Catalyst WS-C2960X-48TD-L: No valid license found

[stebrucco]

Hello everybody,

As you can see from the attached logs, I have two WS-C2960X-48TD-L prompting "%IOS_LICENSE_IMAGE_APPLICATION-6-LICENSE_LEVEL: Module name = c2960x_lanbase Next reboot level = lanbase and License = No valid license found". 

These swiches did not boot: so I re-installed their IOS from USB ( using universal 15.x(x)xx images retrieved from Software Download page of Cisco web site this triggered the above license issue.

Switch#show license
Index 1 Feature: lanlite
Period left: 0 minute 0 second
Index 2 Feature: lanbase
Period left: 0 minute 0 second

The devices also display:

Oct 20 13:36:10.885: %ILET-1-AUTHENTICATION_FAIL: This Switch may not have been manufactured by Cisco or with Cisco's authorization. This product may contain software that was copied in violation of Cisco's license terms. If your use of this product is the cause of a support issue, Cisco may deny operation of the product, support under your warranty or under a Cisco technical support program such as Smartnet. Please contact Cisco's Technical Assistance Center for more information.

In the FAQ page I read:

Q. Do I need a software license for the Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series Switches?
A. No. Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Series Switches use the Universal image, but no license is required. The feature set is bound to the hardware model type and cannot be changed. For convenience, a single software image is used for all Cisco Catalyst 2960-X and 2960-XR switches, regardless of whether they are IP Lite, LAN Base, or LAN Lite models.

I tried to open a ticket into TAC portal but upon entering involved s/n I was banned because "The product is not associated with any service contracts".

Can you provide any suggestion ? 

Thanks in advance and best regards.

[balaji.bandi]

i would suggest checking the SRNO

https://cway.cisco.com/sncheck/

There are some duplicate models i hear related to model 2960.

[Leo Laohoo]

This is a known issue with the 2960X/XR. 
Contact Cisco TAC and organize an RMA.

[Brad Roberts · Accepted solution]

I have been dancing through a minefield of 2960X switches which would see several of them fail in the way which has been described.  After putting together mortuary of these switches and comparing them with ones that would update, the 3 metrics which you need to lookout for can be spotted when you do a "show version".  They are as follows:

Model revision number	M0
Motherboard revision number	A0
Hardware Board Revision Number	0x18

So, if you do a "show version" and see the see the unholy trinity of M0, A0 and 0x18 appear together in the above metrics, be wary around updating the IOS, this is regardless of the version number of the switch or wherever it was manufactured.

Raising a TAC and RMAing is the only way forward known with regards to this issue.