When upgrading the following, you want to know which releases are most stable compared to other releases. While a release may have new features and functionality, you may consider it less stable for your network environment.

This article pertains to:

• Symantec Network Protection Services (NPS)
• Symantec Edge Secure Web Gateway (formerly ProxySG)
• Symantec Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG)

You would like to upgrade to a specific or latest version of SGOS

You would like to know where to find the latest SGOS recommended version/release.

There are several types of releases of SGOS for Edge SWG and ASG, which offer various levels of stability vs features.

Long Term Release (LTR)

This type of release is considered the most stable, with the following goals: stability, reliability, fit-for-use, FIPS/CC certified, and customer satisfaction.

• Release frequency* - Usually available monthly, but could be around 2-3 months.
• Stability - Considered stable. The recommended release for more customers.

Standard Release (STDR)

This type of release is often considered for its new features, with goals to increase stability and provide security fixes.

• Release frequency* - Available approximately every 3 months (estimated).
• Stability - Stable, but not as stable as the LTR. Symantec recommends staying on the latest release to take advantage of all fixes. This release is recommended only if you require a feature not found in the LTR.

Latest Feature Release

This type of release is the most recent, and generally would not be considered stable. Normally, the focus on this type of release is on feature enhancements. Currently, however, the latest feature release is becoming more stable than generally expected as it is transitioning into its role as Long Term Release (LTR). Therefore, at this time Symantec recommends considering upgrading to the latest feature release for stability as well.

• Release frequency* - Availability unknown, but is usually released when fixes can be resolved.
• Stability - Sacrifices stability for features.
  • Symantec highly recommends upgrading with new releases to move toward stability.
  • Symantec recommends this release when you require a feature not found in the LTR or Standard release.

Early Availability Release (EA)

This type of release is available early for customers to use in a lab environment. This allows you to test the changes and see how they will affect your current network traffic behavior

• Stability - Tends to have many new features which require testing before being used in a production environment.

Note: Symantec always recommends staying on the latest maintenance release, on the current branch release you are running, unless a specific fix or feature is required in another release or the current branch release is nearing EOL.

For example:

• If you are on 6.5.x upgrade to the latest 7.3 maintenance release (6.5 is EOL Apr 30, 2020).
• If you are on 6.6.x upgrade to the latest 7.3 maintenance release (6.6 is EOL Dec 31, 2019). 
• If you are on 6.7.x upgrade to the latest 7.3 maintenance release (6.7 is EOL Dec 31, 2023)
• If you are on 7.1.x upgrade to the latest 7.3 maintenance release (7.1 is EOL as of Nov 30, 2020).
• If you are on 7.2.x upgrade to the latest 7.3.x maintenance release (7.2 is EOM as of Apr 30, 2021, EOL is on Oct 31, 2022).
• If you are on 7.3.x upgrade to the latest 7.3.x maintenance release.

Before upgrading, consult the SGOS upgrade path and guide or the ASGOS upgrade path and guide accordingly

Current releases

• The New LTR is 7.3
• The previous LTR is 6.7.5. SGOS 6.7.5.x has an “End of Life” date of Dec 31, 2023.
• Customers have until Dec 31, 2023, to migrate from 6.7.x LTR to latest 7.3.x LTR
• ISG 6.7.5.3 and later is supported by ISG/SSP-S410 platform, the latest 7.3 maintenance release is the recommended version
• Support recommends that you thoroughly vet and test 7.3 in a lab environment prior to deploying the release into production. This is recommended due to major feature changes in this release.

Contact Support for more information about the current LTR, STDR, and Feature releases.

Additional information

See Network Protection EOL Policies.

See Upgrade and downgrade information for Edge SWG (ProxySG) and Advanced Secure Gateway (ASG).