From one release to another (e.g. From 15.0(1)T to 15.0(2)T) does not require a new license. When the device is powered on, the Software Activation License is examined by Cisco IOS Software, which activates the appropriate feature sets. Generate the license. After running this command, a file called iourc.txt will be created. Copy and paste the license key in the file to the Preference IOS on UNIX section of GNS3.

Oct 29, 2018 Customers should have the product serial number available and be prepared to provide the URL of this advisory as evidence of entitlement to a free upgrade.” What this all means is that, on a case-by-case basis, Cisco will provide you with updated software if they found serious vulnerability in prior software releases.

Cisco devices have a standard serial number, from the serial number you can work out it's age and the location it was built.

To decipher the serial number, here's how it is composed.
Cisco S/N format is LLLYYWWXXXX.
LLL = Location code (i.e. FOC = FoxConn China)
YY = Year code (08 = 2004...09=2005...etc...)
WW = Week code (weeks 01 to 52)
XXXX = Base-34 Alpha Numeric Unique identifier (Includes 0 to 9 & entire alphabet except I & O).

Cisco Ios 15 License Key Generator

Location codes:
CTH --- Celestica - Thailand
FOC --- Foxconn - Shenzhen, China
JAB --- Jabil - Florida
JPE --- Jabil - Malaysia
JSH --- Jabil - Shanghai , China
TAU --- Solectron - Texas
PEN --- Solectron - Malaysia

Year codes:
01 = 1997
02 = 1998
03 = 1999
04 = 2000
05 = 2001
06 = 2002
07 = 2003
08 = 2004
09 = 2005
10 = 2006
11 = 2007
12 = 2008
13 = 2009
14 = 2010
15 = 2011
16 = 2012
17 = 2013
18 = 2014

2 Steps total

Step 1: Get a Cisco serial number.

We'll use FOC0849N1BD.
The serial number can be obtained by looking at the rear of the device and it will be a white sticker with black printed letter, alternatively enter the command 'show version' onto the command line and look for the serial number in the output.

Step 2: Deciper!

FOC0849N1BD
Built in Foxconn, China in 2004 in week 49 of production and it's unique code is N1BD.

Knowing the actual age, not the purchase age, of you Cisco equipment can aid in forward planning for techical refreshing of you equipment.

5 Comments

• Thai Pepper
  BloodHoundGang Oct 18, 2014 at 02:14pm

  I think if you explained hot to pull the serial number from the device along with this it would have been more informative. But good information thanks for sharing.

• Mace
  brianwhelton Oct 18, 2014 at 05:13pm

  Fair one, should have thought of that, I've added it!

• Jalapeno
  Mitch9775 Oct 24, 2014 at 05:50pm

  Nice work! I didn't realize that's how the SNs were comprised. Cool :)

• Pimiento
  dirtdigger Feb 19, 2019 at 10:38am

  Hi, and this serial, it's a SFP. Same rule?
  FNS18431JBW
  what can you tell about this one

• Mace
  brianwhelton Feb 19, 2019 at 09:32pm

  No, this only checks Cisco switches and Routers, you could try https://cway.cisco.com/sncheck/ is you have a Cisco support contract.

IOS 15 is a single software package for the hardware platform that your are using. Now that flash is cheap and large, there doesn’t need to be a different IOS image for the different versions with the advanced features. So you get one software image that has all the features for that platform.

Prior to IOS 15 , we used to have 8 IOS images, all routers came with IPBase image and according to your needs you can choose what IOS image to install on your router as each image had different features than others as illustrated below.

The universal IOS image is loaded by Cisco manufacturing on all shipped routers. An IOS universal image contains all IOS features. Feature sets in the universal image are unlocked using licensing keys, i.e. the level of IOS functionality available is determined by the license applied to the device. A new license only needs to be applied to upgrade IOS functionality on the router. Maintenance upgrades of IOS, i.e. moving from one IOS universal image version to another, does not require a new licensing key. Reboot of a router is also licensing transparent.

Each device ships with universal image, IPBase, DATA, Unified Communications (UC) and Security (SEC) technology packages are enabled in the universal image via Cisco Software Activation licensing keys.

The details of each technology package license can be found in the table below. The new ISR routers also offer a Software Activation feature license and right to use feature licenses. The Software Activation feature licenses use the same Software Activation model as the technology package licenses, while right to use feature licenses are not enforced. Feature licenses work in conjunction with technology package licenses, e.g. the SSLVPN feature license requires a SEC technology package license.

How to get License from Cisco and how to install it in my Router ?

Purchase the software package or feature that you want to install. You receive a PAK with your purchase.

• The Product authorization key PAK is provided to you when you order or purchase the right to use a feature set for a particular platform. The PAK serves as a receipt and is used as part of the process to obtain a license

Get the license file using one of these options:

1. Cisco License Manager, which is a free software application available at http://www.cisco.com/go/clm.
2. cisco license registration portal http://www.cisco.com/go/license

What you will do is Convert the PAK to a license by entering the PAK and the unique device identifier (UDI) into the CLM or Cisco Product License Registration portal

• The UDI is a combination of the product id (PID), the serial number, and the hardware version.
• The UDI is printed on a label that is located on the back of every device and also can be known through (CLI) and SNMP

To know what is your UDI , type show license udi as follow

After entering the appropriate information, you will receive an e-mail containing the license information that you can use to install the license

• Copy the license file received from the Cisco Product License Registration portal to the appropriate file system on the device.
• Click the Install button on the web page.

A Software Activation License is an XML text file with a .lic extension and even can be opened by any text editor.

Using CLI to Manage Licenses

Displaying brief summary about each feature and installation status:

Installing Evaluation License for feature set (technology-package)

• Let’s say we want to take the benefit of using securityk9 Feature set in Evaluation period to set our router as IOS firewall , we will type the following command

Installing Permanent License for feature set (technology-package)

• After downloading the license file to your device’s flash issue below command

Cisco Ios 15 License Keygen Key

Backing up the License

Cisco Ios Free Download

Uninstalling the License

• First we need to disable the license

• Then we clear the license

References: