Software Licenses for the EX-series Switch Overview
To enable some JUNOS software features, you might have to purchase, install, and manage separate software license packs. The presence on the switch of the appropriate software license keys (passwords) determines whether you are eligible to configure and use certain features.
As an honor-based licensing structure, JUNOS feature licenses are universal, and the same feature can be installed and configured on multiple switches. However, to conform to JUNOS feature licensing requirements, you must purchase one license per switch. For a virtual chassis, only 2 licenses are needed, one for the master and one for the backup. If you have additional members in a virtual chassis, you do not need more licenses.
For features that require a license, you must install and properly configure the license to meet the requirements for using the licensable feature. The switch enables you to commit a configuration that specifies a licensable feature without a license for a 30-day grace period. The grace period is a short-term grant that enables you to start using features in the pack (regardless of the license key limit) without a license key installed. The grace period begins when the licensable feature is actually used by the switch (not when it is first committed). In other words, you can commit licensable features to the switch configuration but the grace period does not begin until the switch uses the licensable feature. After the grace period expires, the system generates system log messages saying that the feature requires a license.
Before you begin managing licenses, be sure that you have:
- Obtained the needed licenses. For information about how to purchase software licenses, contact your Juniper Networks sales representative.