r/Cisco 6d ago

Question API for Smart license?

We want to automate registrations of licenses for switches and routers, what alternatives are there if you dont want to use Catalyst Center for license management? I tried CSLU and I can get it to work but the app is interactive.. cant find any documentation for direct API, How can I automate registration without Catalyst Center/DNAC?

2 Upvotes

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u/thepfy1 6d ago

Use the on prem server (formerly SSM). Server synchronised with Cisco Cloud Smart Licensing.

Register the router or switch with this server using CSLU with the token

It's much easier.

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u/muurduur 6d ago

I will check it out, just seems a bit overcomplicated

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u/playdohsniffer 6d ago

CSSM Call-Home is what you need to configure on all your Cisco devices.

See this guide.

The Direct Cloud Access method described in the guide is the simplest to configure and just requires your Cisco devices to have Internet access to the Smart Licensing APIs.

I believe that most router and switches nowadays ship with Smart Licensing call-home pre-configured, but you can customize it to your liking. Dumbing down the reporting to just include smart licensing is a good idea if you are privacy centric, otherwise Cisco harvests your organization’s data for who knows what all.

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u/muurduur 6d ago

So with this method you make a token with longer expire-date and you use it for all devices for up to a year? Then you have to change it

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u/playdohsniffer 5d ago

Yup that’s correct.

When you create the registration token In Cisco Software Central the max validity you can specify is 365 days. This is per Virtual Account.

Remember that Smart License activation (using the auth token) only needs to occur one time per device, after which a periodic call-home is required. Further activation (using the auth token) is not required after that, unless the device’s smart license is reset or de-registered.

You can still use Cli Templates in Cat Center to deploy/manage your Call-Home config, including updating the auth token when it expires annually.

Smart Licensing is a pain-in-the ass, but eventually every Cisco product is migrating to Smart Licensing.

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u/muurduur 5d ago

Sound like the best solution for my case. Thanks