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Registration and Licensing Notes for IDS Host Sensor and Console, Version 2.5

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Registration and Licensing Notes for IDS Host Sensor and Console

Registration and Licensing Notes for IDS Host Sensor and Console

To register and license the IDS Host Sensor and Console, you must complete a series of order-dependent steps. This document includes detailed procedures for performing the following tasks:

1. Register the Console using the product authorization key (HID-2X-CQ-xxxxxx) located on the IDS Host Sensor and Console CD package.

Result: You will be sent a Console license file from Cisco.

2. Add the Console license file to the License folder.

3. Register the Agents using the product authorization key. You received this key when you purchased the Agent(s).

Result: You will be sent one or more Agent license files from Cisco.

4. Add the Agent license file(s) to the License folder.

Before You Begin

When you first install Version 2.5, the product is running under an evaluation license. This evaluation license is valid for 90 days from the date of installation. Any time during the evaluation period you can obtain a license for the product. You should understand the following key points before you begin the licensing and registration process:

  • You have to register the Console to receive a license.

  • You must license the Console before you license any Agents. An unlicensed Console cannot accept any Agent licenses.

  • You must purchase the Agent licenses separately from the Console license. Each Agent type has a different license.

  • You do not have to purchase a license for the Agent running on the Console host.

  • The Console can manage multiple license files.

  • You should use the Active Update Notification service to receive information about product updates, including signature updates. For more information, refer to the Installation and Setup Guide for IDS Host Sensor and Console, or to sign up for the service, go to: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/largeent/it/ids_news/subscribe.html

Registering and Licensing the Console

The Console must be licensed before licensing any of the Agents. An unlicensed Console cannot accept any Agent licenses. To receive your license file for the Cisco IDS Host Console, you must first register the Console.

To register the Console, follow these steps:

Step 1   Go to the appropriate software registration site:

  • If you are not already a registered Cisco user or product owner:
http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Software/FormManager/formgenerator.pl

  • If you are already a registered Cisco user or product owner:
http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Software/FormManager/formgenerator.pl

Step 2   Enter the requested information and submit the form.

Note   If you purchased the VPN and Security Management Solution (VMS) software suite, the product authorization key for the Console is included. The product authorization key is the code on the sticker on the inside of the IDS Host Sensor and Console CD package. The code format is HID-2X-CQ-xxxxxx.

Within one business day of your registration, you will receive an e-mail with your Console license.

Step 3   See "Adding License Files,", for instructions on how to add the Console license to the License folder.

Licensing the Agents

The Agent license code references the Console computer name and contains the number of Agents and the Agent type. There is a separate license for each Agent type supported. The Agent running on the Console host does not require a license. However, all additional Agents require a license.

To obtain an Agent license, follow these steps:

Step 1   Go to the appropriate software registration site:

  • If you are not already a registered Cisco user or product owner:
http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Software/FormManager/formgenerator.pl

  • If you are already a registered Cisco user or product owner:
http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Software/FormManager/formgenerator.pl

Step 2   Enter the requested information and submit the form.

Step 3   When you receive your first Agent license from Cisco, see "Adding License Files,", for instructions on how to add the Agent license to the License folder.

Adding License Files

When you receive a license file, you must use the Licenses tool in the Console to add the license file to the License folder.

Note   You must license the Console before licensing any of the Agents. An unlicensed Console cannot accept any Agent licenses.

To add a license file to the License folder, follow these steps:

Step 1   Log in to the Console.

Step 2   Select Tools > Licenses.

The Licenses window appears.

Step 3   Click Add.

The Add License File window appears.

Step 4   Browse to the location where you stored the license file and select the license file(s) you want to add.

Step 5   Click Open.

The file you added appears in the License files list. License files are stored in the Console InstallPath\License folder, where InstallPath is the Console installation directory.

Step 6   Click Close to close the Licenses window.

Troubleshooting

Operating with an Unlicensed Console and Unlicensed Agents

If the evaluation period expires before you add valid Console and Agent license files, the Console instructs the Agents to turn off. On the Console display, the Agent requested state is the original requested state; however, the current state displays "No License" and the Agent is off. Depending on the requested state, the Agent's true state changes from:

  • On-Warning to Off-Warning

  • On-Protecting to Off-Protecting

  • On-Vault to Off-Vault

  • Off-Warning, Off-Protection, and Off-Vault remain unchanged

  • Current state changes to No License

Operating with a Licensed Console and Unlicensed Agents

If you add a valid Console license to the License folder before the evaluation period expires, the Console is unlocked and placed in production mode. You then have full access to the Console, including all settings that you defined during the evaluation period.

If no Agent license files are available after you add the Console license file, the following notifications are generated:

  • A message is displayed on the first start-up of each day stating that there is a valid Console license installed; however, no Agent licenses currently exist.

  • A system event is issued (once a day).

If you do not add an Agent license, the existing installed Agents continue to work in evaluation mode, but are turned off (Off-Warning or Off-Protecting) after the evaluation period expires (90 days from installation).

Caution   Do not uninstall any Agent you intend to license. If you do uninstall an Agent, any defined settings are lost.

Where to Go for More Information

Refer to the following documents for detailed information about the IDS Host Sensor and Console:

Paper Documentation
  • Release Notes for IDS Host Sensor and Console

Online Documentation
  • Context-sensitive online help

You can access the help in two ways:

  • Select Help > Help Topics.

  • Click the Help icon on the toolbar.

  • PDF for:

    • Supported Devices Table for IDS Host Sensor and Console

    • Installation and Setup Guide for IDS Host Sensor and Console

    • User Guide for IDS Host Sensor and Console

      • Note   Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or later is required.


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