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Manual Chapter : License Management

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BIG-IQ Centralized Management

  • 4.6.0
Manual Chapter
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Overview: Licensing options

You can centrally manage BIG-IP® virtual edition (VE) licenses for a specific set of F5 offerings (for example, BIG-IP LTM® 25M, BIG-IP LTM 200G, and BIG-IP LTM 1G). When a device is no longer needed, you can revoke the license instance and assign it to another BIG-IP VE device. This flexibility keeps operating costs fixed, and allows for a variety of provisioning options. There are three types of options:

  • Pool licenses are purchased once, and you assign them to a number of concurrent BIG-IP VE devices, as defined by the license. These licenses do not expire.
  • Utility licenses are purchased as you need them, and billed at a specific interval (hourly, daily, monthly, or yearly).
  • Volume licenses are prepaid for a fixed number of concurrent devices, for a set period of time.

About pool licenses

Pool licenses are purchased for a particular product offering for a fixed number of devices, but are not permanently tied to a specific device. As resource demands change, you can use BIG-IQ® Device to revoke and reassign those licenses to other BIG-IP® VE devices as required. Pool licenses do not expire.

Automatically activating a pool license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate a pool license.
Activating a license make it available for assignment to BIG-IP® devices in your network. If the BIG-IQ® system on which you are activating licensing is connected to the public internet, you can automatically activate the pool license.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Pool License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. In the Add-on Keys field, paste any additional license key you have.
  7. For the Activation Method setting, select Automatic, and click the Activate button.
    The License Agreement displays.
  8. To accept the License Agreement, click the Agree button.
  9. Click the Activate button.
    If the license does not display as activated in the Licenses panel after several minutes, click the arrow next to the license to contract the list, then click it again to expand. The screen should refresh and display the license as activated.
You can now assign this license to another BIG-IP® device.

Manually activating a pool license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate the pool license.
Activating a license make it available for assignment to BIG-IP® devices in your network. If the BIG-IQ® system on which you are activating licensing is not connected to the public internet, you can activate the pool license manually.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Pool License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. In the Add-on Keys field, paste any additional license key you have.
  7. For the Activation Method setting, select Manual and click the Generate Dossier button.
    The BIG-IQ system refreshes and displays the dossier in the Device Dossier field.
  8. Copy the text displayed in the Device Dossier field, and click the Click here to access F5 Licensing Server link.
    Alternatively, you can navigate to the F5 license activation portal at https://activate.f5.com/license/.
  9. Paste the dossier into the Enter your dossier field, and then click the Next button.
    After a pause, the license key text will display.
  10. To accept the License Agreement, click the Agree button.
  11. Click the Activate button.
    If the license does not display as activated in the Licenses panel after several minutes, click the arrow next to the license to contract the list, then click it again to expand. The screen should refresh and display the license as activated.
You can now assign this license to another BIG-IP® device.

Assigning a pool license to a BIG-IP VE

Before you can assign a pool license to a BIG-IP® VE device, you must activate the license on the BIG-IQ® system and discover the BIG-IP VE device to which you want to assign the license.
Pool licenses provide you with the flexibility to easily manage resources and operating costs. Use this procedure if you have activated a pool license, but have not yet assigned it to a BIG-IP VE.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device you want to license by clicking the arrow next to it.
    The panel expands to display the list of devices contained in this group.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device you want to license, and then click License Device.
  5. In the Name field, type a name for this license.
  6. From the Licensing list, select Use a Pool License.
  7. From the Pool License list, select the pool license you want to assign to this device.
  8. Click the Deploy button.
  9. To confirm that the license was successfully deployed, click the gear icon next to the license you deployed, click Properties, and then click Assignments.
    The device you licensed displays with the license status and the last contact from the BIG-IQ system.

Revoking a pool license from a BIG-IP VE

If traffic decreases to the applications on some of your managed BIG-IP® devices, you can use BIG-IQ® Device to revoke those licenses and assign them to other resources as needed.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device for which you want to revoke a license by clicking the arrow next to it.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device for which you want to revoke a license, and then click License Device.
  5. From the Licensing list, select Revoke a License.
  6. Click the Deploy button.
You can now assign this license to another BIG-IP® device.

About utility licenses

You are charged for utility licenses only for the duration that the license is activated. You can activate any number of licenses as you need them, specifying the interval (an hour, a day, a month, or a year) at which you want to be billed for each. BIG-IQ® Device tracks license usage in each billing period, and sends that data directly to F5. When a resource is no longer required, you revoke its license and are no longer charged for that instance until you reassign it to another BIG-IP VE device. Utility licenses can be particularly useful when traffic to certain applications increases for a short period of time, for example, during fiscal year end.

Automatically activating a utility license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate the utility license.
If the resources you are licensing are connected to the public internet, you can automatically activate the utility license.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Utility License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. For the Activation Method setting, select Automatic, and click the Activate button.
    The License Agreement displays.
  7. To accept the License Agreement, click the Agree button.
  8. Click the Activate button.
    If the license does not display as activated in the Licenses panel after several minutes, click the arrow next to the license to contract the list, then click it again to expand. The screen should refresh and display the license as activated.
You can now assign this utility license to a BIG-IP® device.

Manually activating a utility license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate the utility license.
Activating a utility license is the first step to making it available for assignment to BIG-IP® devices in your network. If the BIG-IQ® system on which you are activating licensing is not connected to the public internet, you can activate the utility license manually.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Utility License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. For the Activation Method setting, select Manual and click the Generate Dossier button.
    The BIG-IQ system refreshes and displays the dossier in the Device Dossier field.
  7. Copy the text displayed in the Device Dossier field, and click the Click here to access F5 Licensing Server link.
    Alternatively, you can navigate to the F5 license activation portal at https://activate.f5.com/license/.
  8. Paste the dossier into the Enter your dossier field, and then click the Next button.
    After a pause, the license key text will display.
  9. Select the check box next to the Accept User Legal Agreement to agree to the license terms, and then click the Next button.
    The license key displays
  10. Copy the license key.
  11. In the License Text field on the BIG-IQ Device, paste the license key text.
  12. Click the Apply button at the top of the panel.
You must now activate each individual utility license offering.

Manually activating offering licenses

Before you can activate the individual offering licenses, you must first activate the license itself.
Activating the offering licenses makes them available for assignment.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Licenses panel, click the arrow next to the license you previously activated.
    The list expands to display the license offerings associated with this license.
  4. Hover over an offering license and click the gear icon when it appears.
  5. Copy the text displayed in the Device Dossier field, and click the Click here to access F5 Licensing Server link.
    Alternatively, you can navigate to the F5 license activation portal at https://activate.f5.com/license/.
  6. Paste the dossier into the Enter your dossier field, and then click the Next button.
    After a pause, the license key text will display.
  7. Copy the license key.
  8. In the License Text field on the BIG-IQ Device, paste the license key text.
  9. Click the Apply button at the top of the panel.
You can now assign this offering license to a BIG-IP® VE device.

Assigning a utility license to a BIG-IP device

Before you can assign a utility pool to a BIG-IP® VE device, you must activate the utility license on the BIG-IQ® system and discover the BIG-IP VE device to which you want to assign a pool license.
Using a utility license for a BIG-IP VE device provides you with the flexibility to easily manage resources and operating costs by choosing a specific billing term for licenses.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device you want to license by clicking the arrow next to it.
    The panel expands to display the list of devices contained in this group.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device you want to license, and then click License Device.
  5. In the Name field, type a name for this license.
  6. From the Licensing list, select Use a Utility License.
  7. From the Utility License list, select the license you want to assign to this device.
  8. From the Offering License list, select the specific product offering you want to assign to this device.
  9. From the Unit Of Measure list, select the interval at which you want to be billed for this license.
  10. Click the Deploy button.

Downloading a utility license usage report

You must assign a utility license to a device before you can create a utility usage report for that license.

You can use this report to augment your internal licensing management and budget planning. You also have the option to submit this report manually to F5 for billing purposes.

Note: If you would like to manually submit this report to F5 for billing purposes instead of automatically, contact F5 Support.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Licenses panel, click the gear icon for the utility license for which you want to download a usage report, and then click Create Usage Report.
  4. For the Period setting, in the From and To fields, type the date range for the report. Alternatively, click the calendars and navigate to the dates.
  5. Select a format option for the report.
  6. Click the Download button and select an option to open the file, or save the file.

Automatically submitting a utility license usage report to F5

You must assign a utility license to a device before you can submit and save a usage report.

You provide this report to F5 Networks for billing purposes, as per the terms and conditions of your contract.

  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Licenses panel, click the gear icon for the utility license that you want to submit for billing, and then click Create Usage Report.
  4. For the usage submission method, select Automatically submit report to F5.
  5. Click the Submit button.
    BIG-IQ Device sends a report directly to F5, and saves a copy on BIG-IQ Device.

Revoking a utility license from BIG-IP VE

If traffic decreases to the applications on some of your managed BIG-IP® devices, you can use BIG-IQ® Device to revoke those licenses and assign them to other resources as needed.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device for which you want to revoke a license by clicking the arrow next to it.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device for which you want to revoke a license, and then click License Device.
  5. From the Licensing list, select Revoke a License.
  6. Click the Deploy button.
You can now assign this license to another BIG-IP® device.

About volume licenses

With volume licenses, you can flexibly manage BIG-IP® VE devices by purchasing a number of prepaid, concurrent licenses. If your needs change throughout the year, you have the option of purchasing more prepaid licenses in increments of 50. BIG-IQ® Device helps you track and distribute these various licenses as required by the applications your customers are using, and notifies you when you reach your prepaid limit. When you revoke a license, you can then assign it to another BIG-IP VE device.

Automatically activating a volume license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate the volume license.
If the resources you are licensing are connected to the public internet, you can automatically activate the volume license.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Volume License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. For the Activation Method setting, select Automatic, and click the Activate button.
    The License Agreement displays.
  7. To accept the License Agreement, click the Agree button.
  8. Click the Activate button.
    If the license does not display as activated in the Licenses panel after several minutes, click the arrow next to the license to contract the list, then click it again to expand. The screen should refresh and display the license as activated.
You can now assign this volume license to a BIG-IP® device.

Manually activating a volume license

You must have a base registration key before you can activate the volume license.
If the resources you are licensing are not connected to the public internet, you can still activate the utility license manually.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. Hover over the Licenses header, click the + icon when it appears, and then click Add New Volume License.
  4. In the License Name field, type the name you want to use to identify this license.
  5. In the Base Registration Key field, type or paste the BIG-IQ registration key.
  6. For the Activation Method setting, select Manual and click the Generate Dossier button.
    The BIG-IQ system refreshes and displays the dossier in the Device Dossier field.
  7. Copy the text displayed in the Device Dossier field, and click the Click here to access F5 Licensing Server link.
    Alternatively, you can navigate to the F5 license activation portal at https://activate.f5.com/license/.
  8. Paste the dossier into the Enter your dossier field, and then click the Next button.
    After a pause, the license key text will display.
  9. Select the check box next to the Accept User Legal Agreement to agree to the license terms, and then click the Next button.
    The license key displays
  10. Copy the license key.
  11. In the License Text field on the BIG-IQ Device, paste the license key text.
  12. Click the Add button.
    The unactivated volume license displays in the Licenses panel.
  13. Click the arrow next to the volume license you created to expand the list of licenses.
  14. Click the volume license you want to activate.
  15. Copy the license key.
  16. In the License Text field on the BIG-IQ Device, paste the license key text.
  17. To accept the License Agreement, click the Agree button.
  18. Click the Activate button.
    If the license does not display as activated in the Licenses panel after several minutes, click the arrow next to the license to contract the list, then click it again to expand. The screen should refresh and display the license as activated.
You can now assign this volume license to a BIG-IP® VE device.

Manually activating offering licenses

Before you can activate the individual offering licenses, you must first activate the license itself.
Activating the offering licenses makes them available for assignment.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Licenses panel, click the arrow next to the license you previously activated.
    The list expands to display the license offerings associated with this license.
  4. Hover over an offering license and click the gear icon when it appears.
  5. Copy the text displayed in the Device Dossier field, and click the Click here to access F5 Licensing Server link.
    Alternatively, you can navigate to the F5 license activation portal at https://activate.f5.com/license/.
  6. Paste the dossier into the Enter your dossier field, and then click the Next button.
    After a pause, the license key text will display.
  7. Copy the license key.
  8. In the License Text field on the BIG-IQ Device, paste the license key text.
  9. Click the Apply button at the top of the panel.
You can now assign this offering license to a BIG-IP® VE device.

Assigning a volume license to a BIG-IP VE

Before you can assign a volume license to a BIG-IP® VE device, you must activate the volume license on the BIG-IQ® system and discover the BIG-IP VE device to which you want to assign a volume license.
Using a volume license for a BIG-IP VE device provides you with the flexibility to easily manage resources and operating costs by choosing only those features you want to use on the managed BIG-IP VE device.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device you want to license by clicking the arrow next to it.
    The panel expands to display the list of devices contained in this group.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device you want to license, and then click License Device.
  5. In the Name field, type a name for this license.
  6. From the Licensing list, select Use a Volume License.
  7. Click the Deploy button.

Revoking a volume license from a BIG-IP VE

If traffic decreases to the applications on some of your managed BIG-IP® devices, you can use BIG-IQ® Device to revoke those licenses and assign them to other resources as needed.
  1. Log in to BIG-IQ Device with your administrator user name and password.
  2. At the top of the screen, click Provisioning.
  3. On the Devices panel, expand the device group that contains the device for which you want to revoke a license by clicking the arrow next to it.
  4. Click the gear icon next to the device for which you want to revoke a license, and then click License Device.
  5. From the Licensing list, select Revoke a License.
  6. Click the Deploy button.
You can now assign this license to another BIG-IP® device.
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