The following post describes the differences of the Webex Meetings "Slow Channel" and "Latest Channel" for software upgrades including the benefits and disadvantages of both channels.
Overview
Every Webex Site consists of four different modules with different Software versions:
- Webex API
- Webex Site
- Webex Web-client
- Webex Desktop Client
Description Webex modules
For a better understanding of the different modules a short description of the different modules of a Webex solution:
Webex API:
The Webex upgrade is the first in the upgrade cycle of Webex. It defines the version of the XML API which gets regularly updates depending on the new features of the Site Version.
Webex Site:
The Site version upgrade comes normally after the upgrade of the API and contains new backend related bugfixes or features. The Site version is completely independent from the client version and is updated monthly. "Slow Channel" and the "Latest Channel" are sharing several features, the Webex Meetings Shared Components. That means a customer using "Slow Channel" for their Webex solution can get still new features through Webex Site upgrades.
The monthly changes of the shared components are documented at "Webex Meetings Shared Components from the Latest Updates"
Webex Web-Client:
The web-client is the browser native client of Webex, which is used if the Webex Desktop app is not installed and a modern browser is used (e.g. Edge (Chromium), Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox). The version of the web-client is controlled by Cisco and regularly updated during Webex Site version updates.
The monthly maintenance calendar provides detailed information regarding used versions and upgrade dates for the different modules.
Description Slow Channel
The "Slow Channel" gives extended control over the Webex ClientThe slow channel receives are major upgrade around every 3-4 months. Minor upgrades are coming more often. like the major upgrades, in the most cases.
If your Webex Site is running in the latest channel and you want to move to the slow channel you can request the change via your Customer Success Manager. If you don't know your Customer Success Manager please use the described process.
Pros:
- More control over user client
- reduced Client testing efforts compared to latest channel
Contras:
- Bugfixes and Features are delayed
- New Major Upgrades every 3-4 months
- No full control over features - shared component upgrades can still provide new features
- Changes between client versions are larger and take more time until users adopt the new features
Description Latest Channel
The latest channel provides normally every 2-3 weeks a new software version of the Webex Desktop App. The update is automatically installed the the AppData Folder of the Windows 10 device of the user.
Pros:
- Always newest features and bugfixes
- Changes between versions are small and easier to adopt by users
Contras:
- higher testing efforts required
- no control over used Webex Desktop App version
- Risk that an upgrade has special requirements (e.g. special intermediate certificates) to work
Recommendations:
I would recommend the latest channel to every organization which has the required resources for regular Webex client testing and workplaces with required user privileges to write into AppData folder. A Webex Site on a cluster late in the upgrade cycle helps to reduce the number of upgrades for the Webex Desktop app.
Recommendations:
I would recommend the slow channel to organizations which require the rollout of the Webex Desktop App through mass deployment tools like SCCM or where the user privileges for the AppData folder are limited.
To limit user access to the AppData folder is not recommended, because it can break the interoperability mechanisms for joining meetings on Webex Sites using other versions of the Webex Desktop App
Summary
Both options have their benefits. The latest channel provides newest features and bugfixes directly after availability in exchange for more regular clients which can cause new problems. The slow channel provides more control over the used client version but it can delay the rollout of urgently expected features.
The best example or the me to describe how the "Slow Channel" is challenging are virtual backgrounds. Released in September, every month additional features for breakout rooms get released without assurance that all lockdown sites will directly participate from the improvements.
In conclusion, each organization has to decide by their own which model fits best for their testing possibilities and workplace policies.
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