Building a Collaboration lab is a big decision and cost could be keeping you from getting started. Recently I received a request from a friend on FB about how to get started.
Well, there are many options and many questions, one of the questions is the licensing piece. Cisco licensing is expensive if you plan to go crazy (like me) and have your home using all the goodies you already use at work.
Let’s get to the licensing Please!
The good thing about this is that there are options, and I’m going to list them from least preferred to my personal preference.
Buy Licenses on Ebay
By just searching CUCM Licensing, you will be presented with different options. I’m not a fan of buying licensing on Ebay. but the option is there. range will be from $100 to $300 – depending on the License. More about CUCM Licensing
Buy License on a store like CDW
I’m just listing it for the pure reason that is the other place I was able to find the licenses with the SKU’s. I have never bought from them in the past but I think it will be worth giving it a shot.
Cisco Store
Here is the link to the Cisco Store. The store has these things called NFR kits, initially I though they were limited to Only Cisco Partners, later after reading a bit on the offering I found out that this is the list of people that can get it:
The following partners can order the Collaboration 11.0 Partner Bundle:
- Cisco Advanced Collaboration Architecture Specialized Partners (ACAS)
- Master Unified Communications Specialization Partners(MSICP )
- Cisco Express Collaboration Specialized Partners (ECS)
- Cisco DevNet Members
- Cisco Learning Partners
Notice I highlighted the Cisco DevNet members because this is indeed the easiest and fastest route to get the licensing needed. Registering with DevNet and create an account with them is easy and FREE, the only thing you will pay for will be the actual NFR license, which is $315.
About the Author:
Andres Sarmiento, CCIE # 53520 (Collaboration)
With more than 13 years of experience, Andres is specialized in the Unified Communications and Collaboration technologies. Consulted for several companies in South Florida, also Financial Institutions on behalf of Cisco Systems. Andres has been involved in high-profile implementations including Cisco technologies; such as Data Center, UC & Collaboration, Contact Center Express, Routing & Switching, Security and Hosted IPT Service provider infrastructures.
Is access to the NFR Bundle still available to devnet members, I just joined but do not see any products available under Cisco Promotional Software Store\Collaboration
for some reason is not anymore, I brought it up to their attention not too long ago and still no answer to that one, I will change my post to reflect that information