United States
Q
What are Cisco Unified Communication Licenses?
A
Cisco Unified Communication Licenses entitle devices or users to Cisco Unified Communications Manager features such as call control, messaging, conferencing and mobility in on-premises or hybrid deployments.
Q
Which Cisco Unified Communications license tiers are available?
A
Cisco offers three license tiers for Unified Communications Manager: Essentials for core telephony, Enhanced for collaboration services, and Premium for advanced conferencing, messaging and analytics.
Q
How do I choose the right Cisco UC license tier?
A
Select a tier based on your feature needs: Essentials for basic voice, Enhanced for voicemail and mobility, or Premium for video, conferencing and advanced collaboration.
Q
What is Cisco User Connect Licensing (UCL)?
A
UCL is a user-based licensing model allowing multiple devices per user. You purchase one license per user and enable full feature access across phones, soft clients and mobile apps.
Q
What is Cisco Smart Licensing for UC?
A
Cisco Smart Licensing provides centralized license registration, compliance reporting and real-time usage monitoring through Cisco Smart Software Manager or Smart Software Manager On-Prem.
Q
How do I purchase Cisco Unified Communication Licenses?
A
Purchase through Cisco authorized partners or the Cisco Commerce Workspace. Specify your deployment model, user count and feature requirements to receive an accurate quote.
Q
How do I assign licenses in Cisco Unified Communications Manager?
A
Log into the Cisco Unified CM Administration portal, navigate to System > Licensing > Smart Software Licensing, and register or allocate licenses to users or devices.
Q
Can I transfer Cisco UC licenses between servers or clusters?
A
Yes. Using Cisco Smart Licensing, you unregister the source system, then register the target server or cluster. Licenses follow your Smart Account entitlements.
Q
How do I renew or upgrade Cisco Unified Communication Licenses?
A
Renew or upgrade via your Cisco Smart Account. Purchase additional or higher-tier licenses from your partner, then assign new entitlements and reconcile usage in Smart Software Manager.
Q
What support and updates are included with Cisco UC licenses?
A
Each license includes software maintenance (SWMA), 24/7 technical support, bug fixes and access to minor and major software updates during the maintenance term.
Q
What happens when a Cisco UC license expires?
A
On expiration, devices revert to a restricted mode supporting minimal softphone features. Renew promptly to restore full voice, video and collaboration capabilities.
Q
How can I monitor Cisco UC license usage?
A
Use Cisco Smart Software Manager to view real-time usage, license consumption trends and compliance status across all registered Cisco Unified Communications Manager instances.
Q
Can I upgrade from device-based to user-based licensing?
A
Yes. Purchase User Connect Licensing (UCL) and migrate device licenses in your Cisco Smart Account. Assign user licenses and reclaim legacy device entitlements.
Q
Are there compliance audit requirements for Cisco UC licensing?
A
Cisco may audit your Smart Account. Maintain accurate user/device counts, reconcile consumption in Smart Software Manager and keep purchase records for audit support.
Q
How do I troubleshoot Cisco Unified Communication license errors?
A
Check Smart Software Manager connectivity, confirm Smart Account registration, validate entitlement counts, and review cucm.log or call license governor commands for detailed errors.
