Updates to the SSLV Host Categorization service

Products

• SSL Visibility Appliance Software
• WebFilter
• Intelligence Services

Issue/Introduction

The SSLV Host Categorization service allows policy to be tailored to the URL category destination of an SSL flow. With this feature, the user can write a policy for a specific type of traffic, based on the URL's category. 

Previous to the 4.5.10.1 and 5.4.2.1 releases, the Host Categorization service relies on the BCWF (WebFilter) Host Categorization database, which must be downloaded to the SSL Visibility appliance. In 4.5.10.1 and later, and 5.4.2.1 and later, the service uses the BCIS (Intelligence Services) Host Categorization database. BCIS provides you with the benefit of more responsive categorization when compared with BCWF.

Note: BCWF is reaching end-of-life in August 2023. To ensure continuity in Host Categorization, upgrade to 4.5.10.1 or later, or 5.4.2.1 or later, before that time.

The Host Categorization update is released in two phases:

• Phase 1: the introduction of BCIS support into the SSL Visibility software release. This feature is included in SSLV 4.5.10.1 and 5.4.2.1
  
  
• Phase 2: support for security improvements to the Broadcom license backend subscription services. This feature will be included in an upcoming SSLV release.

Environment

4.5.10.1:

• SV1800B
• SV2800B
• SV3800B, SV3800B-20
• SV-800

 

5.4.2.1:

• SV-S550-20
• SV-S550-10
• SV-S550-5

Resolution

If you are running SSLV 4.5.9.x and earlier, or SSLV 5.4.1.x and earlier
Consult the SSLV 4.5.10.1 or 5.4.2.1 Release Notes. If you don't require the fixes in 4.5.10.1 or 5.4.2.1, or the ability to use BCIS for Host Categorization, you can upgrade to the SSLV release that includes the full update to the Host Categorization service. Subscribe to SSLV Release Announcements to receive notifications about releases.

 

If you are running SSLV 4.5.10.1 or SSLV 5.4.2.1
You are using BCIS for Host Categorization. When the full security update to the Host Categorization service is available, upgrade to the SSLV release that includes the update. Subscribe to SSLV Release Announcements to receive notifications about releases.

 

For further updates:

• Bookmark this article
• Subscribe to SSLV product notifications and alerts (see https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/142615)