Connectrix Cisco MDS: Activating or Importing smart license

Topology 5:No Connectivity to CSSM and No CSLU
Set the smart transport type to "off" on switch:

switch(config)# license smart transport off
switch(config)# exit
switch# copy running-config startup-config

Procedure on switch:

Step 1: Generate and save RUM reports.

• Log in to the switch and generate a RUM report.

  switch# license smart save usage all bootflash:all_rum.txt

• From the above command, the RUM file is generated and saves in the bootflash of the switch.
• Copy the RUM file to the external or local server using FTP or SFTP or SCP or TFTP server.

  switch# copy bootflash:all_rum.txt tftp://XX.XX.XX.XX/all_rum.txt

Step 2: Uploading Usage Data (RUM file) to CSSM and Downloading an ACK:
Procedure on Cisco software portal:

• Log in to the CSSM Web UI at https://software.cisco.com/software/smart-licensing/alerts 
• Log in using the username and password provided by Cisco.
• Select Reports > Usage Data Files.
• Click Upload Usage Data. Browse to the file location (RUM report in .txt format), select, and click Upload Data.
• From the Select Virtual Accounts display, select the Virtual Account that receives the uploaded file.
• The file is uploaded to Cisco and is listed in the Usage Data Files table in the Reports screen showing the File Name, the time it was Reported, which Virtual Account it was uploaded to, the Reporting Status, the Number of Product Instances reported, and the Acknowledgment status.
• In the Acknowledgment column, click Download to save the tar.gz acknowledge file for the report that was uploaded.
• If there are many RUM reports to process, CSSM may take a few minutes.
• You cannot remove a usage report in CSSM after it has been uploaded.

 

Step 3: Installing a File on the Switch

• You must have the corresponding file saved in a location that is accessible to the switch.

switch# copy source bootflash:ack_all_rum.tar.gz

• Source: This is the location of the source file or directory to be copied. The source can be either local or remote.
• Bootflash: This is the destination for boot flash memory.

 

Step 5: Generating Authorization Code in Offline Mode

• Log in to the CSSM Web UI at https://software.cisco.com/software/smart-licensing/alerts 
• Click Inventory > Product Instances > Authorize License-Enforced Features.
• In the Enter Request Code section, select the Single Device option from the drop-down option if it is not already selected.
• Enter the Serial Number and PID information of your switch and click Next. You only need the serial number and PID information and need not provide other information about this pane.
• The Serial Number and PID information can be viewed using the show license udi command on your switch or PI.
• In the Selected Licenses section, enter the number of licenses (multiples of block size) under Reserve for the appropriate switch and click Next.
• Select a Device Type and click Continue.
• Click Generate an Authorization Code.
• Click Download as File to save the code.
• Copy the authorization code to the bootflash of your switch.

 

Step 6: Importing both the acknowledge file and the authorization file to the switch.
First import the acknowledge file and followed up by authorization file.

• Import and install the file on the switch:

switch# configure t

switch(config)# license smart import bootflash: <ack_file-name.tar.gz>

Done smart import.

switch(config)# show license all

• After installation, a system message displays the status of installation.
• Display license authorization, policy, and reporting information for the switch:
• Use the license smart import command to import the authorization code on your switch.

switch# configure t

switch(config)# license smart import bootflash:<authcode.txt>

Done smart import.

switch(config)# show license authorizations

Overall status:

Active: PID:DS-C9148T-K9,SN:XXX253900X6

      Status: SMART AUTHORIZATION INSTALLED on Apr 18 2017 22:29:18 UTC

      Last Confirmation code: xxxxxxxx

      Status:PAK

Authorizations:

  MDS 9148T 32G FC 8 port activation (MDS_9148T_8P):

    Description: MDS 9148T 32G FC 8 port activation

    Total available count: 8

    Enforcement type: ENFORCED

    Term information:

      Active: PID:DS-C9148T-K9,SN:XXX253900X6

        Authorization type: SMART AUTHORIZATION INSTALLED 

• Verify the authorization confirmation code (Last Confirmation code) in the show license authorizations command output to CSSM for completing the reservation.

show license authorizations

show license all

show port-license

 

Possible issue:
1. Got "The requested item was not found" when trying to save RUM report

switch# license smart save usage all bootflash:all_rum.txt
Failure: save status: The requested item was not found

Resolution:
For switches shipped with version 9.2(2) or higher, license usage data may not be generated. You may enable or disable ivr feature to trigger the generation of a license usage report.

switch# config t
switch(config)# feature ivr
switch(config)# no feature ivr
switch(config)# exit

2. Got verification error when install ACK or license authorization.

Resolution:
Verification fails when the switch time is significantly different from the timestamp in the acknowledge and or authorization file.
Set up a NTP server or manually set the correct time on the switch.

Set up an NTP server:

switch# config t
switch(config)# ntp server 192.168.1.1 <--- -sets the ntp server ( required, can set multiple peers as well)
switch(config)# ntp peer 10.1.1.1  <-----sets a peer switch that is using ntp or another ntp server ( not required)

Manually set clock time:

switch# clock set 15:00:00 30 September 2023