CUCM 12 - No more need for Prime License Manager, correct?

[voip7372]

We're on CUCM 11.5 now.  In the future we'll be switching to 12, but when I was looking at the details for the upgrade I see that we must convert to 'Smart' licensing.  I think we'll use the 'Direct' method for CUCM to sync licensing with the Cisco license servers.

After we upgrade to version 12 for CUCM, IM&P and Unity, I assume there's no more reasons to keep our VM of Prime License Manager (PLM) installed, correct?  Right now, the PLM virtual machine is what manages the licenses for our CUCM and Unity.  If CUCM and Unity version 12 will be syncing directly with Cisco in the future, I can't think of any reason to keep an installation of Prime License Manager.  Just looking for confirmation of my thoughts.  Thanks

[Ratheesh Kumar · Accepted solution]

That's exactly right
PLM is no longer required. PAK has been eliminated. Licenses are not tied to the Cisco Prime license manager node.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/unified-communications/unified-communications-manager-callmanager/datasheet-c78-739475.html
https://ciscocollab.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/csr-12-understanding-smart-licensing/


Hope this Helps
Cheers
Rath!

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[voip7372]

Ok, thank you.  My next challenge is figuring out how to get our CUCM licenses converted and figure out whether or not we can do that before we upgrade to version 12, or if we have to do it immediately after upgrading to 12.  I haven't read much yet about how to go about that.  Like I said, it's just CUCM, IM&P and Unity VMs we need to be concerned with.  We'll also be moving our VMs from the existing C240 M3 servers over to C240 M5 servers (BE7H).  That's yet another project for me to figure out ;-)   I was planning on asking TAC about that but I'm hoping it's as simple as shutting down the existing VM, exporting the entire VM as a single file OVA and installing that OVA onto the new UCS server.  Just sounds way too easy ;-) 

[Ratheesh Kumar]

Hi there

For registering CUCM 12 to the SSM you have to create a smart account (if you don't have one) at software.cisco.com and then in Inventory you have to Generate a new Token. This has to be done once you successfully upgraded your CUCM to 12 version.

The below link explains about the process

https://ciscocollab.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/csr-12-understanding-smart-licensing/

The upgrade process from your existing CUCM to the 12 Version depends on which CUCM you are currently in. You have to run thru the CUCM Install upgrade guides for that

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/upgrade/12_0_1/cucm_b_upgrade-and-migration-guide-1201.html

Hope this helps!

Cheers
Rath!

***Please rate helpful posts***

[voip7372]

Thanks.  I already have the smart account but I wasn't sure how it would know I'm entitled to whatever licenses we already have just based on the token I create on the Cisco web site.  Right now our PLM server knows what we're entitled to since I installed the license files on that PLM server (our PLM server is a separate VM, it's not the built-in PLM that comes with the CUCM install...it's a totally separate virtual machine, if that matters).  So anyway, CUCM talks to our PLM server to find out what licenses we have but I just wasn't sure how CUCM would know what licenses we have by generating that token on the Cisco site unless Cisco just knows already based on past orders or something.  I was just trying to understand which entity it is that knows about the licenses we have in the new setup when we first convert to version 12, since right now the only device that knows is our PLM server...unless somehow the Cisco licensing server somehow already knows what we're entitled too.  I'm a little nervous about thinking it's very simple and easy and accidentally mess it up if I misunderstand and do something wrong during the upgrade to version 12 and the new smart licensing arrangement.  

[R0g22]

It's the server or the device that is registered to CSSM that informs about the license consumption.
There are a couple of models for the usage report -
1. Direct - Less secure. HTTPS proxy or direct internet connection
2. Mediated - you install the CSSM satellite on-prem and have your servers register to it. Secure and in scenarios where you don't want your servers to communicate outbound or to cisco.

Edit: When I say less secure, it is from a customer security policy view. The connection is still going to be https which is secure.

[voip7372]

We plan on using the Direct method.

Ok, but when CUCM informs Cisco about the license usage, how does Cisco know what licenses we're already entitled to (past purchases/fulfillments) for CUCM and Unity?   That's the part I'm not quite sure about (unless Cisco knows based on past PAK fulfillments for example).  

[R0g22]

Your entitlement is assigned to your smart account. Devices, licenses etc. Go through Java's video and this link -
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/unified-communications/unified-communications-manager-callmanager/212915-configure-cucm-smart-licensing-direct.html

[voip7372]

Ok, thanks.  Currently there's nothing in our inventory on my smart account, so that's why I was asking how it would know if we were entitled to what CUCM 12 says it's using.   So I assume we will need to somehow convert our existing licenses and get them to show up in the smart account BEFORE we do the upgrade.   When I look in our smart account under inventory, there's nothing in the General, Licenses, Product Instances and Event Log tabs.  

On the License Conversion link I see this statement:  "If you do not see a PAK you expect to see in the table, ensure that it has been assigned to your Smart Account in the Product License Registration Portal."

So maybe I have to associate all the previously fulfilled PAKs with the smart account?

[R0g22]

You would need to migrate from your PLM to Smart through the smart licensing portal - https://software.cisco.com/#SmartLicensing-LicenseConversion
via LRP - https://slexui.cloudapps.cisco.com/SWIFT/LicensingUI/Quickstart

[voip7372]

Thank you

[voip7372]

This is what you're talking about, correct?

[R0g22]

That's right.

[voip7372]

Sorry, one more question.  I logged into our prime license manager server and looked at the migration options there.  We're on version 11.5 right now, so I assume we need to first upgrade the Prime License Manager server (it's a separate VM, not part of CUCM), CUCM, Unity, etc and then we will see the migration option for version 12, correct?   If so, after the upgrade I should log into the PLM server, go to Licenses > Fulfillment and then select Other fulfillment options > Migrate Licenses.  The text generated from the migration request on the PLM server would then be pasted into the Cisco web site, correct?  (on the Product License Registration page, under Get Licenses > Migration)

Thanks

[R0g22]

There is no PLM on v12.0