A license is an authorization given to the end-user to use the application legally and specifies the terms of use. License enforcement is implemented on the SBC to ensure that licensed functionality is restricted to the amount of sessions or licensed features purchased.

In local and network licensing modes, certain features that were previously treated as instance-based (on/off) licenses, are now considered as count-based licenses. A count-based license can be dynamically floated and shared among the SBC in a network licensing mode. It also allows the enforcement of the number of sessions purchased in local and network licensing modes.

The SBC provides three licensing modes:

  1. Legacy Mode: The licenses are xml-based and keyed to a particular SBC.  The license files are installed from the EMS or EMA user interface.
  2. Local Mode: The licenses are xml-based offering additional data such as purchase order information. The licenses are keyed to a particular SBC and the license files are installed from the EMS or EMA user interface, or from the new CLI interface.

  3. Network Mode: Licenses are pooled centrally in the SLS server which is co-located with the EMS. Licenses are keyed to a particular EMS pair and installed directly at the EMS. These licenses can float between SBCs in the network based on the demand. Each SBC configures a profile of licenses to pull from the SLS and can request and release counted licenses in-line with traffic demand. Instance based licenses, once retrieved from the SLS are kept at the SBC until the licenses are deleted using manual configuration at the SBC or if the SBC instance is taken out of service. 

Note

The Legacy licensing mode is currently the only option available when deploying hardware SBCs. Local and Network license modes are currently limited to specific SBC SWe deployments. For example, Network licensing is supported only by the SBC SWe Cloud at this time.

For more information, contact the Sonus Technical Assistance Center (TAC).

On the SBC main screen, navigate to All > System > License Mode. The License Mode window is displayed.

License Mode

 

Select the mode from the Mode dropdown list.

License Mode - Mode dropdown

 

The different modes and their descriptions are given in the table below:

License Mode - Modes and Descriptions

ModeDescription
Legacy (default)

The current Sonus proprietary licensing mechanism.

Local

Sonus licensing functionality in a stand-alone mode with licenses residing on the SBC system in the Central Database (CDB).

Network

Sonus network-based licensing. Licenses are retrieved from an SLS.

Restart the SBC when the License Mode is changed.

 

Click Save to save the selected mode. Click Undo Edits to cancel any selection made from the dropdown list.