Handset license

[iptuser]

Does anyone know how this works

I understand that each license is with the handset- Is this true. What happens when you swap out faulty phones from a second/ refurb. supplier? Is the original license kept in the CCM server when the new refurb phone registers as long as the total number of phones do not go above the official license everything is ok ? Does CCM keep a track of the number of phones/licenses it can register to it?

thanks

wayne

 

[mia158]

Other than the product key you used when installing CCM, there are no license configuratoins required on the Call Manager for physical devices. There are guidelines to follow as far as how many devices are support based on the hardware you're using for the CM servers.

 

[iptuser]

Does this mean I can go out and purchase any CCM handset from a second hand supplier without any problems- Basically I do not wish to pay for a maintenance contract on handsets

 

[rtfmdude]

Yeah, that's true. The licensing fee is seperate from any maintenance contract though - they are not the same thing. This is like paying for a license to use IOS - no one checks.

 

[jpm121]

My understanding is that the cost of the IP phone license is actually a CAL for Windows 2000 -- remember, any device that accesses the server must have its own CAL, per MS licensing.

Cisco's price sheets have pricing for SPARE phones, which doesn't include a CM license. The assumption is that if a phone is stolen the license wasn't stolen with it, and you can just plug in a spare phone.

 

[rtfmdude]

well, I would agree if you didn't pay licensing on a phone destined for a callmanager express system, or perhaps a 3rd party phone system(asterisk, etc... I use a 7960 for braodvoice service) - there are systems other than callmanager out there.

callmanager 5.0 is on a *nix platform, too.

 

[jpm121]

rtfm is correct, you can purchase phones using the "spare" SKU and not need to get a license if you don't use Call Manager. A client of mine did this when they bought equipment for a hosting "IP-centrex" type offering.

However, I've heard that it can be a big hassle for the reseller to order a few hundred spares from Cisco; they used to divert the order if there weren't any licenses on it.

I'm not sure if part of the license charge is for the IOS running on the phone as well -- remember Cisco's view on buying a used router/switch: they expect you to send them a big fat check to license the IOS, since it is NOT transferrable from the original owner to anyone else.

Just some things to be aware of, if you're the person at your company who is responsible for license complaince. Nothing worse than getting fired just because you tried to save the company some money...