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This chapter contains the following sections:
To use Cisco VACS, you must obtain the Cisco VACS and the Cisco UCS Director licenses from your Cisco representative or download it from https://software.cisco.com . You must upload the Cisco VACS license file in Cisco UCS Director. After the license is installed, registered, and validated by Cisco UCS Director, you must apply the Cisco VACS patch to view the Cisco VACS menu in the UCS-Director UI.
Before you install Cisco UCS Director, generate the license key and claim a certificate (Product Access Key).
Register the Product Access Key (PAK) on the Cisco software license site, as described in Fulfilling the Product Access Key.
After you install Cisco UCS Director, update the license in Cisco UCS Director as described in Updating the Cisco VACS License.
After the license has been validated, you can upload the Cisco UCS Director-Cisco VACS license.
![]() Tip | If you want to evaluate Cisco UCS Director, you must first obtain an evaluation license by contacting your Cisco representative. |
Follow these guidelines and limitations while Installing a Cisco VACS License:
All Cisco UCS Director licenses should be of either the EVAL or the Production type.
While there is no limit to the number of Cisco VACS Production licenses that you can install, you can install only one Cisco VACS EVAL license file.
To upgrade Cisco VACS from EVAL to Production, you must first install the Cisco UCS Director Production licenses (Production Base+Production Server), and then install the Cisco VACS Production licenses.
Cisco VACS does not automatically upgrade your existing Cisco Nexus 1000V licenses to permanent licenses after moving from Cisco VACS EVAL licenses to Cisco VACS Production licenses. You must install a new Cisco Nexus 1000V to ensure that it is installed with permanent licenses.
From Cisco VACS Release 5.4STV2.1, the Cisco CSR license token UI is not present and the Cisco UCS Director itself behaves as the Licensing server.
The Cisco ASAv license is not a part of the Cisco VACS license. You must purchase the Cisco ASAv license separately.
To license Cisco ASAv, the Cisco ASAv license token must be entered via the Add ASAv license tab in the Cisco VACS UI.
Cisco VACS does not upgrade CSR 1000V licenses to Maximum throughput (10 Gig ). After installing Cisco VACS production licenses, only new CSR 1000Vs deployed as part of new container deployment, are licensed to have a throughput of 10 Gig.
Cisco PNSC does not need any licenses to work with Cisco VACS.
After installing the Cisco UCS Director Production licenses, only the Cisco VACS Production licenses are accepted.
After installing Cisco VACS Production Licenses, existing Cisco Nexus 1000V (installed with EVAL Cisco VACS Licenses) will not get perpetual/permanent Cisco Nexus 1000V licenses. In this case, you have to deploy a new Cisco Nexus1000V (after installing the Cisco VACS Production licenses ), so that new Cisco Nexus 1000V will have perpetual licenses.
Cisco CSR 1000V deployed during the Cisco VACS EVAL licenses will come up with default licenses and a maximum throughput of 100 Kbps.
Cisco ASAv deployed during the Cisco VACS EVAL licenses (or with no ASAv licenses) will come up with default licenses and a maximum throughput of 100 Kbps.
You need the PAK number.
Step 1 | Navigate to the Cisco Software License website. | ||||||||||||||||
Step 2 | If you are directed to the Product License Registration page, you can take the training or click Continue to Product License Registration. | ||||||||||||||||
Step 3 | On the Product License Registration page, click Get New Licenses from a PAK or Token. | ||||||||||||||||
Step 4 | In the Enter a Single PAK or TOKEN to Fulfill field, enter the PAK number. | ||||||||||||||||
Step 5 | Click Fulfill Single PAK/TOKEN. | ||||||||||||||||
Step 6 | Complete the
additional fields in
License
Information to register your PAK:
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Step 7 | Click
Issue
Key.
The features for your license appear, and you receive an email with the Digital License Agreement and a zipped license file. |
![]() Tip | If you want to evaluate Cisco UCS Director, you must first obtain an evaluation license by contacting your Cisco representative. |
If you received a zipped license file by email, extract and save the .lic file to your local machine.
Step 1 | Choose . | ||
Step 2 | Click the License Keys tab. | ||
Step 3 | Click Update License. | ||
Step 4 | In the
Update
License dialog box, do one of the following:
You can also copy and paste the full text of a license file into the License Text field. | ||
Step 5 | Click
Submit.
The license file is processed, and a message appears confirming the successful update.
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![]() Tip | If you want to evaluate Cisco VACS, you must first obtain an evaluation license from the Cisco Sales Acceleration Center at sac-support@cisco.com. |
When you purchase one or more licenses for the ASAv, you manage them in the Cisco Smart Software Manager at https://software.cisco.com .
The Smart Software Manager lets you create a master account for your organization.
By default, your licenses are assigned to the Default Virtual Account under your master account. As the account administrator, you can optionally create additional virtual accounts; for example, you can create accounts for regions, departments, or subsidiaries. Multiple virtual accounts let you more easily manage large numbers of licenses and devices.