United States
Q
What is the Cisco ASA 5500 Security Contexts License?
A
The Cisco ASA 5500 Security Contexts License enables virtualization of a single ASA firewall into multiple logical devices for segmenting security policies and management domains.
Q
Which ASA 5500 models support multiple security contexts?
A
The ASA 5510, ASA 5520, ASA 5540, ASA 5550, ASA 5580, and ASA 5590 platforms support multiple security contexts with the appropriate licenses installed.
Q
How many security contexts are included in the ASA 5500 Base License?
A
The ASA 5500 Base License includes support for up to two active security contexts.
Q
What context license options are available for Cisco ASA 5500?
A
Cisco offers Base (2 contexts), Security Context license for up to 20 contexts (ASA5500-CTX20), and unlimited contexts (ASA5500-CTX-UNL) SKUs for ASA 5510–5590 series.
Q
How do I install or enable additional security contexts?
A
Obtain the appropriate license key, register it via Cisco Smart Licensing or local activation, then apply the key on the ASA CLI and reload the device.
Q
How can I verify the number of licensed security contexts?
A
Run the ASA CLI command `show license all` or `show context` to display total and used security contexts.
Q
What happens if I exceed the licensed number of security contexts?
A
The ASA will deny creation of additional contexts beyond the licensed limit and log a licensing violation error.
Q
Can I upgrade my ASA 5500 security contexts license?
A
Yes. Purchase the higher‐tier license SKU, apply the new activation key via Smart Licensing or local install, and reboot the ASA.
Q
Are ASA 5500 security contexts licenses perpetual or term based?
A
ASA 5500 security contexts licenses are perpetual and remain valid until hardware retirement or major platform upgrade.
Q
How do I purchase a Cisco ASA 5500 security contexts license?
A
Contact an authorized Cisco partner or reseller, reference the ASA model and desired context SKU, and process the order through your Smart Account.
Q
Does high availability support multiple security contexts?
A
Yes. Active/standby or active/active HA pairs can mirror multiple contexts as long as each peer has matching context licenses.
Q
What are the performance impacts of using multiple security contexts?
A
Each context shares CPU, memory, and throughput resources, so adding contexts may reduce per‐context performance.
Q
Can I migrate security contexts to a new ASA platform?
A
You can export each context’s configuration via CLI, transfer the files to the new ASA, import them, and apply the corresponding license keys.
Q
Is Smart Licensing required for ASA 5500 contexts?
A
Yes. Cisco Smart Licensing is the preferred method for registering and managing ASA 5500 context licenses and ensures compliance.
Q
What limitations should I consider for security contexts?
A
Review ASA platform hardware limits on memory, CPU, and feature support per context; also ensure proper licensing and HA compatibility.
Q
What are best practices when deploying multiple security contexts?
A
Define clear naming conventions, allocate sufficient hardware resources, centralize management with ASDM or Firepower Management Center, and maintain consistent licensing.
