The Nortel ERS 5500 Series switches support Layer 3 switching (routing) but only with static routes. The Advanced Routing License is required to provide the following features;
- OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) Routing
- VRRP (Virtual Routing Redundancy Protocol)
- ECMP (Equal Cost Multi-Path)
- SMLT (Split Multilink Trunking)
- IPFIX (IP Flow Information Export)
The license is based on a s
witch or stack – a single license will be required for a standalone switch or for a stack of up to eight units. A single license will enable all of the features described above.
I believe Nortel is selling the licenses in counts of 1, 10, 50 or 100. The licenses will be tied to the MAC address of the switch with some amount of flexibility should a switch fail or need to be replaced.
Did you know that there is a 30 day demo license available?
As of software release v5.1 there is a 30 day demo license available which you can load on the switch to evaluate the different features. I’m currently running two ERS 5500 series switches with the 30 day demo license testing the OSPF functionality.
The 30 day demo license can be found on Nortel website just below the v5.1 software release. Once you’ve retrieved the demo license (filename: 30daydemo.lic) you’ll need to place it on a TFTP server (or you could try a USB flash drive if your working with an ERS 5530 switch).
ERS5530>enable ERS5530#copy tftp license 192.168.1.20 30daydemo.lic
Later versions of software have a slightly different syntax;
ERS5530>enable ERS5530#copy tftp license address 192.168.1.20 filename bld_6_2_demo.lic
You would of course need to substitute your TFTP server IP address with 192.168.1.20 above. Once you’ve downloaded the license you’ll need to restart the switch to activate the license. After the switch has restarted you can use the following command to check the license;
ERS5530# show license all Number of licenses: 1 --------------------------------------------------------- License 1 --------------------------------------------------------- version: 0 md5_key: 9f8d802b 1459576e 7d0b8951 af8e1751 md5_file: 8375fe89 ea7eb5e2 fa155e7a 181410c8 time_base: 2007/06/22 08:19:01 time_modify: 2007/06/22 08:19:01 time_expiration: 28 days, 05:05:00 num_unique_ids: 1 flags: 0x0000000d SINGLE EXPIRE EMERGENCY memo: *** This is a temporary license valid for 30 days. A valid license is *** *** required for uninterrupted operation of the switch. There may be *** *** service impact if this temporary license is not removed in 30 days. ***
You can also delete the existing software licenses with the following command;
ERS5530# clear license all
Cheers!
Hi ,
I required this demo file,
but cant able to find it ,
Thanks,
Kuldip
Hi Kuldip,
Unfortunately you’ll need to have a support contract and you’ll need to register for an account at Nortel’s website (http://www.nortel.com).
You could just register for the account (there’s no charge to register for an account) and see if it provides you a link under “Ethernet Routing Switch 5510”. Up until July 2006 Nortel use to provide software releases free of charge for the “BayStack” product line.
I haven’t posted a link to the file because there are a few Nortel folks reading this blog and I don’t wish to upset them. I also don’t want to receive any “take down” requests from Nortel.
Sorry I couldn’t provide a better answer.
Good Luck!
I’m trying to backup the advance license file already installed on a 5600 stack. Let’s say if I didn’t keep a copy how would I extract the license file from the stack to later copy it back?
Hi Luis,
I don’t believe you can download the license on the stackable Ethernet Routing Switches.
If you didn’t save a copy you would need to re-download original license file from the Avaya eLicensing Portal.
On the Ethernet Routing Switch 8600/8800 you can download the license file from the filesystem. Unfortunately there is no accessible filesystem on the stackable switches.
Good Luck!
thanks, i will manage it
Hey !! after creating VLAN and given IP to VLAN interface , i cant able to ping the ip ,
Its like if any host is available in that particular VLAN , then only i can ping VLAN interface
ok i got it
Hi all,
I did a mistake and taped another MAC address, not the good one for generating an advanced routing license. Did anyone know how I can cancel the old license as to be able create another license for the good MAC address ? Do I have to contact the Nortel TAC ?
For now, I’m not allow to replace the MAC address with the one I want to.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Regards,
Mary
Hi Mary,
If you log back into the Nortel Licensing website and then select the license that you just generated there will be an option to change/replace the MAC address.
Good Luck!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your update.
The problem is that I’ve reached the limit of replacing the MAC address and I get an error message when doing that …
I don’t know if that is possible to just cancel the licence I’ve created.
Thanks again.
Mary
Hi Mary,
I believe they allow you to replace the MAC address upwards of 10 times…. I would guess you’ll need to contact support to state your case.
Cheers!
Hello,
I have a ERS5500 that has an advace license file. Is it posible to download the file from the switch to backing it up in case I need it?
I dont remember my user and password to get into the nortel license website
Hi Cinthya,
I don’t believe there is a way to “extract” the license file once it’s uploaded to the ERS 5000 series switches. I’m guessing that you don’t have a copy of the file somewhere? So perhaps when it was emailed to you (if you choose that option?).
If you can’t login to Nortel’s eLicensing portal you’ll need to open a ticket with support and I believe they can reset your “bank” password.
Is the license information in the ACG (ASCII Configuration Generator) let me check right now for you. It’s NOT in the ASCII running-config for software release 6.1.
Sorry for the bad news. Good Luck!
Hi,
I was wondering if you knew the process for putting the trial license on a 5520 for the 30 license? We’re having a purchasing ARL process that is taking too long and I need IST/SMLT and I’m in a pinch.
Thanks!
Tim
Hi Timothy,
You might be able to download the 30 day eval/demo license from the Avaya support website. Look under the software for the Ethernet Routing Switch 5000 Series.
Then just load the license and you’ll have 30 days to test.
Good Luck!
A little trick here:
you can erase and reload your 30 day demo licence, it will works again, despite what is written in the documentation. Can be good to know if you activate your eval licence before going to hollidays :p
Thanks Dorian!