[f-nsp] Recommended software release for bigiron/jetcore and Netiron MLX - software feature comparison matrix available?

[Richard A Steenbergen]

On Sun, Dec 10, 2006 at 03:56:09PM +0100, Gunther Stammwitz wrote:
> Hello colleagues,
> 
> As some of you might know there are three actively maintained software
> releases for the bigiron(jetcore)-platform:
> The 7.8-tree (latest is: 7.8.02b) and the 8.0-tree (latest is: 8.0.01f) as
> well as the combined software for netiron and bigiron jetcore-architectures
> "IronWare Service Provider Software" (latest is: 9.3.00a).
> 
> Is there some sort of feature comparison matrix available? Which software
> are you running on your devices and why?
> I don't really get what the difference between a patched 7.8 and a 8.0
> release is?

There isn't. The 9.x branch is an offshoot of the 7.6 branch, and is 
essentially the bastard stepchild of ironware. For some reason I can't 
even begin to explain, it seems to go through cycles of being supported 
then abandoned by Foundry developers (similar to some of the products they 
swear by then disown the next mont :P).

It is relatively stable, I've had ironcore boxes doing full L3, BGP, and 
routing many gigabit of traffic with almost 800 day uptimes on the 9.x 
branch if you find the right letter in the alphabet soup of bug fixes (and 
let me give you a hint, "a" is NEVER the right letter). Even though the 
version number is lower 7.7 7.8 and 8.0 are under more active development 
and have more features.

> The same thing applies to the Netiron MLX-platform: there are the trees 3.1
> (latest 3.1n) and 3.2 (latest is 3.2.00k). What is the real difference
> between them?

This one follows standard behaviors, 3.1->3.2 adds new features which are 
documented in release notes, and the letters add bug fixes to each branch.

> I would expect that there are some significant new features in a new tree
> like there is the q-in-q-vlan-support starting in the Ironware9.3-tree.
> Cisco is documenting this very well for their IOS-software and there are
> feature comparison matrixes available. I couldn't find such a thing for
> foundry. Where can I get it?

I don't know that I've ever heard Cisco's feature comparison between IOS 
trains described as "documented very well" before, but yes they do manage 
to at least attempt to document something. :) Regarding q-in-q 
specifically, you're relatively screwed in all versions of classic 
ironware. Foundry's q-in-q implementation boggles the mind, and only bears 
a passing resembelence to usable in modern 3.x code on modern hardware.

-- 
Richard A Steenbergen <ras at e-gerbil.net>       http://www.e-gerbil.net/ras
GPG Key ID: 0xF8B12CBC (7535 7F59 8204 ED1F CC1C 53AF 4C41 5ECA F8B1 2CBC)