What is a Feature Pack?

The heart of a Cisco Internetwork Operating System (Cisco IOS) software feature pack is a CD-ROM that contains software images and a Windows 95 application, which loads the images onto a router. Each Cisco IOS Release 11.1 feature pack CD contains one or more feature sets . For users without Windows 95, images can also be loaded with Windows 3.1 and a TFTP server application.

Cisco IOS feature packs are primarily used as a means of software distribution by resellers, who load their customers' selection of router software at the resellers' sites. However, you can use feature packs in any situation that requires an alternative to standard software distribution (that is, factory installation of software, diskettes, or Cisco Connection Online download).

Each Cisco IOS Release 11.1 software feature pack box contains the following items:

• CD-ROM with the following software:

  • One or more router software images

  • Modem software images (for the Cisco AS5200)

  • Software installer program (a Windows 95 application)

• Instruction booklet for using the software installer program

• Release notes, which include instructions for using a TFTP server application and Windows 3.1 as an alternative to Windows 95

• Information Packet or Software License--both contain a license for using Cisco software in object code form on a single router

• Cisco Documentation CD-ROM, which contains all Cisco IOS software documentation