Steps to activate Cisco Licensing on a Cisco Router:
- Purchase the software package or feature and receive a PAK based on your purchase.
- Get a license file using one of two options:
Cisco License Manager
Cisco License Registration Portal
- Install and manage the license.
In IOS versions previous to 15.x, there could have been 10 or 20 different IOS versions for a single router with different feature sets. Cisco greatly simplified that with the licesing model introudced in IOS 15.x. Basically now you load a single IOS image on a Cisco router called the Universal Image and based upon your license key, you are able to unlock the features of the IOS.
To view the technology package license and feature licenses support on a router, you are able to use the show license feature command. Furthermroe, to view information abotu Cisco IOS licenses on a specific router, you would use the show license feature command.
Router# show license feature
Router# show license feature
The license install command installs the license file on a router. A reboot of the router via the reload command is not required if an evaluation license is active. A reload is required to activate a technology package license if an evaluation license is not active. The command you will use to load the license is license install flash0:
Something very helpful in the newer 15.x IOS version is the concept of an evaluation license.
The license install command installs the license file on a router. A reboot of the router via the reload command is not required if an evaluation license is active. A reload is required to activate a technology package license if an evaluation license is not active.
The license save command saves copies of all licenses in a device. The storage location can be a directory or URL that points to a file system.
The license clear command clears the technology package from license storage. From configuration mode, use the no license boot module command to clear the license boot module which disables the active license. A reload is required to make the technology package inactive.
