Cisco Systems, Inc.: Difference between revisions

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https://www.golem.de/0805/59861-3.html

It would be good to find it archived somewhere since CNet is probably considered more reputable than Networkworld. Or we could maybe link to a Google Translate link for the Golem article. -->

=====Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support"=====

Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "'''Note:''' For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Retired Products |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This is considered [[security through obscurity]]. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features.

=====Requiring a service contract to download firmware for products that are in-support=====

Some Cisco products such as the [https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html Cisco ISR 1000 series] require an "active service contract" from Cisco to download any files such as firmware, software, patches, etc. This makes updating devices to their latest respective versions increasingly harder, as you are required to sign in to an account and pay a subscription fee just to update components of the device that you already own. "To Download this software, you must have a valid service contract associated to your Cisco.com profile"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Contract Required |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html#~tab-downloads |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-02-25}}</ref>

=====Withholding bug details from customers without a service contract=====

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"Bug information is viewable for customers and partners who have a service contract. Registered users can view up to 200 bugs per month without a service contract."

~~=====Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support"=====~~

Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "'''Note:''' For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Retired Products |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This is considered [[security through obscurity]]. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features.

~~===== Requiring a service contract to download firmware for products that are in-support =====~~

Some Cisco products such as the [https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html Cisco ISR 1000 series] require an "active service contract" from Cisco to download any files such as firmware, software, patches, etc. This makes updating devices to their latest respective versions increasingly harder, as you are required to sign in to an account and pay a subscription fee just to update components of the device that you already own. "To Download this software, you must have a valid service contract associated to your Cisco.com profile"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Contract Required |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html#~tab-downloads |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-02-25}}</ref>

==References==

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 https://www.golem.de/0805/59861-3.html
 It would be good to find it archived somewhere since CNet is probably considered more reputable than Networkworld. Or we could maybe link to a Google Translate link for  the Golem article. -->
+=====Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support"=====
+Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "'''Note:''' For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Retired Products |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This is considered [[security through obscurity]]. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features.
+=====Requiring a service contract to download firmware for products that are in-support=====
+Some Cisco products such as the [https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html Cisco ISR 1000 series] require an "active service contract" from Cisco to download any files such as firmware, software, patches, etc. This makes updating devices to their latest respective versions increasingly harder, as you are required to sign in to an account and pay a subscription fee just to update components of the device that you already own. "To Download this software, you must have a valid service contract associated to your Cisco.com profile"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Contract Required |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html#~tab-downloads |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-02-25}}</ref>
 =====Withholding bug details from customers without a service contract=====
@@ Line 36: / Line 42: @@
 "Bug information is viewable for customers and partners who have a service contract. Registered users can view up to 200 bugs per month without a service contract."
-=====Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support"=====
-Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "'''Note:''' For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Retired Products |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This is considered [[security through obscurity]]. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features.
-===== Requiring a service contract to download firmware for products that are in-support =====
-Some Cisco products such as the [https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html Cisco ISR 1000 series] require an "active service contract" from Cisco to download any files such as firmware, software, patches, etc. This makes updating devices to their latest respective versions increasingly harder, as you are required to sign in to an account and pay a subscription fee just to update components of the device that you already own. "To Download this software, you must have a valid service contract associated to your Cisco.com profile"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Contract Required |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/1000-series-integrated-services-routers-isr/series.html#~tab-downloads |url-status=live |archive-date=2026-02-25}}</ref>
 ==References==