This document describes the process of Cisco Unfiifed Communications Manager (CUCM) license migration from Version 8.x to Version 9.1. This document discusses the conversion process and the difference between Versions 9.0 and 9.1 licensing. Since Version 9.0 is now superceded by Version 9.1, the examples and screenshots shown are from CUCM Version 9.1.
CUCM Version 9 introduces the Enterprise License Manager (ELM), a separate product that provides licenses to Cisco Unified Communications applications. ELM runs co-resident with CUCM or Cisco Unity Connection (CUC) and acts as a single licensing repository for all CUCM or CUC clusters in the network.
It is important to understand that ELM is always installed with CUCM and CUC. Before you migrate, decide which server you want to run ELM. This server is where all your licenses are loaded. Even though ELM is installed on every node, it does not run unless configured.
ELM can also run as a standalone server, which reduces the impact of an outage of one of your CUCM or CUC nodes on the licensing for other clusters. If you run a standalone ELM, it bypasses the requirement that ELM licenses be rehosted by Cisco Licensing Technical Assistance Center (TAC) when there are network configuration changes on CUCM or CUC.
One of the first things you need to consider before you upgrade is what to do with any spare licenses that remain for your Version 8.x installation. If you have Device License Units (DLUs) that have been purchased but have not been uploaded to the call manager and you want them to be considered during the migration process, upload them to CUCM 8.x now. You cannot upload them after the Version 9.1 upgrade.
Cisco Bug ID CSCuc02327, found in Version 9.0, causes an issue when you migrate DLUs. If no devices are added to the system, this primarily applies to non-production upgrade scenarios.
Cisco Bug ID CSCue14471, identified in Version 9.1, causes double license usage with extension mobility. It is recommended that you upgrade to Version 9.1(1a) in order to avoid this licensing bug.
You cannot migrate your licenses until after you have performed the upgrade. It is always recommended that you upgrade to the latest version available on Cisco.com for the destination version.
Complete the instructions in the Release Notes and Upgrade Guides to plan and perform your upgrade. Reference the Cisco Unified Communications Manager Documentation Guide, Release 9.1(1) in order to locate these documents.
At this point, as mentioned in the Spare DLU Licenses section, make sure all your spare DLU licenses are loaded into your call manager before you upgrade because this is your last chance to do so. Once you have uploaded all your spare DLUs, reviewed the caveats above, and have chosen your upgrade version, you are ready to begin the upgrade.
This section describes the steps required in order to get your newly upgraded cluster properly licensed for CUCM Version 9.1.
Now that the upgrade is complete, log in to ELM for the first time and investigate it. The URL for the ELM web interface is: https://<ip or hostname of publisher>/elm-admin.
The login information for ELM is the application you created when the server was installed. Or, if you run ELM co-resident with your CUCM publisher, use the same credentials you use to log in to the CUCM Administration web page.
Once you log in, this ELM Dashboard page displays:
From the ELM Dashboard, you can access this information:
In order to add your cluster to the ELM product instances list, navigate to Inventory > Product Instances, and click the Add button.
When you click the Add button, you are prompted for your CUCM publishers information. You do not need to add your subscribers, only the publisher. Click OK once all the information is added.
As long as your login information is correct and ELM is able to reach the cluster IP address, this message displays:
Synchronize your cluster with ELM in order to upload all device data from the cluster and allow ELM to allocate the licenses required by your CUCM cluster.
When you are ready, click Synchronize Now. When synchronization is complete, an image similar to this one displays:
This section details how licensing has changed from the device-based licensing structure of CUCM Version 8.x (and previous) to the user-based licensing structure in CUCM Version 9.x.
Version 8.x and Older Versions
Version 9.x and Newer Versions
This chart provides more detail about the features and device types that apply to each license type/level:
IP phones fall into one of the first three categories:
Essential: Fax devices; Analog endpoints, which include Skinny Call Control Protocol (SCCP) gateways and analog telephone adapters (ATAs); 6901; and 3905 IP phones.
Basic: 6911 and 6921 IP phones.
Enhanced: All other IP phone models, soft-clients, and personal Telepresence devices (EX-series).
For a more in-depth explanation, refer to the Cisco Unified Communications 9.0 Licensing article.
License migration is NOT an instant conversion of the old licenses to the new. The migration generates a request for the licensing to process.Then, you are provided with a new license file for Version 9.x once all the contract checks and billing are addressed.
There are multiple steps in this process. It is important to understand the needs of your organization, and how they expand in order to select the right counts for each license type.
Click the link in the License Migration Request window in order to be taken to the page where you can submit your migration request text or the file you obtained from ELM.
Navigate to Voice Products > Cisco Unified Communications 9.0 in order to access this page:
Choose either Copy & Paste Contents or Upload Files. Click Next in order to access this page:
Next, a popup window that shows your License Request Status displays:
This screen displays and you receive an email with an attached zip file.
Once you have downloaded and extracted the .bin file from your email from licensing (do NOT modify this file in ANY way), navigate back to License Management in ELM, and click the Licenses option in order to access this page.
Choose Other Fulfillment Options and Fulfill Licenses from File.
A popup window displays that allows you to choose the .bin file you previously extracted. Browse to the file. If you chose to save a summary for this license request, check the Associate this transaction with a saved add/upgrade license summary checkbox, choose the appropriate summary, and click Install.
If everything worked, this popup message displays.
Close the popup window. The Licenses page should now have an entry in the Licenses table:
Now that your Licenses are installed, you must synchronize ELM with its Product Instances again. Navigate to Monitoring > License Usage, and click the Synchronize Now button. A window displays the licenses that are in use by your Product Instances, what licenses are Unused, and your compliance status.
Congratulations! Your CUCM Version 9.1 cluster is now properly licensed and ready to be used. For other resources on CUCM Version 9.x licensing, refer to the the Related Information section below.