Leading Cisco networking products distributor-3network.com Understating Cisco IOS v15 Licenses

1. 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 :
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

2. 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
1.
The following picture summarize these Feature sets (technology package):
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
•
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
2

3. 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 :
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):
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
3

4. 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
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 :
4

5. After entering the appropriate information, you will receive an e-mail containing the
license information that you can use to install the license
• 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
5

6. Licenses Commands Overview :
Displaying Licenses types and status
Router#show license all
R1#sh license detail will give you similar information like above one too
Displaying brief summary about each feature and installation status
R1#show license feature
Installing Evaluation License for feature set (technology-package)
6

7. Let’s 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
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
Router#license clear uck9
Router#config t
7

8. 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
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 related:
How To Recover Cisco Router Password
The Difference of The Cisco Catalyst 2900 and Cisco Catalyst 1900
More Cisco products and Reviews you can visit: http://www.3anetwork.com/blog
It is referred from: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-20321
8

9. 3Anetwork.com is a world leading Cisco networking products wholesaler, we wholesale
original new Cisco networking equipments, including Cisco Catalyst switches, Cisco
routers, Cisco firewalls, Cisco wireless products, Cisco modules and interface cards
products at competitive price and ship to worldwide.
Our website: http://www.3anetwork.com
Telephone: +852-3069-7733
Email: info@3Anetwork.com
Address: 23/F Lucky Plaza, 315-321 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hongkong
9

10. 3Anetwork.com is a world leading Cisco networking products wholesaler, we wholesale
original new Cisco networking equipments, including Cisco Catalyst switches, Cisco
routers, Cisco firewalls, Cisco wireless products, Cisco modules and interface cards
products at competitive price and ship to worldwide.
Our website: http://www.3anetwork.com
Telephone: +852-3069-7733
Email: info@3Anetwork.com
Address: 23/F Lucky Plaza, 315-321 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hongkong
9