IS-IS "Protocol not in this image" reported on Cisco IOS Ver 15.7(3)M2

[chrisvellender]

Cisco publication "IP Routing: ISIS Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15M&T" (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/iproute_isis/configuration/15-mt/irs-15-mt-book/irs-ovrw-cf.html) clearly states in the title that IS-IS routing protocol is available on IOS 15M.

I have three model-variants of Cisco C887, two of which are running IOS Version 15.7(3)M2 and both of them list 'isis' under the 'router' global config command, but both C887's issue a status message "Protocol not in this image" when the 'router isis' global config command is entered (see below):

Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_(config)# router ?
bgp Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
eigrp Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
isis ISO IS-IS
iso-igrp IGRP for OSI networks
lisp Locator/ID Separation Protocol
mobile Mobile routes
odr On Demand stub Routes
ospf Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
ospfv3 OSPFv3
rip Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_(config)# router isis ?
WORD ISO routing area tag
<cr>

Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_(config)# router isis
Protocol not in this image
Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_(config)# ^Z
Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_#
Cisco_C887VAW-E-K9_# show version
Cisco IOS Software, C800 Software (C800-UNIVERSALK9-M), Version 15.7(3)M2, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2018 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 28-Mar-18 04:17 by prod_rel_team
...

Is this version of IOS bugged regarding operation of the IS-IS routing protocol, and if so, is there a cost-free IOS upgrade to a version that does do "exactly what it says on the tin"?

Regards,

ChrisV

[liviu.gheorghe]

Hello @chrisvellender ,

Back in those days, IOS versions 12,13,... had a selector, called Feature Set, that would indicate the available features that IOS version had available.

Starting with IOS version 15, Cisco introduced the notion of licenses - very similar to feature sets - which did basically the same thing - would indicate the available features that IOS version had available.

There were a number of feature sets:

• IPbase
• advsecurity
• advipservices
• adventerprise

Historically, the more exotic features like IS-IS, where integrated in more complete feature sets like adventerprise.

The link to the documentation you provided clearly states at the begining:

Finding Feature Information

Your software release may not support all the features documented in this module. For the latest caveats and feature information, see Bug Search Tool and the release notes for your platform and software release. To find information about the features documented in this module, and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, see the feature information table.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

You can take a look at what feature set the routers that have the IS-IS routing protocol with the command "show version" - look for the License info at the end of the output.

I don't think you can buy or upgrade cost-free a license for a IOS version which is EOL for quite some time now.

[chrisvellender · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your quick and informative reply LG, and very much appreciated.

Regards,

ChrisV

[balaji.bandi]

You mention -I have three model-variants of Cisco C887 ( all are same models )

you posted the device show version not working, can you post show version full working and not working,

also "show License" - working and not working router output.

[chrisvellender]

Hi BB,

Thanks for your reply.

By 'three model-variants' I was merely trying to hastily summarize C887VAG+7, C887VAM, and C887VAW.

The other C887 IOS version is 15.7(3)M1 and does not list ISIS as a routing protocol option (indicating ISIS is not included in the license).

Regards,

ChrisV