Original Packaging: One IOS Image per Feature Set Combination
In addition, Cisco also created one image for each combination of IOS feature sets that was allowed on a router. A feature set is a group of related IOS features. For instance, voice features in a router would be in one feature set, while security features, like an intrusion prevention system (IPS), would be in a security feature set.
The feature set concept has a very basic business motivation: pricing. Customers who want fewer features want to pay less. Cisco desired more flexible pricing depending on the needs of a customer.
Using feature sets means that Cisco has to build even more IOS images. Not only did Cisco need one IOS image per model (or model series), per IOS version and ...
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