New license files are often
required when new software is installed, but not always. Every Avaya media server requires a current and correct version of a license file and an Avaya authentication file in order to provide the expected call-processing service.
License file. This file specifies the features and services that are available on your Avaya media server, such as the number of ports purchased. The license file contains a software version number, hardware serial number, expiration date, and feature mask. The license file is reinstalled anytime you want to add or remove call-processing features.
New license files are often
required when new software is installed, but not always.
Avaya authentication file. Contains the logins and passwords Avaya services personnel use to access the Avaya media server. This file is updated regularly by Avaya services personnel if you have a maintenance contract.
A valid authentication file
must be present on every Avaya media server, or all
access to Avaya MultiVantage software from any
login is blocked.
This topic covers:
A new license file and the Avaya authentication file may be installed independently of each other or any other server upgrades.
New license or authentication files are made available in the following ways:
If your Avaya media server is set up for remote access, Avaya services personnel can copy new license and authentication file information directly into the FTP directory on the server.
Avaya personnel will notify you when the new files are in place as agreed (for example, by telephone or email).
To install the files, use the Install License or Install Avaya Authentication screen.
Avaya services personnel and business partners can access the Avaya remote feature activation (RFA) website.
They can download the appropriate files to the server using one of the methods described in Put new files on the server below.
For details on the RFA website, see RFA website below.
You can put new license or authentication files from another machine onto the Avaya media server using the following web administration interface screens.
Upload files: If a new license or authentication file was already downloaded to the services laptop or another computer on the network:
In the main menu under Miscellaneous, click the Upload Files to Server link.
Locate the license or authentication file on your computer or network, then click Load File. Files are uploaded to the FTP subdirectory on the media server.
Download files: If a new license or authentication file resides at a particular URL on a web server:
In the main menu under Miscellaneous, click the Download Files to Server link.
Specify the exact URL, then click Load File. Files are downloaded to the FTP subdirectory on the server.
Copy files: If a new license or authentication file is on another computer or server accessible from the corporate network:
Use the Copy files using FTP procedure to transfer the files from the other machine to the FTP subdirectory on the media server.
When the files are present on the server, continue your installation procedure:
Use the Install License or Install Avaya Authentication screen to install the new license or authentication files.
If you are upgrading software, you can click the Install New Software wizard window to continue with software installation. See Software installation at a glance for details.
This section covers miscellaneous aspects of license and authentication file operation.
For details on authentication file operation, see Authentication file operation.
For details on license file operation, see License file operation.
RFA website operation and license operation on the standby server are covered below.
License files are generated using the Remote Feature Activation (RFA) web interface. This website is available only to Avaya services personnel and business partners.
RFA contains a system record for each Avaya media server. The system record is populated based on what software, features, and capacities are purchased. The license file is transferred from the RFA system to the Avaya media server as described in Obtain license and authentication files. The license must then be installed on the system using the Install License screen.
RFA is also used to generate additional licenses over the life of the system. New licenses are needed to support certain software upgrades, hardware additions, or maintenance (such as replacement of the IPSI circuit pack whose serial number is used as the hardware serial number for the system).
Each of the two Avaya media servers has a copy of the same license file. The server in standby mode mirrors the license mode of the active server. When a standby server becomes active, it maintains the license mode and timer value from the other server. (An active server entering No-License mode does not cause the standby to take over; see View License Status for details on license modes.)
Normally switching to the standby server does not correct any license errors. However, because the active and standby servers can have different port network connectivity, switching to the standby server under certain conditions could change the license mode.