[asterisk-users] Do I need a CH1 licence for Cisco Phones ?

[Cory Andrews]

Technically, Cisco requires you to purchase both a Smartnet (To obtain a
CCO login for access to firmware), as well as a SIP/MGCP license token,
to utilize their phones with SIP firmware, regardless of platform.  

The CH1 nomenclature applies to Callmanager, the CCME nomenclature
applies to Callmanager Express.  

The appropriate license for SIP is SW-SM-UL-7960 if you are using a
Cisco 7960G phone.  The Cisco description for this license is "SIP &
MGCP LICENSE FOR SINGLE 7960 IP PHONE"

The article referenced in the WIKI referenced in this thread is not
entirely correct, in a few aspects.

A - Technically, a user needs a Smartnet for CCO access to firmware, as
well as a SIP/MGCP license to legitimately utilize Cisco's SIP firmware,
irregardless of platform.

B - The WIKI article also states that if you are using Callmanager and
you receive phones from a reseller that do not have a part # on the
label ending in CH1, that they are Spares and not Callmanager licensed
phones.  This is also technically incorrect.  In recent months I have
seen Cisco ship phones classified as CH1 (Callmanager) licensed, without
a CH1 part number on the box label.  Cisco tracks licensing by the
unique serial number of the phone, and I have seen them bulk register
spare phones as CH1 licensed phones, simply by updating their serial
number database accordingly and tagging serial numbers and licensed.  It
amounts to a "virtual" license, and likely allows Cisco to better manage
their inventory, as they can utilize phones originally produced as
spares, and easily convert them to CH1 licensed phones, just by updating
their serial number database accordingly.

Another common myth is that if you purchase used phones that were
originally sold as CH1 or CCME licensed units, that the license it
transferrable to the new owner of the phone.  According to Cisco, this
is not true, and a user is supposed to bear the cost of re-licensing.

It is quite confusing, and am neither supporting, nor critizing the
model, just relaying my experience.  I manage a business division that
is a Cisco premier partner with Unified CallManager Express
specialization and deal with licensing on a regular basis.


Cory Andrews

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Pavel
Jezek
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 8:12 AM
To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
Subject: Re: [asterisk-users] Do I need a CH1 licence for Cisco Phones ?

I think, ci$co phones can not be even purchased without licence...
btw, what is your reason, to buy ci$co phones, when known issues exist
with this phones, if working with anything other than callmanager?  :-\
PJ


Peter Mitchell wrote:
>
> I've got a question regarding Cisco IP Phones and licencing.
>  
> When using a third party PBX like asterisk is a licence required for 
> the Cisco phones ? Has anyone got anything in writing from Cisco to 
> clarify this ?
>  
> Eg can I just use CP-7961G or do I need CP-7961G-CH1 even though I'm 
> not using Cisco Callmanager ?
>
>  
>
>
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/Exposing+the+Cisco+Call+Manager+Licen
se+Scam 
> says no licence required.
>
>  
>
> Cisco site mentions All Cisco Unified IP phones require the purchase 
> of a phone technology license, regardless of call protocol being used.
>
>  
>
>
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/phones/ps379/products_data_sheet0
900aecd802ff020.html 
>
>  
> Cheers
> Peter
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.17.10/651 - Release Date: 
> 24/01/2007
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com --
>
> asterisk-users mailing list
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
>   
_______________________________________________
--Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com --

asterisk-users mailing list
To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users