The terms of your Security Manager software license determine many things, including the features that are available to you and the number of devices that you can manage. For licensing purposes, the device count includes any physical device, security context, virtual sensor, or Catalyst security services module that uses an IP address. Failover pairs count as one device. For PIX Firewalls, FWSM, and ASA devices that are configured in multiple-context mode (so that they host more than one security context), only the security contexts are counted as devices; the hosting device is not counted as a separate device.

License limits are imposed when you exceed the allotted time (in the case of the evaluation license), or the number of devices that your license allows you to manage. The evaluation license provides the same privileges as the Professional Edition license. It is important that you register Security Manager as soon as you can within the first 90 days, and for the number of devices that you need, to ensure uninterrupted use of the product. Each time you start the application you are reminded of how many days remain on your evaluation license, and you are prompted to upgrade during the evaluation period. At the end of the evaluation period, you are prevented from logging in until you upgrade your license.