Configure Right To Use (RTU) Licenses on Cisco Router and switch [Explained]

What is a Right To Use (RTU) License

A Right to Use license scheme is an honor-based model for licensing. Licenses are not tied to a unique device identifier (UDI), product ID, or serial number.

Right-to-use (RTU) licensing allows you to order and activate a specific license type and level, and then manage license usage on your switch.

The types of licenses available to order are:
• Permanent licenses: Purchased with a specific feature set with no expiration date.
• Evaluation licenses: Pre-installed on the switch and is valid for only a 90-day in-use period.

The evaluation license is turned on when the customer accepts EULA.  After the evaluation license period is over, the license automatically turns into RTU.  A permanent license is when a factory or customer installs the PAK. (Cisco Community)

To activate a permanent or evaluation license, you are required to accept the End-User License Agreement (EULA). For the evaluation license, you are notified to purchase a permanent license or deactivate the license before the 90-day period expires.
A permanent license can be moved from one device to another. To activate a license, you must reboot your switch.
An evaluation license is a manufacturing image on your switch and is not transferable to another switch. This type of license cannot be reactivated after a reboot.

Right-To-Use License Types

Right-to-use imaged licenses support a set of features based on a specific image-based license:
• LAN Base: Layer 2 features.
• IP Base: Layer 2 and Layer 3 features.
• IP Services: Layer 2, Layer 3, and IPv6 features. (Applicable only to switches and not controllers.)
The default image-based license is LAN Base

Right-To-Use License States

Active, In Use: EULA was accepted and the license is in use after the device reboot.
Active, Not In Use: EULA was accepted and the switch is ready to use when the license is enabled.
Not-Activated: EULA was not accepted

RTU (right-to-use) Licenses Configuration

The RTU configuration can be achieved in 2 steps:

Step-1: Activate the right-to-use license type:

• Syntax:

license right-to-use activate{ipbase |ipservices | lanbase} {all | evaluation all } [slot slot-number] [
acceptEULA]

• Right to use license activation Example:

license right-to-use activate ipservices all acceptEULA

Step-2: Reload the switch/router or the line card:

To activate an RTU license, you have to reboot the router/switch or the specific line card.

• Syntax:

reload [ LINE | at | cancel | in | slot stack-member-number | standby-cpu ]
show license right-to-use usage [ slot slot-number ]

• Example:

Router# reload slot 2

Right to Use RTU license verification

After reboot, verify the the licenses state using the following command:

Switch# show license right-to-use summary

License Name    Type    Count   Period left
-------------------------------------------------------
ipservices      permanent  10    Lifetime