[cisco-voip] Cisco second generation ISRs

[Doug McIntyre]

On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 08:41:21AM -0400, Peter Pauly wrote:
> I wonder what effect the signed IOS code will have on the used equipment market?
> 
> It's a neat idea having all of the features in one single IOS images,
> but I don't like the idea of having to get keys from Cisco.


It'd be much like existing gear that is licensed this way already,
you'd have a mix bag of resellers, from the low-end that has no clue
what they have, and they sell a black box where you may luck out and
get a desirable license code already there, or just the basic license.
To more knowledgable resellers that would list what bits are licensed
in the box that they are selling, as well as the physical hardware specs.

Cisco has been doing HW licensing for other lines already, some stretching
back for some time. Ie. PIX firewalls have a Restricted or Unlimited license.
The fiber channel switches have more ports and additional features enabled
via license strings (the samples look very close to what the MDS line has).
I thought that one of the Catalyst lines used the same IOS image for all,
but was Advanced or basic depending on a license code in it somewhere. 

Even going way way back in time, when the 2501's were king and
everywhere, and when more than IP networking existed. What the 2501
was licensed for (no restrictions, but it was labelled on the outside), 
was an important part of gear resale listings. Ie. if you needed SPX
or Appletalk, you'd look out for the 2501's that were C or D depending
on what license you need.