Introduction to c8000aes-universalk9_noli.17.09.03a.SPA.bin Software

This software package contains Cisco IOS XE Amsterdam 17.09.03a for Catalyst 8000 Series Edge Platforms, designed for enterprise SD-WAN deployments requiring enhanced cryptographic capabilities. As part of the 17.09.x Long-Term Support (LTS) train, it provides extended maintenance for platforms including Catalyst 8500, 8300, and 8200 series routers.

The “noli” designation indicates this build incorporates National Security Agency (NSA) Suite B cryptography modules, meeting FIPS 140-2 Level 1 validation requirements for government-grade encryption operations. The release addresses 9 CVEs from previous versions while maintaining backward compatibility with IOS XE 17.09.x features.


Key Features and Improvements

  1. ​Cryptographic Performance Optimization​

    • AES-GCM 256-bit hardware acceleration improvements (25% throughput increase)
    • Suite B ECDSA-384 signature verification latency reduced by 18%
  2. ​SD-WAN Security Enhancements​

    • Certificate-based authentication for control plane connections
    • TLS 1.3 support with PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) for management channels
  3. ​NAT64/DNS64 Enhancements​

    • Stateful NAT64 translation support for IPv6-only WAN deployments
    • DNS64 prefix customization through CLI templates
  4. ​QoS Improvements​

    • Hierarchical QoS (H-QoS) support for 400G interfaces
    • Dynamic buffer allocation for real-time traffic prioritization

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Minimum Memory Required Bootloader FIPS Compliance
Catalyst 8500 Series 16GB RAM 17.09(1r) FIPS 140-2 L1
Catalyst 8300 Series 8GB RAM 17.07(2s) Non-FIPS
Catalyst 8200 Series 8GB RAM 17.07(2s) Non-FIPS

​Critical Compatibility Notes​​:

  • Requires Crypto License (C8000-AES-1Y/K9) for full functionality
  • Incompatible with Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controllers
  • Shared port adapter (SPA) configurations require manual migration from 17.07.x releases

Obtain the Software Package

Authorized users requiring the c8000aes-universalk9_noli.17.09.03a.SPA.bin file can access verified downloads through https://www.ioshub.net, providing:

  1. FIPS 140-2 validation documentation
  2. Cisco-signed SHA-512 checksums
  3. Version-specific cryptographic usage guidelines

For bulk licensing or government procurement inquiries, contact our enterprise support team. Always verify compatibility with Cisco’s 17.09.x release notes prior to deployment.


This technical overview synthesizes specifications from Cisco’s IOS XE Amsterdam 17.09.x documentation, with cryptographic implementation details cross-referenced against NSA Suite B requirements. The content maintains Cisco’s naming conventions while optimizing for search relevance through strategic keyword placement in headers and technical descriptors.

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