Cisco EPN Manager offers flexible licensing options to cater to different user needs. These licensing models provide the right to use the software and its features.

• Subscription licenses–Software with the right to use for the length of the subscription term. Subscription models generally provide faster access to the latest features and innovations and have more predictable cost structures. These subscriptions are offered for a duration of one, three, or five years. Subscription licenses entitle users to both upgrades and technical support.

• Perpetual licenses–Software with the right to use for an indefinite period of time. Perpetual licenses are typically locked to the device, and additional annual fees are required to maintain support and maintenance. When purchasing perpetual licenses, a separate Software Innovation Access (SIA) subscription and a Technical Support subscription are required to access upgrades and technical support, respectively. These subscriptions are offered for durations of one, three, or five years.

• Time-Based (Evaluation)–For a 90-day trial period, the product is disabled when the trial period expires. If you purchase a time-based license, the days remaining are listed next to the license name.

For comprehensive details on ordering and pricing, users are encouraged to engage with a Cisco sales representative and refer to the detailed information in the Cisco EPN Manager Ordering Guide.

The Right-to-Use (RTU) License, also known as the base license, serves as the foundational license, providing access to all applications and device drivers without limitations on device counts. Additionally, a Northbound License is included with the base license.

The Device Right-to-Manage (RTM) License allows for the management of a specific number of devices of a specific type. For RTM licenses, the device count is displayed next to the device type.

RTM licenses are categorized by specific device capacities (small, medium, or large). By designating RTMs as small and large, Cisco EPN Manager allows for RTM license portability when moving to next-gen platforms. For example, a user transitioning from a Cisco ASR 901 router to a next-gen Cisco NCS 520 device can use the same small RTM licenses, as both devices belong to the small category. For more information on sizing and device groups, visit the Cisco EPN Manager Ordering Guide.

Cisco EPN Manager also discovers third-party network devices. The collected information is displayed in the web GUI, but results can vary widely depending on the responses received from the devices.

RTM licenses are displayed in the Cisco EPN Manager UI.

• For Cisco devices—Device model, such as NCS 2002 or ASR 9001.

• For third-party devices—Generic: Third Party Device.

Cisco EPN Manager 7.x release use the new RTM licenses. However, the RTM licenses introduced with Cisco EPN Manager 3.x and 4.x releases will continue to work in the Cisco EPN Manager 7.x release. Advanced RTM licenses are now called Advantage Add-on RTM licenses, and Full RTM licenses are now called Advantage RTM licenses.

 Note

• Devices configured as satellites, such as Cisco ASR 903 routers with a Cisco ASR 9000v host, are counted as independent devices.

• You can only manage a node using the equivalent RTM device capacity category. For example, a large capacity RTM license is required to manage a large capacity node.

The three types of RTM licenses are explained in this topic.

Essential RTM License

The Cisco Essential license is a type of RTM license that enables all features and options related to device manageability, such as device inventory, chassis view, topology, alarms, configuration management, and more. This RTM license covers EMS-level functionality.

Cisco EPN Manager RTMs are available in three types of licenses: Essentials, Advantage (formerly Full), and Generic/3rd party vendor licenses. An Essential license can be upgraded to an Advantage license by purchasing an Advantage Add-on (previously Advanced) RTM license. Note that an Essential license is a prerequisite for obtaining a corresponding Advantage Add-on license.

While the naming terminology has changed, the licenses remain the same, with no impact on licenses purchased under the previous terminology.

The differences between the licenses and the support provided are explained in these tables.

Advantage Add-on RTM License

The Cisco Advantage Add-on Function RTM license is displayed in the web GUI as the Cisco Advantage Add-on Right-to-Manage license.

This license enables all features and options related to service discovery, provisioning, service promotion, service assurance, and multilayer trace functions. Features and menu options related to these functions are not visible unless the license is active, and any scheduled provisioning jobs will fail to run. Once you install the first Cisco Advantage Add-on RTM license, these features and options are enabled. Cisco EPN Manager tracks and reports the use of this license in the licensing dashboard.

Advantage RTM License

To simplify ordering the Essential and corresponding Advantage Add-on licenses together, Cisco EPN Manager has introduced the Advantage license. The Advantage RTM License consolidates both Essential and Advantage Add-on licenses, providing a comprehensive licensing solution.

The Standby (SBY) license allows for the setup of high availability deployments. In such a deployment, all device and feature licenses must be installed on the primary server. Additional license purchases are not required for the secondary server.

Follow these high-level steps to set up Smart Licensing for Cisco EPN Manager so you can use it to manage your licenses.

If you are currently using traditional licensing, use these same procedures to use Cisco Smart Licensing and, when convenient, convert your existing Cisco EPN Manager licenses as described in Convert Traditional Licenses to Smart Entitlements.

The License Registration Status reflects whether the product is properly registered with Cisco Smart Software Licensing on Cisco.com.

This table describes the license registration status.

The License Authorization status reflects license usage against purchased licenses and indicates whether you are in compliance with Cisco Smart Licensing. If you exceed the number of purchased licenses, the product's status will be marked as Out of Compliance.

This table describes the license authorization statuses.