According to customer feedback, MWG users can be divided into two general groups pertaining to new features and updates:
- Users who are happy with the current feature set and are not immediately looking for new functionality. These users often under tight change control, and are only interested in update releases for their current MWG version.
- Users who are waiting for new features and could generally be considered early adopters of innovations. These users are interested in updates and new features, and performing an upgrade is not a significant concern for their environments.
To accommodate the needs of both user groups, McAfee has implemented a two-branch release approach for MWG:
- Main release branch:
- Default version on all new MWG appliances.
- Provides feature releases once yearly.
- Provides maintenance releases throughout the year (every month).
- Controlled release branch:
- Provides three feature releases per year (once every four months).
- Provides maintenance releases throughout the year (every month).
- Geared toward early adopters.
- Update releases are either made available between feature releases, or are rolled into the next feature release.
- Customers must actively decide to switch to this branch.
At the end of a 12-month period, the current Controlled release moves into the Main release branch and is maintained there for the next 12-month period.
NOTE: You can decide to move from a
Main release to a
Controlled release. But, when you adopt a Controlled release, you remain on the Controlled path until the next Main release is available.
The goal of McAfee is to accommodate the customer's need for stability, continuity, innovation, latest security features, while maintaining a flexible development cycle.
FAQs
How do I distinguish a Main release from a Controlled release by the version number?
The two branches are interwoven at the release of a new Main branch, which results in the previous Controlled branch release. So, starting with version 8.0, we have applied a versioning scheme that reflects the type of release.
Release version X.Y.Z.A
- Change in X – Major release (example: 8.0, 9.0)
- Change in Y – Minor release (example: 8.1, 8.2)
- Change in Z – Update (example: 8.1.1, 8.1.2)
- Change in A – hotfix (example: 8.1.1 HF 1, 8.1.1 HF 2)
What happens in an upgrade from a Main release version?
When you execute the one-click upgrade on an MWG instance in the Main release branch, you receive the update (or maintenance) upgrades, but no new feature versions within one year. When a new Main release branch is released, this release branch is your upgrade target.
What happens in an upgrade from a Controlled release version?
When you execute the one-click upgrade on an MWG instance in the Controlled release branch, you will receive the update upgrades of the current iteration or the next iteration when it is released.
How do I change from a Main release to a Controlled release?
You can’t change to the Controlled release branch using the one-click upgrade option. One extra step is needed to upgrade to a Controlled release. See the
release notes for your target version for upgrade instructions.
How do I change from a Controlled release to a Main release?
When you change to a version in the Controlled release branch, there are two ways to return to the Main release branch:
- After the third iteration, one of the next maintenance releases of this branch will become the next Main release branch version, and your MWG instance is in the Main release branch again. You must change your configuration to continue a Controlled release branch upgrade path.
- The change from a Controlled release to Main release is technically a downgrade of the software. So, to achieve this change, you must reinstall your MWG instance with the latest Main release branch during the 12-month interval.
Am I still supported when running a Controlled release branch version?
Yes. In both branches, you are eligible for full Technical Support according to your respective entitlement.
NOTE: In the Controlled release branch, updates are published only during each iteration's four-month lifetime. When a newer iteration is released, McAfee asks you to upgrade instead of releasing an update for the old iteration.
Where do I get information about updating my MWG appliance?
For more information, see
KB89192 - Best practices for updating Web Gateway.
