Cisco announces Cisco® License Manager 3.2.3 for managing Cisco IOS® Software activation and license management for a wide range of Cisco platforms running Cisco IOS Software, as well as other operating systems.
Product Overview
Cisco License Manager is a secure client/server-based application to manage Cisco IOS Software activation and license management for a wide range of Cisco platforms running Cisco IOS Software as well as other operating systems. It automates the workflow associated with Cisco IOS Software activation through its wizard-based GUI and scales for large network deployments. Cisco License Manager accelerates deployment of feature licenses with its intuitive GUI and simple, rule-based policy interface, helping enable you to rapidly roll out advanced services in your networks.
Cisco License Manager 3.2.3 offers an optional, full-functionality Java-based Software Development Kit (SDK) for integration with your existing license and asset management products and protects your investment in these assets.
Cisco License Manager has enhanced security, with role-based access control, and it limits access for each user to managed devices and Product Authorization Keys (PAKs) through Access Control Lists (ACLs). Improved reporting capabilities aid in audit compliance.
Table 1 lists the major features for this release:
Table 1.
Feature
Description and Benefit
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 support
Cisco License Manager (CLM) now runs on the latest Microsoft Windows Operating Systems in addition to Windows XP/Server 2003, Solaris, and Red Hat Linux
Report Enhancement
The Right to Use License Report displays the right-to-use (evaluation) licenses. You can filter this report by device or by feature.
Other Cisco License Manager Capabilities
Autodiscovery
Automatically discovers all devices with license enforcement capabilities. In addition, CLM builds an inventory of device characteristics and licensed features.
Device and PAK Search Capabilities and Management
Cisco License Manager provides users with enhanced search capabilities in the list of devices and list of PAKs and highlights the matches to effectively manage devices and PAKs. In addition, searches can be limited to partitions of the network.
Security and Virtualization
Cisco License Manager user-security model supports role-based access control and provides the following five user roles:
• Administrator: Can access all functionality
• Inventory Manager: Can update inventory, device access information, and all functionality available to roles below it
• PAK Manager: Can view and manage PAKs and all functionality available to roles below it
• License Manager: Can obtain and deploy licenses and all functionality available to roles below it
• Reports Manager: Can only view and generate license reports
Cisco License Manager allows you to restrict access to managed devices and PAKs through access control lists for each user. Cisco License Manager instance(s) running on VMware are not currently supported.
Obtain Licenses from Cisco.com
With a Cisco supplied PAK, you can associate feature SKUs with devices and securely connect to the Cisco.com license server to automatically get license keys. This reduces the complexity associated with software activation. You can also obtain licenses for pre-deployed or offline devices. Cisco License Manager resides at the customer premises and has access to the customer network and needs Internet connectivity to Cisco.com for many of its features. For isolated networks, it supports two-stage license deployment where customers can move Cisco License Manager to a network domain with Internet connectivity, and obtain and save licenses to its database by securely communicating with the license server at Cisco.com. Cisco License Manager can then be moved back to the original isolated network domain to deploy previously obtained licenses to network devices. Please see the Deploying Cisco License Manager in Isolated Networks white paper located at http://www.cisco.com/go/clm for more details.
Rapid License Deployment
Simple rule-based policy language completely automates software activation and license management. You can create a simple rule-based policy using common device attributes such as device model, device group, and IP address range, and assign a PAK to this policy. This policy can be executed on an on-demand basis, and Cisco License Manager will automatically obtain and deploy the appropriate licenses to the managed devices, matching against the rules in the policy. This helps enable you to focus more on rolling out advanced services in your network, using the licensed features.
Transfer Licenses from One Device to Another
You can rehost your licenses by selecting the source and destination devices. Cisco License Manager simplifies this procedure by securely obtaining rehost permission from Cisco.com, revoking the license from the source device, and obtaining and installing the transferred license to the destination device, as well as installing a temporary license for the feature being transferred, to give you enough time to migrate all connections or traffic to the destination device.
RMA License Transfer Functionality
Cisco License Manager allows users to transfer licenses from a failed device to the replacement device with a simple operation. This is normally in conjunction with a Return Materials Authorization (RMA); however the license transfer functionality is supported for valid licenses regardless of whether the failed device is under a support contract or being returned through the RMA process.
Agentless Device Management
You can use Cisco License Manager to manage licenses on Cisco devices using a Command-Line Interface (CLI) with Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol/Telnet without needing to configure or enable any agent. In addition, Cisco License Manager can communicate with the license agent in Cisco IOS Software using Extensible Markup Language (XML) over HTTPS.
Detailed Reporting
Detailed reporting helps you know exactly which licensed software features you have purchased, how many licenses you have obtained, and which licenses are not yet deployed, as well as identify licensable features on devices and check to see whether those features are activated by license. It also aids in audit compliance through its licensing reports indicating proof of purchase. This feature saves costs by generating redeployable license reports, listing licenses that are deployed on devices but are not needed there. The Return Merchandise Authorization Discrepancy report helps you identify inadvertent license discrepancies that can fail audits. Also, Cisco License Manager provides improved reporting with device capabilities and filtering based on various attributes.
Java SDK
This feature allows you to integrate your license and asset management software with Cisco License Manager and help protect existing investments.
Faster Failure Recovery and Troubleshooting
This feature helps enable you to redeploy licenses from the Cisco License Manager database in case a license is accidentally removed or is corrupted. It also provides the capability to resend licenses from the Cisco.com license server for the device with failed storage and redeploy them. This results in less network downtime. Cisco License Manager also provides the capability to backup and restore its embedded database and configuration files. In addition, Cisco License Manager provides detailed troubleshooting and diagnostic capabilities to identify the root cause of connectivity failure to devices and the Cisco.com license server. Cisco License Manager presents alerts from devices with ITU X.733-based severities.
Broad OS Support
Cisco License Manager supports the following operating systems:
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows XP Professional
• Solaris 10
• Red Hat Linux Enterprise 5
Supported Network Elements
Cisco License Manager supports the following devices:
Cisco License Manager release 3.2.3 is available starting in September 2012.
Ordering Information
Cisco License Manager, consisting of GUI-based client and server software, is offered free and can be downloaded from Cisco.com. To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Homepage.
Service and Support
The Cisco License Manager GUI client and server software is offered free of cost, and no service contract is needed. A service contract is available for the optional Cisco License Manager Java SDK product, and customers must purchase a Software Application Support (SAS) contract to receive access to technical assistance through the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or http://www.cisco.com. Service part numbers can be found on the Cisco.com online ordering tools and price lists.
For More Information
For more information about Cisco License Manager, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/clm, contact your local Cisco sales representative, or send an email to the product marketing group at ask-clm-pm@cisco.com.
