United States
Q
What are Cisco ISR 900 licenses?
A
Cisco ISR 900 licenses unlock specific router features and performance tiers. They govern capabilities such as routing protocols, security, application optimization, and unified communications on ISR 900 Series platforms.
Q
Which licensing levels are available for Cisco ISR 900?
A
Cisco ISR 900 supports Base, Security, AppX, and Unified Communications (UC) licenses. Each level adds functionality: Base for routing, Security for firewall/VPN, AppX for WAN optimization, and UC for voice services.
Q
How do I upgrade Cisco ISR 900 licenses?
A
Upgrade by ordering the appropriate license SKU and applying it via Smart Licensing or PAK activation. Changes take effect immediately after successful license registration on Cisco’s portal.
Q
What is Cisco Smart Licensing for ISR 900?
A
Smart Licensing centralizes license management through Cisco’s cloud. It tracks usage, automates renewals, and ensures compliance across ISR 900 devices without manual key handling.
Q
Can I convert an evaluation license on ISR 900 to a permanent license?
A
Yes. After evaluation, purchase the matching permanent license SKU and register it via Smart Licensing or PAK. The system automatically transitions to permanent functionality.
Q
How long does an ISR 900 evaluation license last?
A
The standard ISR 900 evaluation license is valid for 60 days. It provides full feature access so you can assess routing, security, and application services before committing to a purchase.
Q
What happens if an ISR 900 license expires?
A
Expired licenses revert the router to the Base feature set and disable advanced functions. Renew or upgrade the license in Cisco Smart Account to restore full capabilities.
Q
Are Cisco ISR 900 licenses transferable between devices?
A
Yes. Licenses issued under Smart Licensing can be reassigned to another eligible ISR 900 device within the same Smart Account. Deactivation on the source device is required first.
Q
How do I verify installed licenses on an ISR 900 router?
A
Use the CLI command ‘show license status’ or ‘show platform hardware license’ to view active licenses, evaluation timers, entitlement details, and compliance status.
Q
What benefits do Security licenses add to ISR 900?
A
Security licenses enable built-in firewall, IPsec VPN, intrusion prevention (IPS), and advanced threat defenses. They protect WAN and LAN traffic without adding external appliances.
Q
Do ISR 900 AppX licenses require extra hardware?
A
No additional hardware is needed. AppX licensing activates software-based WAN optimization features, such as compression, deduplication, and caching, on existing ISR 900 platforms.
Q
Can I stack licenses on Cisco ISR 900 routers?
A
Cisco ISR 900 does not support hardware stacking. License stacking refers to feature bundling: you can combine Base, Security, AppX, and UC licenses on a single device.
Q
How do I purchase Cisco ISR 900 licenses?
A
Contact a Cisco reseller or order through Cisco Commerce Workspace using the specific license SKU. Provide your Smart Account details to ensure seamless license registration.
Q
What is the difference between permanent and subscription licenses for ISR 900?
A
Permanent licenses provide perpetual feature access, while subscription licenses grant time-limited functionality. Subscriptions include support and updates for the contract duration.
Q
Are software updates tied to Cisco ISR 900 licenses?
A
Software updates for features requiring a license level are only available when the corresponding license is active. Base OS bug fixes remain free under Cisco’s standard maintenance policy.
Q
How do I troubleshoot Cisco ISR 900 license activation errors?
A
Verify Smart Account connectivity, confirm SKU accuracy, and ensure correct device registration. Use ‘license status’, ‘license tech-support’, and Cisco TAC assistance for in-depth diagnostics.
