System Setup and Software Installation Guide for Cisco NCS 1014, IOS XR Releases 26.x.x

Supported transport modes for Smart Licensing

Updated: June 9, 2026

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Lists the supported transport modes for Smart Licensing, describing each mode's main characteristics and selection options.

Smart Licensing software management enables you to choose from several transport modes, depending on your network connectivity and operational requirements. The default transport mode is Cisco Smart Licensing Utility (CSLU), but you can select Call-Home, Smart Transport, or Offline modes based on your needs.

The supported transport modes and their key features are:

Call-Home mode: Directly communicates with Cisco through a Call-Home feature to register and manage licenses. Suitable for networks with internet access.
Smart Transport mode: Utilizes Smart Licensing Transport to relay license information securely to Cisco servers. Recommended for environments that require secure, automated reporting.
CSLU mode: Uses Cisco Smart Licensing Utility as an intermediary for managing licenses locally, offering flexibility and local control. This mode is the default.
Offline mode: Operates without an active internet connection by generating and transferring files manually for license management. Designed for isolated or secure environments where connectivity is restricted.

You can change the transport mode to best match your network and management preferences.

Configure Call Home for Smart Licensing

Enable Call Home to establish secure communication with CSSM, which is required for smart licensing and license reporting on your device.

Call Home connects your device with CSSM and automates license registration, reporting, and updates. Proper configuration ensures compliance and full access to Cisco licensing features.

Procedure

	1.	Enable Call Home and configure Call Home mode settings: Example: RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#call-home RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home)#service active RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home)#contact smart-licensing RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home)#profile CiscoTAC-1 RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#active RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#destination address http https://tools.cisco.com/its/service/oddce/services/DDCEService RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#reporting smart-call-home-data RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#reporting smart-licensing-data RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#destination transport-method email disable RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#destination transport-method http RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-call-home-profile)#end
	2.	Configure the domain name and DNS name server. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#domain name cisco.com RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#domain name-server 64.102.6.247 RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	3.	Enable Certificate Revocation List (CRL) configuration, if you have a Trustpool CA. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#crypto ca trustpoint Trustpool crl optional RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	4.	Set Call Home as the smart license transport mode. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#License smart transport callhome RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end` Verify whether the Callhome is Configured. `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show license all Transport: Type: Callhome`
	5.	Establish trust with smart licensing using an ID token. Example: `license smart trust idtoken Zesdf3243u48329fdfhsfhsfkjs1233j4h1j1j4j41n`

Call Home is enabled and configured on your device. The device will connect to CSSM for automated license management, compliance, and reporting.

Configure Smart Transport

Set up Smart Transport to connect your device to the CSSM for license management and establish a trusted network connection.

Smart Transport serves as an alternative to Call Home for connecting to CSSM. It enables secure network-based license registration and trust establishment.

Procedure

	1.	Configure the Smart proxy and hostname for communication with CSSM. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#license smart proxy port 80 RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#license smart proxy hostname proxy.esl.cisco.com RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	2.	Enable Certificate Revocation List (CRL) configuration to manage certificate trust. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#crypto ca trustpoint Trustpool crl optional RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	3.	Enable Smart Transport for license registration. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#License smart transport smart RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end` Verify Smart Transport is configured correctly. `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show license all Transport: Type: Smart URL: https://smartreceiver.cisco.com/licservice/license Proxy: Address: proxy.esl.cisco.com Port: 80 Username: <empty> Password: <empty> VRF: Not Supported`
	4.	Establish trust with CSSM using an id-token. Example: `license smart trust idtoken Zesdf3243u48329fdfhsfhsfkjs1233j4h1j1j4j41n`

Smart Transport is configured for secure communication and trust establishment with CSSM. The device can now use CSSM for license registration and management tasks.

Configure CSLU transport mode

Establish CSLU as the transport mode for license communication between your device and an on-premise CSLU server.

CSLU (Cisco Smart License Utility) is the default transport mode for software license management. Configuring CSLU enables secure license communications and compliance reporting for your device.

Procedure

	1.	Use the license smart url cslu http://<cslu-local>:8182/cslu/v1/pi command to configure the CSLU URL. Example: In this sample configuration, the 10.127.59.44 is the CSLU URL that the on-premise server provided. This URL changes for each on-premise servers. `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#license smart url cslu http://10.127.59.44:8182/cslu/v1/pi RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	2.	Use this sample configuration to enable CRL Configuration. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#crypto ca trustpoint Trustpool crl optional RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	3.	Use the license smart transport cslu command to enable CSLU. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#license smart transport cslu RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end`
	4.	Use the show license all command to verify the CSLU configuration. Example: The sample output shows the configuration transport type with the on-prem server address. `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show license all Transport: Type: cslu Cslu address: http://10.127.59.44:8182/cslu/v1/pi Proxy: Not Configured VRF: Not Supported`
	5.	(Optional) Use the license smart trust idtoken<token-id> command to establish trust using id-token. Example: The command uses Zesdf3243u48329fdfhsfhsfkjs1233j4h1j1j4j41n as a sample token id. `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#license smart trust idtoken Zesdf3243u48329fdfhsfhsfkjs1233j4h1j1j4j41n`
	6.	Use the license smart sync all command to send the license usage reports to server and receive the compliance status for the licenses consumed by the node. Example: `RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#license smart sync all Tue Aug 26 13:03:28.287 IST` Note If you are using on-prem version 9-202407 or later, this command retrieves the on-prem account details and the compliance information.

The device uses CSLU transport for license communications, and all required trust relationships are established.

What to do next

Review device status in Cisco Smart Software Manager.
Ensure device reports successful license communication

Configure offline license mode

Enable offline license operation for devices that cannot directly connect to Cisco Smart Licensing servers.

Offline license mode is necessary when your device cannot communicate with Cisco Smart Licensing servers over the network. This process allows you to manage licenses through manual file operations.

Procedure

Disable transport to switch the device to offline license mode

Example:


RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#config
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#License smart transport off
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#commit
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#end

Save the license usage report.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#license smart save usage unreported /misc1/disk1/usage.txt

Import the acknowledgment report.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#license smart import /misc/disk1/ACK_usage.txt

The device operates in offline license mode. License usage is recorded and acknowledgments are managed manually without network transport to Cisco Smart Licensing.

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