Networking hardware ships with whatever firmware was current when it left the factory, which is frequently older than the current release. Plan an update as part of commissioning.
Where advisories are published
Security advisories are published by the manufacturers themselves, and their own lists are the authoritative source. See the manufacturer links for each brand’s security and firmware pages.
We do not operate an advisory mailing list of our own. Subscribing directly to the manufacturers whose equipment you run is better practice than relying on a reseller to relay it.
Firmware on goods we ship
Hardware ships sealed, with factory firmware. We do not pre-stage or pre-configure units as standard, and we do not open sealed boxes to update them — that would make them no longer new.
Practical advice
- Update on the bench before deployment, not after the unit is on a mast or in a ceiling.
- Read the release notes for the version you are jumping to, especially across major versions.
- Check controller and device version compatibility before updating either.
- Patch internet-reachable devices promptly rather than on a maintenance cycle.
Firmware and warranty
Damage caused by firmware that is not the manufacturer’s own is excluded from warranty by every brand we carry. Third-party firmware is your decision and your risk.