Cisco Software Central (CSC) enables the management of software licenses and Smart Account from a single portal. The interface allows you to activate your product, manage entitlements, and renew and upgrade software. A functioning Smart Account is required to complete the registration process. To access the Cisco Software Central, see https://software.cisco.com.

A Smart Account provides a single location for all Smart-enabled products and entitlements. It helps speed procurement, deployment, and maintenance of Cisco Software. When creating a Smart Account, you must have the authority to represent the requesting organization. After submitting, the request goes through a brief approval process.

A Virtual Account exists as a subaccount within the Smart Account. Virtual Accounts are a customer-defined structure based on organizational layout, business function, geography, or any defined hierarchy. They are created and maintained by the Smart Account administrator.

See https://software.cisco.com to learn about, set up, or manage Smart Accounts.

A Cisco Smart Account is an account where all products enabled for Smart Licensing are deposited. A Cisco Smart Account allows you to manage and activate your licenses to devices, monitor license use, and track Cisco license purchases. Through transparent access, you have a real-time view into your Smart Licensing products. IT administrators can manage licenses and account users within your organization's Smart Account through the Software Central.

1. In a browser window, enter the following URL:

   https://software.cisco.com

2. Log in using your credentials, and then click Request a Smart Account in the Administration area.

   The Smart Account Request window is displayed.

3. Under Create Account, select one of the following options:

   • Yes, I have authority to represent my company and want to create the Smart Account – If you select this option, you agree to authorization to create and manage product and service entitlements, users, and roles on behalf of your organization.

   • No, the person specified below will create the account – If you select this option, you must enter the email address of the person who will create the Smart Account.

4. Under Account Information:

   1. Click Edit beside Account Domain Identifier.

   2. In the Edit Account Identifier dialog box, enter the domain, and click OK. By default, the domain is based on the email address of the person creating the account and must belong to the company that will own this account.

   3. Enter the Account Name (typically, the company name).

5. Click Continue.

   The Smart Account request will be in pending status until it has been approved by the Account Domain Identifier. After approval, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions for completing the setup process.

At present, the Smart Licensing feature supports application entitlement for online and offline licensing for all Cisco 5G applications (PCF and SMF). The application usage is unrestricted during all stages of licensing including Out of Compliance (OOC) and expired stages.

Note	A 90-day evaluation period is granted for all licenses in use. Currently, the functionality and operation of the 5G applications is unrestricted even after the end of the evaluation period.

Tags for the following software and entitlements have been created to identify, report, and enforce licenses.

Software Tags

Software tags uniquely identify each licensable software product or product suite on a device. The following software tags exist for the PCF.

Entitlement Tags

The following entitlement tags identify licenses in use:

Note	The license information is retained during software upgrades and rollback.

This section describes the procedure involved in configuring Smart Licensing for users with access to CSC portal from their internal environment.

Setting Up the Product and Entitlement in CSC

Before you begin, you need to set up your product and entitlement in the CSC. To set up your product and entitlement:

1. Log in to your CSC account.

2. Click Add Product and enter the following details.

   • Product name – Specify the name of the deployed product. For example, PCF.

   • Primary PM CEC ID – Specify the primary Project Manager's CEC ID for the deployed product.

   • Dev Manager CEC ID – Specify the Development Manager's CEC ID for the deployed product.

   • Description (Optional) – Specify a brief description of the deployed product.

   • Product Type – Specify the product type.

   • Software ID Tag – Specify the software ID Tag provided by the Cisco Account's team.

3. Click Create.

4. Select your product from the Product/Entitlement Setup grid.

5. Click Entitlement drop-down and select Create New Entitlement.

6. Select New Entitlement in Add Entitlement and enter the following details.

   • Entitlement Name – Specify the license entitlement name. For example, PCF_BASE.

   • Description (Optional) – Specify a brief description about the license entitlement.

   • Entitlement Tag – Specify the entitlement tag provided by the Cisco Account's team.

   • Entitlement Type – Specify the type of license entitlement.

   • Vendor String – Specify the vendor name.

7. Click Entitlement Allocation.

8. Click Add Entitlement Allocation.

9. In New License Allocation, provide the following details:

   • Product – Select your product from the drop-down list.

   • Entitlement – Select your entitlement from the drop-down list.

10. Click Continue.

11. In New License Allocation window, provide the following details:

    • Quantity – Specify the number of licenses.

    • License Type – Specify the type of license.

    • Expiring Date – Specify the date of expiry for the license purchased.

12. Click Create.

13. Verify the status of Smart Licensing using the following command.

    show license all 

    Example:

    pcf# show license all
    
    Smart Licensing Status
    =======================
    Smart Licensing is ENABLED
    
    Registration:
      Status: UNREGISTERED
      Export-Controlled Functionality: Not Allowed
    
    License Authorization:
      Status: EVAL MODE
      Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 15 min, 8 sec
      Last Communication Attempt: NONE
    
    License Conversion: 
     Automatic Conversion Enabled: true
     Status: NOT STARTED
    
    Utility:
      Status: DISABLED
    
    Transport:
      Type: CALLHOME
    
    Evaluation Period:
      Evaluation Mode: In Use
      Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 15 min, 8 sec
    
    License Usage
    =============
    License Authorization Status: EVALUATION MODE
      Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 15 min, 8 sec
    
    UCC 5G PCF BASE (PCF_BASE)
      Description: Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum
      Count: 1
      Version: 1.0
      Status: EVAL MODE
      Export status: RESTRICTED_NOTALLOWED
      Feature Name: <empty>
      Feature Description: <empty>
    
    Product Information
    ===================
    UDI: PID:PCF,SN:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y
    
    Agent Version
    =============
    Smart Agent for Licensing: 3.0.13
    

Registering Smart Licensing

You need to register the product entitled to the license with CSC. To register, you need to generate an ID token from CSC.

1. Log in to your CSC account.

2. Click General > New Token and enter the following details:

   • Description – Specify a brief description about the ID token.

   • Expires After – Specify the number of days for the token to expire.

   • Max. Number Users – Specify the maximum number users.

3. Click Create Token.

4. Select new ID token in Product Instance Registration Token.

5. Click Actions > Copy.

6. Log in to PCF Ops Center CLI and paste the ID token using the following configuration:

   license smart register idtoken 

   Example:

   pcf# license smart register
   Value for 'idtoken' (<string>): MTI2Y2FlNTAtOThkMi00YTAxLWE4M2QtOTNhNzNjNjY4ZmFiLTE2MTc4N
   Tky%0AMTA5MDh8ck1jUHNwc3k1ZC9nWFFCSnVEcUp4QU1jTFoxOGxDTU5kQ3lpa25E%0Ab04wST0%3D%0A
   pcf# 
   

7. Verify the status of Smart Licensing using the following command.

   show license all 

   Example:

   pcf# show license all 
   
   Smart Licensing Status
   =======================
   Smart Licensing is ENABLED
   
   Registration:
     Status: REGISTERED
     Smart Account: Cisco Systems, Inc.
     Virtual Account: PCF-SMF
     Export-Controlled Functionality: Allowed
     Initial Registration: SUCCEEDED on Apr 15 05:45:07 2020 GMT
     Last Renewal Attempt: SUCCEEDED on Apr 15 05:45:07 2020 GMT
     Next Renewal Attempt: Oct 12 05:45:07 2020 GMT
     Registration Expires: Apr 15 05:40:31 2021 GMT
   
   License Authorization:
     Status: AUTHORIZED on Apr 15 05:45:12 2020 GMT
     Last Communication Attempt: SUCCEEDED on Apr 15 05:45:12 2020 GMT
     Next Communication Attempt: May 15 05:45:12 2020 GMT
     Communication Deadline: Jul 14 05:40:40 2020 GMT
   
   License Conversion: 
    Automatic Conversion Enabled: true
    Status: NOT STARTED
   
   Utility:
     Status: DISABLED
   
   Transport:
     Type: CALLHOME
   
   Evaluation Period:
     Evaluation Mode: Not In Use
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 10 min, 43 sec
   
   License Usage
   =============
   License Authorization Status: AUTHORIZED as of Apr 15 05:45:12 2020 GMT
   
   UCC 5G PCF BASE (PCF_BASE)
     Description: Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum
     Count: 1
     Version: 1.0
     Status: AUTHORIZED
     Export status: RESTRICTED_ALLOWED
     Feature Name: <empty>
     Feature Description: <empty>
   
   Product Information
   ===================
   UDI: PID:PCF,SN:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y
   
   Agent Version
   =============
   Smart Agent for Licensing: 3.0.13
   

   NOTES:

   • license smart register – Registers Smart Licensing with CSC.

   • idtoken – Specifies the ID token generated from CSC.

Deregistering Smart Licensing

You can deregister the registered product from Smart Licensing if required.

1. Log in to PCF Ops Center CLI and use the following configuration:

   license smart deregister 

   Example:

   pcf# license smart deregister
   pcf# 
   

2. Verify the status of Smart Licensing using the following command.

   show license all 

   Example:

   pcf# show license all
   
   Smart Licensing Status
   =======================
   Smart Licensing is ENABLED
   
   Registration:
     Status: UNREGISTERED
     Export-Controlled Functionality: Not Allowed
   
   License Authorization:
     Status: EVAL MODE
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 10 min, 43 sec
     Last Communication Attempt: NONE
   
   License Conversion: 
    Automatic Conversion Enabled: true
    Status: NOT STARTED
   
   Utility:
     Status: DISABLED
   
   Transport:
     Type: CALLHOME
   
   Evaluation Period:
     Evaluation Mode: In Use
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 10 min, 43 sec
   
   License Usage
   =============
   License Authorization Status: EVALUATION MODE
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 10 min, 43 sec
   
   UCC 5G PCF BASE (PCF_BASE)
     Description: Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum
     Count: 1
     Version: 1.0
     Status: EVAL MODE
     Export status: RESTRICTED_NOTALLOWED
     Feature Name: <empty>
     Feature Description: <empty>
   
   Product Information
   ===================
   UDI: PID:PCF,SN:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y
   
   Agent Version
   =============
   Smart Agent for Licensing: 3.0.13
   
   pcf#
   

   NOTES:

   • license smart deregister – Deregisters Smart Licensing from CSC.

The Smart License Reservation feature – Perpetual Reservation – is reserved for customers without access to CSC from their internal environments. With this feature, Cisco allows customers to reserve licenses from their virtual account and tie them to their devices Unique Device Identifier (UDI). This enables customers to use their devices with reserved licenses in a disconnected mode.

The subsequent sections describe the procedure involved in reserving Smart License for users without access to CSC from their internal environment.

Enabling Smart License Reservation

You can enable Smart License reservation through PCF Ops Center CLI.

1. Log in to PCF Ops Center CLI and use the following configuration:

   config terminal 
     license smart reservation 
     commit 
     end 

   NOTES:

   • license smart reservation – Enables license reservation.

Generating Smart License Reservation Request Code

You can generate the Smart License reservation request code through PCF Ops Center CLI.

1. Log in to PCF Ops Center CLI and using the following configuration to enable the reservation:

   config terminal 
     license smart reservation  
     commit 
     end 

2. Use the following configuration to request a reservation code:

   license smart reservation request 

   Example:

   pcf# license smart reservation request
   reservation-request-code CJ-ZPCF:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y-Ai75GxtBs-3B
   pcf# 
   Message from confd-api-manager at 2020-04-15 05:51:37...
   Global license change NotifyReservationInProgress reason code Success - Successful.
   pcf# 
   

   NOTES:

   • license smart reservation – Enables license reservation request code.

   • license smart reservation request – Generates the license reservation request code.

     Important

     You need to copy the generated license request code from the PCF Ops Center CLI.

Generating an Authorization Code from CSC

You can generate an authorization code from CSC using the license reservation request code.

1. Log in to your CSC account.

2. Click License Reservation.

3. Enter the Request Code: Paste the license reservation request code copied from the PCF Ops Center CLI in the Reservation Request Code text-box.

4. Select the Licenses: Click Reserve a Specific License radio-button and select UCC 5G PCF BASE.

   Note	In the Reserve text-box enter the value 1.

5. Review your selection.

6. Click Generate Authorization Code.

7. Download the response file: The authorization code is generated and displayed on-screen. Click Download as File to download the authorization code.

8. Click Close.

Reserving Smart Licensing

You can reserve Smart License for the deployed product using the authorization code generated in CSC.

1. Log in to PCF Ops Center CLI and use the following configuration:

   license smart reservation install 
   authorization_code 

   Example:

   pcf# license smart reservation install
   Value for 'key' (<string>): <specificPLR><authorizationCode><flag>A</flag><version>C</version>
   <piid>35757dc6-2bdf-4fa1-ba7e-4190f5b6ea22</piid><timestamp>1586929992297</timestamp>
   <entitlements><entitlement><tag>regid.2020-04.com.cisco.PCF_BASE,1.0_60b1da6f-3832-4687-90c9-8879dc815a27</tag>
   <count>1</count><startDate>2020-Apr-08 UTC</startDate><endDate>2020-Oct-05 UTC</endDate>
   <licenseType>TERM</licenseType><displayName>UCC 5G PCF BASE</displayName>
   <tagDescription>Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum</tagDescription>
   <subscriptionID></subscriptionID></entitlement></entitlements></authorizationCode>
   <signature>MEYCIQC/9v5LpgFoEk2l4omIgjjk83g5WXjzs09kQnsO8D0jRgIhAMh+D6DRuYmqh1TlfJoZxNte0fPKw6fHEY5CEF3+kPQj</signature>
   <udi>P:PCF,S:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y</udi></specificPLR>
   pcf# 
   

2. Verify the status of smart licensing using the following command.

   show license all 

   Example:

   pcf# show license all
   
   Smart Licensing Status
   =======================
   Smart Licensing is ENABLED
   License Reservation is ENABLED
   
   Registration:
     Status: REGISTERED - SPECIFIC LICENSE RESERVATION 
     Export-Controlled Functionality: Allowed
     Initial Registration: SUCCEEDED on Wed Apr 15 05:53:31 GMT 2020
     Last Renewal Attempt: None
   
   License Authorization:
     Status: AUTHORIZED - RESERVED on Wed Apr 15 05:53:31 GMT 2020 
   
   Utility:
     Status: DISABLED
   
   Transport:
     Type: CALLHOME
   
   Evaluation Period:
     Evaluation Mode: Not In Use
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 5 min, 15 sec
   
   License Usage
   =============
   License Authorization Status: 
     Status: AUTHORIZED - RESERVED  on Wed Apr 15 05:53:31 GMT 2020
     Last Communication Attempt: SUCCEEDED on Apr 15 05:53:31 2020 GMT
     Next Communication Attempt: NONE
     Communication Deadline: NONE
   
   UCC 5G PCF BASE (PCF_BASE)
     Description: Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum
     Count: 1
     Version: 1.0
     Status: AUTHORIZED 
     Export status: NOT RESTRICTED
     Feature Name: <empty>
     Feature Description: <empty>
     Reservation:
       Reservation Status: SPECIFIC INSTALLED
       Total Reserved Count: 1
       Term expiration: 2020-Oct-05 GMT
   
   Product Information
   ===================
   UDI: PID:PCF,SN:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y
   
   Agent Version
   =============
   Smart Agent for Licensing: 3.0.13
   

   NOTES:

   • license smart reservation install authorization_code – Installs a Smart License Authorization code.

Returning the Reserved License

You can return the reserved license to CSC if required. Use the following procedures to return the reserved license:

1. When the license reservation authorization code is installed in the PCF Ops Center.

   1. Log in to the PCF Ops Center CLI and use the following configuration:

      license smart reservation return 

      Example:

      pcf# license smart reservation return 
      reservation-return-code CJ6m3k-RAvu6b-hMNmwf-mrdcko-NoSwKL-tF7orz-9aNtEu-yVjGAm-D6j
      pcf# 
      

   2. Copy the license reservation return code generated in PCF Ops Center CLI.

   3. Log in to your CSC account.

   4. Select your product instance from the list.

   5. Click Actions > Remove.

   6. Paste the license reservation return code in Return Code text-box.

   NOTES:

   • license smart reservation return – Returns a reserved Smart License.

2. When the license reservation authorization code is not installed in the PCF Ops Center.

   1. Log in to the PCF Ops Center CLI and use the following configuration to generate the return code.

      license smart reservation return 
      authorization_code 

      Important

      Paste the license reservation authorization code generated in CSC to generate the return code.

   2. Log in to your CSC account.

   3. Select your product instance from the list.

   4. Click Actions > Remove.

   5. Paste the license reservation return code in Return Code text-box.

3. Verify the status of smart licensing using the following command.

   show license all 

   Example:

   pcf# show license all
   
   Smart Licensing Status
   =======================
   Smart Licensing is ENABLED
   License Reservation is ENABLED
   
   Registration:
     Status: UNREGISTERED
     Export-Controlled Functionality: Not Allowed
   
   License Authorization:
     Status: EVAL MODE
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 5 min, 15 sec
     Last Communication Attempt: SUCCEEDED on Apr 15 05:53:31 2020 GMT
     Next Communication Attempt: NONE
     Communication Deadline: NONE
   
   License Conversion: 
    Automatic Conversion Enabled: true
    Status: NOT STARTED
   
   Utility:
     Status: DISABLED
   
   Transport:
     Type: CALLHOME
   
   Evaluation Period:
     Evaluation Mode: In Use
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 5 min, 15 sec
   
   License Usage
   =============
   License Authorization Status: EVALUATION MODE
     Evaluation Period Remaining: 83 days, 0 hr, 5 min, 15 sec
   
   UCC 5G PCF BASE (PCF_BASE)
     Description: Ultra Cloud Core - Policy Control Function (PCF), Base Minimum
     Count: 1
     Version: 1.0
     Status: EVAL MODE
     Export status: RESTRICTED_NOTALLOWED
     Feature Name: <empty>
     Feature Description: <empty>
   
   Product Information
   ===================
   UDI: PID:PCF,SN:6GKJ2OA-NMUWA7Y
   
   Agent Version
   =============
   Smart Agent for Licensing: 3.0.13
   
   pcf#
   

You can use the following show commands to display information about Smart Licensing in the PCF Ops Center.

show licesne [all | UDI | displaylevel | reservation | smart | status | summary | tech-support | usage] 

NOTES:

• all – Displays an overview of Smart Licensing information that includes license status and, usage, product information, and Smart Agent version.

• UDI – Displays Unique Device Identifiers (UDI) details.

• displaylevel – Depth to display information.

• reservation – Displays Smart Licensing reservation information.

• smart – Displays Smart Licensing information.

• status – Displays the overall status of Smart Licensing.

• summary – Displays a summary of Smart Licensing.

• tech-support – Displays Smart Licensing debugging information.

• usage – Displays the license usage information for all the entitlements that are currently in use.