Smart license and device licenses

[suthomas1]

Hello all,

we have come across situatuation where our Cisco switches 3800 series have to be smart license registered with token based on new Cisco licensing model.

some of these switches are at remote locations where it is more like a distribution or access layer. It seems these need to be able to communicate with internet cloud for the registrations.

has anyone experienced this issue & what is way to update the license without having internet access for these switches?

please help. Thanks 

[Leo Laohoo]

If the appliances don't have any internet access then there are two options to choose from: 

1.  Smart License Satellite appliance; or

2.  Because Smart License is enforced starting from 16.9.X, if the appliance don't have access to the internet then don't use 16.9.X (and later).

[suthomas1]

Thanks, how can satellite appliance help in this case, what is it?

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

So you have the Smart License Satellite appliance on-prem. Instead of the appliances going to the internet to ping Cisco's License DB, the appliances ping the Smart License Satellite.
This option is very useful for those in the "dark" spaces where an "air gapped" network is required.

[suthomas1]

As one of our device is not yet license updated with smart licensing , it says the license is only valid for 35 days & temporary.

What happens if the license is not udpated to permanent status post 35 days.

[Deepak Kumar]

Hi,

After installing this server, there is no direct internet required for your switches or routers. Now your switches and router must reach the server and the server will talk to the Cisco portal.

It will work as "AIR GAPED".

[Deepak Kumar]

Hi,

if your device is not having internet connectivity then you need a Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem server.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/smart-accounts/software-manager.html#~on-prem

[suthomas1]

Thanks for all the response.

In the process of getting the satellite server built, but noticed the below
on a switch.the switch shows license status as eval mode and evaluation period remaining.

License Authorization:
Status: EVAL MODE
Evaluation Period Remaining: 44 days, 11 hours, 7 minutes, 30 seconds

what happens if the license is not updated before the end of evaluation period?

just trying to understand the potential issues here.

[suthomas1]

Hello,

Appreciate if someone can help out with my below query about EVAL mode.

What happens if it remains in eval mode post 44 days....does it affect the functions of switch or reboot etc.?

License Authorization:
Status: EVAL MODE
Evaluation Period Remaining: 44 days, 11 hours, 7 minutes, 30 seconds

[Leo Laohoo]

After Eval runs out, the switch will roll back to the first Permanent License.

[suthomas1]

Thanks.

So does it mean it may undergo a reload by itself &/or cause disruption to connectivity.

how does that rollback happen?

[Leo Laohoo]

As far as I'm aware, no reboot.
I have not experienced (or witness) but I've seen other forums say that the logs will be spammed with "license has expired" messages.