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80 PowerConnect B-Series FCX Configuration Guide
53-1002266-01
Software-based licensing overview
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Software-based licensing overview
With the introduction of software-based licensing, one or more valid software licenses are required
to run such licensed features on the device.
Dell PowerConnect devices support software-based licensing will use software-based licensing
only, eliminating the need for a customer- or factory-installed EEPROM on the management module
or switch backplane.
Software-based licensing provides increased scalability and rapid deployment of hardware and
software features on the supported Dell family of switches. For example, for premium upgrades, it
is no longer necessary to physically open the chassis and install an EEPROM to upgrade the
system. Instead, the Web is used to generate, download, and install a software license that will
enable premium features on the device.
How software-based licensing works
A permanent license can be ordered pre-installed in a Dell PowerConnect device when first shipped
from the factory, or later ordered and installed by the customer. In either case, additional licenses
can be ordered as needed.
When a license is ordered separately (not pre-installed), an entitlement certificate, along with a
transaction key, are issued to the customer by Dell as proof of purchase. The transaction key and
LID of the Dell PowerConnect device are used to generate a license key from the Brocade software
licensing portal. The license key is contained within a license file, which is downloaded to the
customer’s PC, where the file can then be transferred to a TFTP or SCP server, then uploaded to the
Dell PowerConnect device.
Once a license is installed on the Dell PowerConnect device, it has the following effect:
• For PowerConnect B-Series FCX devices, the license unlocks the licensed feature and it
becomes available immediately. There is no need to reload the software.
License types
The following license types are supported on PowerConnect devices:
• Application-related – Enables premium or advanced features on the device, for example,
advanced Layer 3 for the PowerConnect B-Series FCX devices.
• Normal license – Also called a permanent license, this enables a license-controlled feature to
run on the device indefinitely.
Non-licensed features
Table 15 lists the PowerConnect software images that do not require a license to run on the
device.
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TABLE 15 Software image files that do not require a license
Product Image filename - No license required
PowerConnect B-Series FCX FCXSxxxxx.bin (Layer 2) or
FCXRxxxxx.bin (Layer 3)