How are IOS updates handled from a licensing standpoint?

[JUSTIN LOUCKS]

This may sound like a really dumb question to many, but how are IOS updates handled from a licensing standpoint? Are they considered the equivalent of a service pack for a software product which can be downloaded an applied since you already own the original product? Are they something you have to purchase everytime one comes out with new features / enhancements that you would like to incorporate? Are you covered if you have a SmartNet agreement for the device?

Any assistance or explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Justin Loucks

[thisisshanky]

Once you buy a Cisco equipment, through your sales rep, there should be a contract number, thats used as a reference for your purchase. Using that contract number, you can signup for a CCO login.

Visit http://tools.cisco.com/RPF/register/register.do

Once you have a CCO login, you can login to the Cisco Software Center, for downloading new IOS versions for your product.

A link to software center - http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/

Hope that helps!