Licenses and Warranties for the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches – Part 2

How is the image-based license activated?

An image-based license can be activated by implementing the below EXEC CLI, which triggers the license level and agrees to the end-user license agreement (EULA).

CLI for permanent: license right-to-use activate lanbase | ipbase | ipservices <slot #> acceptEULA

CLI for evaluation: license right-to-use activate ipbase | ipservices evaluation <slot #> acceptEULA

How is the access point count license activated?

The access point count license can be activated by implementing the below EXEC CLI, which triggers the access point count number and agrees to the EULA. A permanent access point count license can be activated in unit increases up to a maximum of 50. An evaluation license is obtainable only for the maximum access point count (50).

CLI for permanent: license right-to-use activate apcount <1-50> <slot #> acceptEULA

CLI for evaluation: license right-to-use activate apcount evaluation <slot#> acceptEULA

What occurs after 90 days of triggering an evaluation RTU license?

An evaluation RTU license EULA supposes that clients will buy a permanent license within 90 days. After 90 days the evaluation license will not be effective. Warning syslog messages related to the evaluation license termination are created 10 and 5 days prior to the 90-day window. Warning syslog communications are produced daily after the 90-day period expiry. The expired evaluation license remains functioning with the daily syslog communications till the switch is replenished. An expired evaluation license can’t be reactivated after the reload.

What are the license necessities to make a Cisco Catalyst 3850 switch stack?

To make a Cisco Catalyst 3850 stack, all switches need to be at the same image-based license (IP Services/IPBase/LAN Base) level. The active switch license level is taken as the reference, and the participating switch licenses are compared against it. In case there is any incongruity, the active switch with the syslog message “license mismatch error” specifies that the stacking has failed. Because the 12-port and 24-port SFP models are only shipped with an IP Base or IP Services base license, in order for them to be able to stack with LAN Base switches, either the latter are upgraded to a mutual higher license level or the former are downgraded to LAN Base through the CLI .

5. How can a “license mismatch error” be fixed in a Cisco Catalyst 3850 stack?

The license level of the mismatch stack participating switch can be altered with the license right-to-use activate <license> all acceptEULA CLI command (pls ensure that the entire stack should have the same wired license level) and reloaded from the active switch console. This will allow the member switch to join the stack successfully. The client is required to purchase a license prior to moving to a precise license level.

To find out more, please speak with our Cisco Licensing Specialists here.

Licenses and Warranties for the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches – Part 3

How can the access point count license be managed on a Cisco Catalyst 3850 switches stack?

The entire access point count license of a Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches stack is equivalent to the summation of all the single member access point count licenses, up to a maximum fifty access points. Whenever new members have been added to this stack, the complete access point count license of the stack is spontaneously reevaluated. Whenever any members are detached from this stack, the access point count license does not be reduced until the time of a reload of this stack.

An example of stack member addition is a Cisco Catalyst 3850 stack of 3 switches, each having an access point count license of 10 access points. This setup will support a total of 30 access points. Whenever a new Cisco Catalyst 3850 (i.e switch number 4) is added to a stack with an access point count license of 25 access points, the total access points that will be supported by the stack becomes 50, as the total (30+25) 55 surpasses the respective stack limit.

An example of removing a stack member can be if Switch 4 is removed from the preceding example stack, the access point count license remains at 50 access points until the time that the stack is replenished. After being replenished, the stack goes back to its initial value of 30 access points.

How can an RTU license be migrated in the event of a Cisco Catalyst 3850 hardware swap or an RMA?

Both image-based and access point count licenses have can be disabled from the previous/swapped-out equipment and initiated on the new replacement switch. Deactivation is accomplished by the “license right-to-use deactivate” EXEC command and activation by “ license right-to-use activate” EXEC command.

How can we monitor the license usage?

The license usage is retained in the Cisco Catalyst 3850 stack for discrete switches. The usage data is retained from the preliminary boot over multiple reboots, comprising the status of EULA, in-use condition, and type of license. The usage data is daily updated and we can obtain it via the “show license right-to-use usage” EXEC command.

How is the license information saved and secured?

The license data is saved in two concealed flash partitions: Active and Backup. They cannot be accessed by the customer, and the write erase command will not delete the license files. If a license file stored in the primary partition is corrupted or fiddled with, the license file from the secondary/backup partition is utilized. If both partitions become corrupted, Cisco will reconstruct the license files.

10. What hardware warranty/return policy comes with the Cisco Catalyst 3850 switches?

The Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches are shipped with an enhanced limited lifetime hardware warranty (ELLW). This gives you 90-days TAC support access and next business day delivery in case a hardware replacement is required.

To find out more, please speak with our Cisco Licensing Specialists here.

Licenses and Warranties for the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches – Part 1

Companies can now transparently upgrade the software feature set in the Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches via Cisco IOS Software CLI by the use of the right to use (RTU)-based software upgrade procedure. Software activation empowers the Cisco IOS Software feature groups. Founded on the license’s category, Cisco IOS Software triggers the suitable feature set. License types can be altered, or upgraded, to trigger a different feature set.

The three feature sets which are available for all Cisco Catalyst 3850 switches are:

  1. LAN Base: Enterprise Access with Layer 2 switching features
  2. IP Base: Enterprise Access with Layer 3 switching features
  3. IP Services: Advanced Enterprise Access with Layer 3 switching (IPv4 and IPv6) features

No PAK (product activation key) is compulsory for software licensing in the Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches. Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches employ a trust-based RTU licensing model. While placing the order, the customer simply indicates the requisite license requirement and then receives an electronic or paper license for entitlement purposes.

There are two main types of Cisco Catalyst 3850 series switches licenses: the Permanent RTU license and the Evaluation RTU license. These are offered for both image-based licensing (IP Base or IP Services) and AP count licensing.

A permanent RTU license is a paid license having no expiration date. The universal Cisco IOS XE Software-based images possess all three license levels: LAN Base, IP Base, and IP Services. RTU CLI commands enable the switch license to be relocated amongst different license levels.

An evaluation RTU license permits the client to assess image-based and/or AP count license for 90 days at no cost.

To find out more, please speak with our Cisco Licensing Specialists here.