License management FAQ

Q.     Which features need a license?

A.     The SSL VPN, SLB, and application security (including IPS, anti-virus, and application identification) features require licenses.

Q.     How to import a license file to a device?

1.     Apply for the license file as required. You must provide the device information files when applying for the license file.

The .did file in the license directory of the device is the device information file. You can retrieve the file over FTP or TFTP. For a two-chassis stateful failover system, you must obtain the .did files of the two chassises.

 

 

2.     After the license file (.ak) is obtained, transfer the file to the device over FTP or TFTP, and then use the following command to install the license.

 

 

3.     View the installation status of the license.

 

 

4.     To delete the license, execute the following command:

 

 

5.     If the license expires, it will not be deleted automatically, but will be displayed as expired.

Q.     What license keys should I submit for license capacity expansion, validity extension, or feature add-on in a license consolidation environment?

A.     To expand the capacity or extend the validity period of a feature, you must provide the following license keys:

·     Provide a license key to expand the capacity or extend the validity period of the feature:

¡     If a formal license has been installed for the feature, the license key must be a formal license key.

¡     If a trial license has been installed for the feature, the license key can be a trial or formal license.

·     If any temporary licenses have been installed on the device, you must also provide their license keys.

To activate a new feature, you must provide the following license keys:

·     Provide a formal or trial license key for the feature.

·     If any temporary licenses have been installed on the device, you must also provide their license keys.

Q.     Can I use a trial license key to expand capacity or extend validity of a formal license for the same feature in a license consolidation environment?

A.     No, you cannot. You can use trial license keys to expand capacity or extend validity only for trial licenses. Trial licenses can only be replaced and overlapping trial licenses cannot be used simultaneously for the same feature.

Q.     Can I use a formal license key to expand capacity or extend validity of a trial license for the same feature in a license consolidation environment?

A.     Yes. You can use a formal license to replace a trial license and but cannot use them together for a same feature.

Q.     Can I use formal licenses and temporary licenses simultaneously in a license consolidation environment?

A.     The formal license and temporary license for the same feature cannot be used simultaneously. If you register and install both of them, only the official license takes effect.

The official license and temporary license for different features can be used simultaneously

Q.     Can multiple overlapping licenses be used for the same feature in a license consolidation environment?

A.     Multiple overlapping official licenses can be used for the same feature. Overlapping temporary licenses cannot be used for the same feature.

Q.     How do I prevent installed trial licenses from becoming invalid after I install a new license or upgrade a license in a license consolidation environment?

In a license consolidation environment, the installed trial licenses do not automatically merge into new licenses. To continue to use them, submit the license keys for the installed trial licenses together with the new license key when you obtain an activation file for the new license.

Q.     What is a license key and what is an activation file?

A license key uniquely identifies a license. An activation file uniquely binds a license key to a device. To use a license-based feature on a device, you must install the activation file for that license on the device.

·     To obtain a license key, purchase a software license certificate from an H3C approved sales channel.

·     To obtain an activation file, access H3C License Management Platform at http://www.h3c.com/en/License. Then, request an activation file based on the license key and hardware information of the target device.

Q.     Can I install the activation file on only one member device in a two-chassis stateful failover system?

A.     No. As a best practice, purchase and install licenses for each member device. Otherwise, if the member device with the licenses fails, the licensed features will no longer take effect.

The SSL VPN user number licenses can overlap only an IRF fabric. If a member device fails, the SSL VPN user number license on the member device will continue to take effect on the IRF fabric for 60 days.

Q.     Can overlapping quantity- or time- based licenses be used on the same device?

A.     Only overlapping formal licenses can be used on the same device and overlapping temporary licenses cannot be used on the same device.

Q.     Can I modify the system time of the device after a license is installed?

A.     It depends on the license validity period.

·     For a permanent license or a days-restricted license, modifying the system time does not affect the license validity period.

·     For a date-restricted license, system time modification might shorten the license validity period. As a best practice, do not modify the system time after the activation file is installed.

Q.     Might the DID file for the device change? What impact does a DID file change have?

A.     The DID file will not change automatically. If you execute the license compress command to compress the license storage, the DID file might change.

The DID file change does not affect the activated licenses on the device. However, you will be unable to install the activation files obtained by using the old DID on the device. To resolve the issue, contact H3C Support.

To obtain a new activation file, you must export the new DID file from the device.

Q.     Do I need to purchase and install new licenses for licensed features on the device after a software upgrade?

A.     No, you do not need to do this. Unexpired licenses will continue to take effect after the device software upgrades.

Q.     Will activated license activation files be lost after the device reboots or the device software upgrades?

A.     No, they will not.

Q.     How do I retrieve a lost license key?

A.     If you lose the license key before obtaining an activation file, contact H3C Support to retrieve the license key based on the license purchase contract.

If you lose the license key after obtaining an activation file, contact H3C Support and provide the activation file or the device information.

Q.     After an activation file is deleted inadvertently, the licensed feature cannot be used and the license key cannot be uninstalled. What should I do?

A.     Perform the following tasks:

1.     Execute the copy command to copy the backed up activation file to the license folder (such as flash:/license) in the root directory of the device storage medium

2.     Restart the device to restore the feature or uninstall the license.

Q.     How do I retrieve an activation file?

A.     You will be unable to use a licensed feature if its activation file is lost or inadvertently deleted. To retrieve an activation file, use one of the following methods:

·     Use the backup activation file.

·     Find the activation file from the email box of the applicant.

·     Contact H3C Support and provide the license key or device information to retrieve the activation file.

Q.     How do I transfer licenses when a node fails or when license transfer is required?

A.     Contact H3C Support for help.