Phone licensing

graphictech3 · ‎09-19-2009

I'm a little confused how the licensing works with the phone. So if I buy a new phone, I need to buy one that comes with a license, is that right? If I'm replacing a phone, I can buy a "spare" phone that comes without a license? I'm going to try to buy some phones online but this license business is confusing me.

I take it in Callmanager 4.0 they don't enforce the licensing? I'm just confused because I've never seen an interface to track how many are licensed...

Rob Huffman · ‎09-20-2009

Hi Brett,

This is an excellent question :) With the release of CUCM 5.x the licensing model completely changed.

For all 3.x and 4.x versions (including CCM 4.0(x)) the CH-1 (Channel)Phone License (paper) was used and was really totally "honor" based. There was no License actually loaded "on-box" so this is why you can't find any references to them :) Now phones use DLU's (Device License Units) which are loaded on the CUCM First Node or Publisher server. The "Station License" has been replaced with the DLU (Device License Unit) in CCM 5.x and above, also the new model includes "Node and Software Feature" Licenses;

From this good Q & A doc;

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/voicesw/ps556/products_qanda_item0900aecd805009fc.shtml

So, CUCM Versions up to 5.x have no onboard licensing restrictions. You can add phones without licenses and CCM does not care. Of course, being the honest people we are this would never happen! But it is strictly "honor based".

Hope this helps!

Rob

graphictech3 · ‎09-21-2009

So when I actually buy the phone that comes with a license, is that a "Station License"? If I upgrade to Unity 5.x+, will these licenses migrate to the new system, or will I have to buy new licenses?

Rob Huffman · ‎09-21-2009

Hi Brett,

It should be called a Channel License (CH-1). When you migrate to a new version (5.x, 6.x or 7.x) these licenses will be migrated/converted to DLU's so your investment carries forward :)

Cheers!

Rob

PS: I've never heard of them being called "Station License" but that could just be the "Sellers" terminology.