this process. These milestones are critical for customers to plan their transitions and ensure continued support. The process begins with the End-of-Life Announcement Date, which publicly declares the product’s impending end. This is followed by the End-of-Sale Date, after which the product can no longer be purchased through Cisco’s standard channels. Subsequent dates define the discontinuation of software maintenance releases, the last opportunity to attach new service contracts, the final chance to renew existing contracts, and ultimately, the Last Date of Support, when all support services cease.

Customers reliant on Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 should carefully review these dates and align their operational and migration strategies accordingly. Proactive planning is essential to avoid potential disruptions and ensure continued access to support.

Affected Product Part Numbers

The end-of-life announcement specifically targets the Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 software. Identifying the precise product part number affected is crucial for customers to confirm that this notice applies to their installed software. The documentation clearly lists the specific identifier tied to this particular release, ensuring no ambiguity regarding the software version subject to the end-of-life process. This allows organizations to accurately assess their inventory and determine the scope of the required transition or migration efforts. It’s important to cross-reference this part number with internal procurement and asset management records.

Any existing deployments utilizing this specific software part number are directly impacted by the outlined end-of-life milestones. Organizations should initiate their planning processes based on this identification.

Support Options and Migration

With the end-of-life process underway for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2, customers holding active service contracts are entitled to continued support from the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) until the Last Date of Support. This provides a window for organizations to receive assistance with any issues encountered during the transition period. However, it is important to note that this specific end-of-life announcement indicates that there is currently no direct replacement available for the Cisco Policy Suite 24.2. This means customers will need to explore alternative solutions within the Cisco portfolio or other policy management platforms, depending on their specific requirements and future network strategies. The absence of a direct upgrade path necessitates a more considered approach to migration, potentially involving re-architecture or implementation of a different solution.

“Customers with active service contracts will continue to receive support from the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) as shown in Table 1 of the EoL bulletin. For customers with active and paid service and support contracts, support will be available under the terms and conditions of customers’ service contract.”

Customers should engage with their Cisco account teams or partners to discuss their future policy management needs and identify suitable alternatives. While direct migration assistance for 24.2 to a specific successor may not be available, Cisco resources can help in evaluating other options and developing a transition plan. The support provided by the TAC for active contracts is crucial during this period to maintain the stability of existing deployments while alternative solutions are explored and implemented.

Navigating the Post-End-of-Sale Period

Once the End-of-Sale Date of March 19, 2025, passes, new licenses for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 will no longer be available for purchase. This marks a significant point for organizations planning new deployments or expansions. The Last Ship Date of June 17, 2025, provides a short window for fulfilling orders placed before the end-of-sale date. Beyond these dates, obtaining new installations of this specific software version will not be possible. Customers should factor these dates into their acquisition and deployment schedules. Any planned growth or changes requiring additional 24.2 licenses must be completed before March 19, 2025.

The period between the End-of-Sale Date and the Last Date of Support is intended to allow customers time to transition to alternative solutions. While no direct replacement is announced, this timeframe is for organizations to evaluate other policy management platforms, whether from Cisco or other vendors, and plan their migration strategy. Leaning on active service contracts during this phase for technical support on the existing 24.2 deployment remains an option until March 31, 2027.

Software Maintenance and Support Limitations

The End of SW Maintenance Releases Date on March 19, 2026, signifies a critical point regarding the evolution of Cisco Policy Suite 24.2. After this date, Cisco Engineering will cease developing, repairing, maintaining, or testing the software. This means that no new bug fixes, patches, or maintenance releases will be provided for this version. While support through the TAC for existing issues under a valid contract continues, any newly discovered vulnerabilities or bugs after this date will not be addressed by Cisco engineering. This increases the operational risk for organizations continuing to run 24.2 beyond this milestone. It underscores the importance of having a transition plan in place well before March 19, 2026, to move to a supported platform.

Similarly, the End of New Service Attachment Date on March 19, 2026, means that organizations without an existing service contract for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 will not be able to obtain one after this date. Furthermore, adding the software to an existing contract for other Cisco products will also not be possible. This is a critical deadline for any organization that might be running 24.2 without current support or planning to bring it under contract. The End of Service Contract Renewal Date on March 19, 2027, is the absolute last chance for customers with existing contracts to renew them. Failing to renew before this date will result in the loss of support services, irrespective of the Last Date of Support.

Planning for the Future Beyond Policy Suite 24.2

Given that no direct replacement is currently available for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2, organizations must strategically plan their future policy management infrastructure. This could involve evaluating Cisco’s broader portfolio of networking and software solutions to identify platforms that offer similar or enhanced policy control capabilities. Exploring other software-defined networking (SDN) or cloud-native network functions (CNF) that incorporate policy management features might be necessary. The requirements that were initially met by Policy Suite 24.2 should be re-evaluated in the context of current and future network demands. This includes considering factors like scalability, automation, integration with other network elements and IT systems, and support for emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, and edge computing.

Engaging with industry analysts and technology partners can provide insights into available solutions and best practices for migrating from an end-of-life platform. The focus should be on finding a solution that not only meets the existing policy enforcement needs but also provides a flexible and future-proof foundation for evolving network architectures. The absence of a direct successor for Policy Suite 24.2 presents both a challenge and an opportunity to re-envision the policy management layer within the organization’s network infrastructure.

Ordering information

As the Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 approaches its end-of-sale date, customers interested in purchasing this specific software version for eligible use cases must do so before March 19, 2025. The affected product part number, as listed in the end-of-life announcement, is the key identifier for placing orders. After this date, new orders for R-POLICY-242-SWK9 will no longer be accepted by Cisco through its standard sales channels. Customers should coordinate with their procurement teams and Cisco partners to ensure any necessary purchases are completed before the end-of-sale deadline. It is also important to be mindful of lead times to ensure components can be shipped before the Last Ship Date of June 17, 2025.

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Customers are strongly encouraged to finalize their orders for Cisco Policy Suite 24.2 well in advance of the end-of-sale date to avoid any potential last-minute issues or unavailability.