ZLD 5.x firmware development status

mMontana
mMontana Posts: 1,428  Guru Member
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edited April 10 in Security

According to this page

https://support.zyxel.eu/hc/en-us/articles/360005438274-Weekly-Firmware-Support-Version-Lab-Version

latest pubblication of Lab Firmware for ZLD 5.x is dated november 2024, 1 month after 5.39P1, roughly 20 weeks ago.

Is there a new way for access Lab Firmwares?
Is Lab Firmware release suspended?
Is Lab Firmware development suspended?
Which is the ETA of the next 5.x release?
Is any EOS date support that Zyxel is willing to share for these devices?

I'd like to report that the community backlashed at the announcement of EOS date for ZLD 4 devices.

All Replies

  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,428  Guru Member
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    I was incorrect, I apologize.

    ZLD 5.39P1 seems released at the same time of the latest Lab Firmware Release, WK47.

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 2,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula

    Hi @mMontana ,

    The latest weekly firmware for version 5.39 is 5.39WK10 (2025). However, we recommend users wait for the official 5.40 firmware scheduled for release this April (2025).

    These 5.x ZLD devices are expected to reach end-of-life (EOL/EOS) in 2030.

  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,428  Guru Member
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    Thanks for sharing these answers. Could be please possible to answer also these questions?

    Is there a new way for access Lab Firmwares?
    Is Lab Firmware release suspended?

    :)

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 2,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula

    Hi @mMontana ,

    We still release the weekly firmware based on device issue status. The latest weekly firmware for version 5.39 is 5.39WK10 (2025) as we mentioned above. If you would like to update to this version, please share your model's name with us.

  • frjonatan
    frjonatan Posts: 53  Ally Member
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    @Zyxel_Judy

    Hi, it's already the middle of May, and the firmware promised in April is v5.40 and still not.

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 2,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula

    Hi @frjonatan ,

    We apologize for the delay. The 5.40 firmware release has been rescheduled for June. Once the firmware is available, we will notify users through our News & Releases section. Please refer to this section for the most up-to-date information.

    News and Release - Zyxel Community

  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,428  Guru Member
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    edited May 20

    So…

    Schedule was april. Delayed, but notification only when requested.

    New schedule: june. Only when at middle of may was requested.

    Now…

    immagine.png

    no announcement on the community, however available on the official download site, while all releases of the Flex H series is widely communicately, repeatedly, even old releases is at top level of the community posts, creating clutter and confusion for community users.

    Still 4.5 years of support on this firewall family, this kind of communication should be improved to mantain trust of current generation customers.

  • mMontana
    mMontana Posts: 1,428  Guru Member
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    immagine.png

    By the way… I was this morning 4 days late compared to the firmware release on official download site. And announcement is roughly 100 minutes late from my post.

    The complexity of following the developments of zyxel advisories, announcements, releases is… fragmentation. There's proactive notification for Nebula "timeouts" due to hiccup resolve, maintenance upgrade, that's nice. But currently, the only reliable way for find updates or vulnerabilities on devices is… login to the device and check CVE.

    Which is 95% of times useless and only 5% useful. But seems far more reliable than checking the community, the security release, the download site.

    I'd love to see improvements.

    Wishing all the best for all Zyxel's persons, teams, special ones.

  • Zyxel_Judy
    Zyxel_Judy Posts: 2,204  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Nebula Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 2 - Security Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Nebula

    Hi @mMontana ,

    Thank you for your feedback.
    Going forward, we will provide earlier notifications to customers about new firmware releases in both the Download Library and Community announcements.


    Regarding the screenshot you provided for this time, let me clarify. Although the local GUI shows that version 5.40 has a 5/12 release date, this date represents our internal firmware initiation, and it takes time to complete the process. Customers must wait until the official Download Library announcement (5/16) before the new firmware becomes visible and available in their local GUI.