Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Prior to IOS 15 , we used to have 8 IOS images Types (Feature set) , by the way it was 12
before it comes 8.

any router was coming with IB Base feature set and according to your company needs you
can go for advance feature set and replace the IOS , check the below pic :

The following Picture explain each one and what features you will gain once you run that
feature set :

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Now with IOS 15 it become 4 instead of 8 Feature sets and these 4 Features set comes in
one single IOS image ,now days we use the term (technology package ) when referring to
feature set.

What are the ISO v15 Feature sets (technology package) types we have now days with
ISR G2:

1. IP Base (ipbaseK9)come and running with any new ISR G2 routers (1900,2900,3900 Series) , its entry
level for Cisco IOS functionality
2. DATA (dataK9)support MPLS.ATM. Multiprotocol support
3. Unified Commuincations (ucK9) support VOIP & IP Telephony
4. Security (securityK9) support Cisco IOS Firewall , IPS , IPsec , 3DES, VPN

The following picture summarize these Feature sets (technology package):

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

ISR Integrated Service Router G2 come with IPbase and to run the other three technology
package we need to understand the concept of licenses which similar to ASA firewalls
licenses by the way .

Licenses has two types:

Evaluation (Temporary) License

which mean will be available with all functionality for trial period would be 60 days

Permanent License
which mean you must get new license from cisco to run it for ever

Any License has Status :

any type could had one of two status

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Active, In Use
Inactive

Normally your Universal image come with ipbasek9 built -in with the following type and
status

License Type: Permanent

License State: Active, In Use

So if we want to run one of the remaining three feature sets ,Licenses need to be activate it
so you can use it whatever you will use it as Permanent or Evaluation.

Cisco give you the ability to activate the remaining three feature sets for Evaluation but if
you like to use any of them Permanently you will need to get license from cisco.

Note 1 : The IP Base license is a prerequisite for installing the Data, Security, and Unified
Communications license.

Note 2 : if you want to run all feature set you will need license for each as the pic below :

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

How to get License from Cisco and how to install it in my Router ?

Complete the following steps to permanently activate a software package or feature on the
router:

1- Purchase the software package or feature that you want to install. You receive a PAK with
your purchase.

What is Product authorization key (PAK):

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

The PAK is provided to you when you order or purchase the right to use a feature set for a
particular platform.
The PAK serves as a receipt and is used as part of the process to obtain a license

2-Get the license file using one of these options:

Option 1 -Cisco License Manager, which is a free software application available at http://
www.cisco.com/go/clm.

Option 2 -cisco license registration portal www.cisco.com/go/license

on any of these options what you will do is Convert the PAK to a license by entering
the PAK and the unique device identifier (UDI) into the CLM or Cisco Product License
Registration portal

Note : UDI has two main components: the PID and the serial

What is the unique device identifier (UDI)?

A. The UDI is a combination of the product id (PID), the serial number, and the hardware
version. The UDI is printed on a label that is located on the back of every switch and also
viewable from the command-line interface (CLI) (show license UDI) and management tools
(using Simple Network Management Protocol [SNMP]). Only the PID and serial number are
used for license creation

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

To know what is your UDI , type show license udi as the following pic showing you :

Also show version command will display the UDI

This information is also present on a pull-out label tray found on the device. See the
following two pictures :

After entering the appropriate information, you will receive an e-mail containing the license
information that you can use to install the license

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Copy the license file received from the Cisco Product License Registration
portal to the appropriate file system on the device.
or
Click the Install button on the web page.

What is the License Format ?

The license is in the form of a file with a .lic extension

A Software Activation License is an XML text file with a .lic extension and even can be
opened by notepad or any text editor:

3- use the cisco cli to install and manage licenses

Licenses Commands Overview :

Displaying Licenses types and status

Router#show license all

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

R1#sh license detail will give you similar information like above one too

Displaying brief summary about each feature and installation status

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

R1#show license feature

Installing Evaluation License for feature set (technology-package)

Lets say we want to take the benefit of using securityk9 Feature set in
Evaluation period to set our router as IOS firewall , we will type the following
command

Router(config)#license boot module c2900 technology-package securityk9

Then we will asked to type Yes To accept the Evaluation License agreement

Installing Permanent License for feature set (technology-package):

After doing the steps we talk about earlier to get the license file , we will copy it to our router
flash then type the following command :

R1# license install flash0:uck9-2900-SPE150_K9-FHH12250057.xml

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

R1# reload

Backing up the License command :

R1# license save flash:all_licenses.lic

Uninstalling the License command (two steps required for uninstalling licenses ) :

1-

First we disable it

Router(config)# license boot module c3900 technology-package uck9 disable

Router(config)# exit

Router# reload

2-

Then we clear it

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

Router#license clear uck9

Router#config t

Router(config)#no license boot module c3900 technology uck9 disable

Router(config)#exit

Router#reload

Note : some licenses such as built in licenses cannot be cleared. Only licenses that have
been added by

using the license install command are removed. Evaluation licenses are not removed.

Finally I recommend you to understand the naming format for IOS 15 it self , example:

c2900-universalk9-mz.SPA.151-4.M4.bin

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

The main point here to undersatnd here is what is M & T?

in brief ,M release stay for 16 month and during this period we could see many release of T
including enhancement and advance functionality added .

More info :

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/iosswrel/ps8802/ps10587/ps10591/ps10621/
qa_c67_561940.html

More resources about IOS v15 & Licenses :

Ciscos Integrated Services Routers Generation Two Licensing and Packaging

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Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/routers/ps10616/
white_paper_c11_556985_ps10536_Products_White_Paper.html

Configuring the Cisco IOS Software Activation Feature

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/csa/configuration/guide/csa_commands.html

Tutorial for IOS V15

http://www.cisco.com/assets/prod/ios-nxos/ios_sw_releases_15/index.html

CLM eTutorial :

http://www.cisco.com/assets/prod/netmgtsw/Lic_mgr/index.html

An introduction to Cisco IOS version 15

http://www.ciscozine.com/2010/10/12/an-introduction-to-cisco-ios-version-15/

Yasser Auda
Certified Cisco Systems Instructor CCSI # 34215

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