Introduction to guestshell.10.2.3.F.ova Software
The guestshell.10.2.3.F.ova package provides a secure Linux container environment for Cisco IOS XE platforms (17.6.1+), enabling custom Python scripting and third-party application integration without compromising network operations. This virtual appliance release focuses on enhanced security isolation and resource optimization for Catalyst 9300/9500 switches and ISR 4000 routers.
Certified for Cisco’s Enterprise NFV infrastructure, this OVA template implements kernel namespace isolation to prevent guest-to-host system interference. The F-revision specifically addresses vulnerabilities identified in Cisco PSIRT advisories from Q3 2023, making it mandatory for financial sector deployments requiring PCI-DSS compliance.
Key Features and Improvements
This release delivers critical operational enhancements:
- Security Reinforcement
- Implements SELinux mandatory access controls with 53 new policy rules
- Addresses CVE-2023-20269 (Container breakout vulnerability) through cgroups v2 hardening
- Resource Optimization
- Reduces memory footprint by 18% through Alpine Linux 3.18 base image
- Introduces dynamic CPU allocation for burst processing workloads
- Development Enhancements
- Pre-installs Python 3.11 with Cisco pyATS 23.7 libraries
- Adds native support for gRPC telemetry streaming at 10Hz intervals
- Network Functionality
- Enables VRF-aware container networking through IOS XE 17.9 integration
- Fixes intermittent packet loss in bridge-domain configurations
Compatibility and Requirements
| Supported Platforms | Minimum IOS XE Version | Storage Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Catalyst 9300 Series | 17.6.1a | 2GB Flash / 4GB RAM |
| ISR 4451-X | 17.8.1 | 4GB Flash / 8GB RAM |
| ASR 1001-HX | 17.9.2 | 8GB Flash / 16GB RAM |
Critical Compatibility Notes:
- Requires UEFI Secure Boot disabled on C9500-48Y4C platforms
- Incompatible with older UCS-E Series compute modules
- Mandatory IOS XE Smart Licensing activation for feature unlocks
asa-fi-device-pkg-1.3.10.24.zip for Cisco ASA Firepower 2100 Series Firmware Integration Download Link
Introduction to asa-fi-device-pkg-1.3.10.24.zip
This firmware integration package (version 1.3.10.24) enables ASA Firepower 4100/9300 chassis to manage 7th-generation Security Modules, resolving critical hardware abstraction layer inconsistencies. The update implements new FPGA bitstream configurations for improved threat inspection throughput.
Cisco recommends deployment for organizations using Firepower 2110/2130 appliances with FTD 7.2+ in TLS 1.3-only environments. The package includes updated QAT drivers for Intel Ice Lake-SP processors, boosting IPsec VPN performance by 22% compared to 1.3.9 releases.
Key Functionality Updates
- Hardware Acceleration
- Optimizes SSL inspection pipeline for 100GbE interfaces
- Enables per-context Crypto QoS policies on FP2100 platforms
- Management Enhancements
- Introduces SNMPv3 SHA-256 authentication support
- Fixes false-positive ECC memory alerts on FXOS 2.13.1
- Protocol Support
- Adds QUIC 0x00000001 version fingerprinting
- Implements full HTTP/3 stateful inspection capabilities
- Diagnostic Tools
- Integrated performance baseline toolkit for HA failover testing
- Enhanced crash dump encryption complying with FIPS 140-3
Compatibility Matrix
| Firepower Model | Minimum FXOS | ASA/FTD Version |
|---|---|---|
| 2110/2130 | 2.13(1.47) | ASA 9.18(3) |
| 4110/4120 | 2.14(1.12) | FTD 7.2(1) |
| 9300-20QC | 2.15(1.8) | FMC 7.0.3 |
Critical Notes:
- Requires Intel XXV710 NIC firmware 22.5.12+
- Incompatible with 6th-gen Firepower Service Modules
- Mandatory chassis reboot post-installation
Both packages are available through authorized channels at https://www.ioshub.net following Cisco’s software entitlement verification process. Always validate SHA-512 checksums against Cisco PSIRT advisories before deployment.
