Smart License Operation
Smart Licensing using Policy introduces a new paradigm for tracking license usage across your business. In earlier releases, license authorization was forward looking, binding licenses to a device until the next authorization request. Actual license use during the proceeding reporting period is now sent to CSSM, allowing you to plan ongoing license requirements based on historical usage data.
Each time a change in license usage is detected, the account policy defines how soon the change should be reported to CSSM. Typically, this means that CUBE must send a report at least every 90 days, although it is recommended that reports are sent more frequently. CSSM acknowledges each submitted Resource Utilization Monitoring (RUM) report to ensure that the use is recorded reliably. If the router does not receive an acknowledgment within the minimum reporting period, call processing may be disabled. Call processing is resumed when a valid acknowledgment is received.
Submit the reports to CSSM directly or through a Smart Software Manager On-Prem server. The Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU) application can also collect usage reports, providing more flexibility in managing your license usage. When a device is not able to communicate directly with a licensing server, a signed usage report can be generated and manually uploaded to CSSM. The acknowledgment that is generated by CSSM must be uploaded to the device within the license reporting policy period to ensure continued use.
Note |
CUBE_T_VGW records TDM license count when there is a TDM-SIP call. The show license all command displays the number of licenses that are used and is an expected behaviour. The CUBE_T_VGW is not displayed when there is no TDM-SIP call, and the CUBE does not act as a gateway. The TDM-SIP call service continues uninterrupted even if the device is not registered to CSSM or RUM acknowledgement is not received from the CSSM server. |
Note |
Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem Version 8 Release 202102 or later is required for any device using SLP. Refer to the SLP feature documentation for further information (Smart Licensing Using Policy for Cisco Enterprise Routing Platforms). |
Warning |
When using any of the following Smart Licensing using Policy releases, CUBE shuts down if the router does not receive a report acknowledgment from CSSM before the acknowledgment deadline set by the account policy: 17.3.2, 17.3.3, 17.3.4a, 17.6.1a, or any 17.4 or 17.5 release. CUBE does not shut down in this way with later releases. |
License usage is calculated dynamically in the same way as earlier releases, with measurements recorded periodically based on the periodicity timer. Measurements are stored locally until they are submitted to CSSM. This historical usage reporting allows for more accurate aggregation of use across multiple devices over time. The minimum value for the periodicity timer interval is 8 hours.
For example, consider a measurement periodicity of 8 hours and a reporting policy interval of 30 days. Call load is measured every second. The average of the top three readings during each minute is recorded to mitigate anomalies. Similarly, the average of the top three minute measurements is used to log usage over an hour. After 8 hours, the maximum hourly measurement is used to record usage locally for that period. The 90 measurements that are recorded over a 30 day reporting period are sent to CSSM or a CSLU in a single report.
If the peak license usage for the current period is different by more or less than 25% of the previously reported value, it is reported and the periodicity interval is reset. Use of CUBE Standard Trunk and CUBE Enhanced Trunk licenses are monitored separately.
Note |
Smart License Reservation (SLR) for CUBE licenses is not compatible with SLP. Even if a reservation is in place when upgrading, license use reporting will still be required in accordance with the device policy. |
Note |
From Cisco IOS XE Bengaluru 17.6.1a onwards, calls that are forked using WebSockets are marked as consuming an Enhanced session license. |