Current Releases | Release Terminology | Recommended Version FAQ | General FAQ

 

This article provides the information about the Check Point release policy and terminology. 
Please contact your local Check Point representative with any questions you may have to information regarding this article.

 

Check Point Recommended version for all deployments is R81.20 Take 631 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take.

Current Releases

• R81.20 Titan Release was released on November 21, 2022. Scalable Platforms is part of R81.20.
  This release (Take 631), installed with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Take is considered as Check Point's Recommended version. Check Point recommends to always use the Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take, listed on R81.20 Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator page. 
  
  
• R81.10 was released on July 6, 2021. Scalable Platforms is part of R81.10.
  
  
• R81 was released on October 22, 2020.  For new deployments, it is recommended to deploy R81.10 and higher.

• R80.40 was released on January 28, 2020. For new deployments, it is recommended to deploy R81.10 and higher.
  This version will reach its End of Support on April 30, 2024.

• R80.30 was released on May 7, 2019. This version reached its End of Support. If you are using this version (or lower), we strongly recommend you to upgrade your environments. Check Point Recommended version for all deployments is R81.20 Take 631 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take.
  
  
• R80.20 was released on September 26, 2018. This version reached its End of Support. If you are using this version (or lower), we strongly recommend you to upgrade your environments. Check Point Recommended version for all deployments is R81.20 Take 631 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take.
  
  
• R80.10 was released on May 17, 2017. This version reached its End of Support. If you are using this version (or lower), we strongly recommend you to upgrade your environments. Check Point Recommended version for all deployments is R81.20 Take 631 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take.
  

 

 

Release Terminology

There are different types of software releases:

• Major and Minor releases

  Major release: Introduces new functionalities and cutting edge innovative technologies to the market while maintaining high product quality. Major release is supported by Check Point for four years according to Support Lifecycle Policy.
  In the past few years Check Point has released Major releases every 1-2 years. Some examples of major releases would be: R80.20 , R81.
  
  Minor release: Introduces Security Management & Gateway with new features and stability fixes on top of Major releases. Minor release is supported by Check Point as long as its relevant Major version is supported, according to Support Lifecycle Policy. In the past few years, Check Point has released 1-2 Minor releases per Major version Release. Some examples of minor releases would be: R80.30 , R80.40, R81.10.
  
  Major and Minor releases are introduced in 3 steps:
  
  
  • Early Availability (EA) - Check Point’s EA Program provides pre-release access to Check Point’s upcoming Major or Minor versions that introduce new functionalities and cutting-edge innovative technologies. As a Check Point EA customer, you have the opportunity to learn about our upcoming products ahead of the curve and influence their direction. Your feedback is important to us! Visit our EA program site for more information.
    
    
  • Latest Version (formerly, General Availability (GA)) - The version is released and available to customers interested in using the new features of the new version. The version is available via CPUSE’s “All packages” view. 
    
    
  • Recommended version (formerly, Default version) - Check Point declares the version as Recommended. The version is recommended for all deployments a few weeks after release and following 1-2 Jumbo Hotfix releases. The version is available via CPUSE’s “Recommended packages” view.
    
    

• Management Feature Release
  

  Introduces Security Management with new features and stability fixes in between Major and Minor releases. Once the next Major or Minor release is available, Check Point recommends to upgrade the Security Management running a Management Feature Release to the next Major or Minor release. The first available release is R80.20.M1.
  
  

• Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator

  Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator (Jumbo Hotfix, JHF) is an accumulation of stability, quality fixes and enhancements resolving multiple issues in different products. For more information, see sk98028.
  
  Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator release is introduced in 2 steps:
  
  
  • Latest Jumbo (formerly, Ongoing) - Every Jumbo release is first introduced as our latest version, ready for deployment for early adopters customers. Our Latest Jumbo release is in high quality and passed all Check Point release Criteria. Version is available via CPUSE using the package identifier and can also be provided by Check Point Customer Support.
    
    
  • Recommended Jumbo (formerly, General Availability (GA)) - Check Point recommended Jumbo Hotfix for all deployments. The Latest Jumbo is declared as Recommended following a significant amount of this Jumbo installations in the field. Version is available via CPUSE’s “Recommended packages” view. 
    
    

• Special releases and Hotfixes

  Specific for a particular feature or a fix to be installed where required, a solution article (SK) will be published in Check Point Support Center with the relevant information and files for download.

 

Recommended Version FAQ

• What does the Recommended version mean?
  

  The version that is most suitable for the widest customer-used cases.
  The recommended version appears in the 'Recommended Packages' section in the CPUSE tab in the Gaia Portal.

• When does Check Point declare a version as Recommended?
  

  We declare a version as Recommended for all deployments, typically following the 2nd Recommended Jumbo Hotfix release.

• How do I choose the best version for me?
  

  We always recommend choosing Check Point’s widely recommended version, with the Recommended Jumbo Hotfix. You should choose a newer release if the specific new features introduced by the release are important to you.
  At this time, our Recommended version for all deployments is R81.20 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix.

• What is the status of R81.20? Is it considered as Recommended?
  

  R81.20 with its Recommended Jumbo Hotfix Accumulator Take is considered as Check Point Recommended version starting from July 27, 2023. 

• When should I upgrade to a new version?
  

  We always recommend choosing Check Point’s Recommended version, with the Recommended Jumbo Hotfix. We advise upgrading to a newer version if:

  • New features introduced by the release are important to you. 
  • Your current version is going to End of Life soon (see our Support Lifecycle Policy page)

  For more info on our releases, refer to our Release Map.

 

General FAQ

• How do I know which versions are included in a new version, which upgrade path are supported and which Security Gateway versions can be managed by a new version?
  

  All this information is available in the relevant Release Notes.
  In addition, with every new release, we update the Releases map, and Upgrade and Backward Compatibility maps.
  For every minor release, Check Point will always make sure there will be a supported upgrade path for future releases.

• How do I know what are the recommended Hotfixes on top of a release?
  

  Starting from R75.46, you can find this information in the "Released hotfixes" section on every Release page. You can also view the release's Known Limitations page, which includes solution numbers for hotfixes released to customers.

• How do I know which fixes are integrated in a release?
  

  With every release, we publish its Resolved Issues, containing the issue ID and issue description.

• How do I track changes in existing images?
  

  Upon important hotfixes, Check Point may update the release images to automatically install the fixes. Starting from R77, these changes are documented in several places: "files revision" PDF, Release Notes update, a note under the download links and filenames changes.