CUCM 14 smart license issues

[kerande]

Hello,

I am working to upgrade from CUCM 11.5 to CUCM 14. As I understand things, my licenses for v14 are smart licenses and my server will have to authenticate to the cloud. Unfortunately, this is on a secure network and it does not have a regular internet connection. The server has no way to authenticate to cisco. Is there an offline solution to activating my licenses? I have seen some chatter that suggests when the evaluation period expires, the license will convert to "right to use" and I will not lose functionality. This seems incorrect, though I would be elated, if it is true. We have purchased the licenses, we just do not have a way to activate them once the server is up and running. Thank you in advance for any help that you can provide.

I have opened a TAC, but have not had anyone able to provide a solution. I have spoken to at least 3 different engineers.

[Roger Kallberg]

There is a Smart Licensing server that you can deploy in your local network that then connects to the cloud Smart Licensing system. It's named Smart Licensing On-Prem SSM. I've never heard that the license would be converted to "right to use". Based on my experience when CM looses connectivity to SSM, cloud or on-prem, it will go into out of compliance state after the 90 days grace period and that means that you cannot do any changes to any device configuration as the system is operating in locked down state.

[kerande]

Thank you for the reply. I looked into the on-prem SSM. Does the CM only have to connect to the SSM once every 90 days? I ask because my only option in that case would be to place the SSM on a different network and allow the CM to connect to it on demand. rather than it having a persistent connection. How do I deploy the SSM? I have not had any luck finding an iso or ova template.

[Roger Kallberg]

The CM will normally, without specific license reservation, contact the on-prem SSM regularly. As the on-premises SSM lives in the internal network there is nothing stopping you from having it in the same network as the CM and then either allowing it to communicate with the cloud SSM or using manual synchronisation that must be done with a specific frequency. Or simply use SLR to not need the CM to communicate with any SSM.

[kerande]

Thanks. Seems like SLR is the way to go for me. I appreciate the help!

[Jaime Valencia · Accepted solution]

The right to use was most likely referring to CME, that has never been the case for CUCM. Once you're past the licensing grace period, all MACD are blocked.

You have two options, CSSM or SLR (Specific License Reservation)

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/cloud-systems-management/smart-software-manager-satellite/datasheet-c78-734539.html

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/admin/14/systemConfig/cucm_b_system-configuration-guide-14su2/cucm_b_system-configuration-guide-14_chapter_01.html

[kerande]

Thank you. I think SLR will be the easiest solution. I am not sure why my case with TAC was not answered this way. As it stands, the TAC case is still open and I have not heard from anyone today, after being given the run-around yesterday. I appreciate your succinct and timely suggestion.