Cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin -
Title: Experience with cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin (IOS 15.2(7)E4)
Post:
I recently upgraded a pair of Catalyst 4500E switches (Sup8-E) to the cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin image and wanted to share some notes.
Quick Facts:
- MD5: (You should verify this on Cisco's download page)
- Size: ~650 MB
- Family: Catalyst 4500E (Sup6E/7E/8E/9E)
- IOS Version: 15.2(7)E4
What's in this release:
- This is a universalk9 image, meaning it supports both IP Base and Enterprise services (licensing determines feature set).
- Includes the
e (extended maintenance) designation – stable, long-term support track.
- .152-7.e4 translates to 15.2(7)E4 (the 4th rebuild of 15.2(7)E).
Observations so far (3 weeks in production):
- Stability: Solid. No crashes or memory leaks on Sup8-E with ~500 VLANs, OSPF, and VSS.
- Security fixes: This resolves the IOSd crash vulnerabilities (CSCwd66150) present in earlier 15.2(7)E builds.
- Known quirk: SSH key generation takes ~2 minutes on first boot after upgrade. Be patient.
- Upgrade path: If coming from 03.11.02 (15.2(7)E2), you can go direct. From older 03.10.x (15.2(6)E), follow Cisco's recommended upgrade path (usually 03.10.4 -> 03.11.2 -> 03.11.4).
One warning:
Do NOT confuse this with cat4500e-universalk9.SPA.03.11.04.E.152-7.E4.bin (case differs – e vs E). The lowercase e in the filename marks it as a rebuild. Use the exact filename from Cisco. cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin
Upgrade command example:
copy tftp://192.168.1.100/cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin bootflash:
boot system flash bootflash:cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin
reload
Verdict:
Recommended if you are running any 15.2(7)E train older than E4, especially for security and MPLS/VXLAN stability fixes. Test in lab first if you are on Sup6E or mixed VSS domains.
Anyone else running this on Sup9E? Any ISSU upgrade success stories from 03.11.03? Title: Experience with cat4500e-universalk9
Here is the solid technical content regarding the Cisco IOS file: cat4500e-universalk9.spa.03.11.04.e.152-7.e4.bin.
3. Practical Considerations Before Deployment
Before upgrading or booting this image, consider the following:
- Hardware Compatibility: Verify that your supervisor engine (e.g., Supervisor 7-E, 8-E) supports IOS 03.11.04.E. This image generally runs on Sup 6-E and newer, but check Cisco’s Hardware Compatibility Matrix.
- Memory Requirements: This image requires sufficient DRAM and flash. For most 4500-E models, a minimum of 1 GB DRAM and 1 GB flash is needed. Run
show version to confirm your current resources.
- Bootloader (ROMMON): Older ROMMON versions may fail to boot this image. Upgrade your ROMMON to version 12.2(44r)SG or later before attempting to load this IOS.
- End-of-Life Status: As of 2025, IOS 3.11.x is several years old. Cisco has likely issued newer releases (e.g., 3.12.x or 15.2(7)E later maintenance trains). Check for critical security advisories (e.g., Cisco PSIRT) to ensure no unpatched vulnerabilities affect this version.
Supported Supervisor Engines
- Supervisor 6-E (WS-X45-SUP6-E) – Partial support, but 15.2(2)E and later enhance stability.
- Supervisor 7-E (WS-X45-SUP7-E) – Fully supported.
- Supervisor 8-E (WS-X45-SUP8-E) – Fully supported.
5. Alternatives and End-of-Life Awareness
Cisco has transitioned many Catalyst 4500-E features to the IOS XE platform on newer hardware (e.g., Catalyst 9400 series). While 03.11.04.E remains functional for existing deployments, do not expect new hardware support or feature development. For critical infrastructure, assess whether migrating to a modern platform or at least the latest 03.11.x maintenance release (e.g., 03.11.05.E) is advisable. MD5: (You should verify this on Cisco's download
Issue 1: "Not enough space in flash"
- Remove old images:
delete /force flash:old-image.bin and squeeze flash: