Cisco Smartnet question?

[netsysadmin]

I have a question for the Cisco guys here. When buying something like a ASA5505 like the one in the link below does it come with a year of Smartnet or is that extra?

Cisco ASA5505

Thanks!!

John

 

[drebo]

No, it's only got Cisco's 90-day warranty. Any smartnet is extra.

 

[netsysadmin]

Thanks for the info!

John

 

[netsysadmin]

Also with no Smartnet then I cannot get an updates right?

John

 

[ScottMac]

Correct, no updates (identified security risks are corrected / updated for free without SmartNet, at least for the warranty period, if not longer)

 

[spidey07]

Any serous security ones are provided for the life of the product without smartnet. You probably won't get any new versions, but you can download "fixed" versions.

Really, it's silly not to get maintenance for a production environment. Just get the bare bones 8x5xnext business day one. You get TAC, hardware replacements and any updates you need for that piece of hardware.

 

[drebo]

I do believe that the version 8 OS release is included on CD with ASAs, and it's recommended that you upgrade to it.

 

[netsysadmin]

Also if I buy the ASA5505 with no Smartnet from the original buyer can I then purchase Smartnet from any Cisco retailer? Is there a time limit that I need to purchase the Smartnet by?

Thanks for the help guys!!!

John

 

[cmetz]

Cisco's set up such that you really have to buy smartnet. You're in for a world of hurt if you try not to. No updates for you, except for critical security updates if you're very persistent with TAC.

Cisco's official party line is that software licenses are not tranferrable. That is, if you buy a Cisco device from someone other than an authorized Cisco reseller, you do NOT have a license to use IOS (et al.). You therefore are not eligible to add smartnet to that device, at all. You must first pay to relicense the software, which, conveniently enough, costs as much as replacing the box.

That said, if you have a friendly Cisco sales person (as in, real Cisco employee, sales guy) and ask nicely, they can often wave the whole relicensing nonsense if you're buying smartnet and promise not to buy used Cisco ever again.

 

[spidey07]

cmetz - I've never had a problem transferring licences, ever. Never. All you have to do is pick up the phone.

 

[cmetz]

It's possible that their policy/license terms changed, but I distinctly recall that when the '90s bubble burst and there was a flood of used gear, they got tough on license transferrals as a way to try to squash the secondary market. When that didn't really work, we got the ISRs, which just made all the old gear obsolete. Maybe they eased up on this policy because of that. It was pretty customer-hostile, and it was doubly silly because you usually could get them to waive it if you were buying a smartnet. One thing Cisco is very good about, they want to take your money.

 

[spidey07]

And my success with transferring licenses and working with the customer is why I'm a cisco bigot.

I get none of that from others or "we can't do that". I'm sorry you had a bad experience with the rep, you can always pick up the phone and ask for what you desire. But you have to build that relationship first. There is always the phone.

 

[InlineFive]

Does anyone happen to know what the maximum amount of "trunkable" VLANs are with the ASA5505 Security Plus bundle?

Sorry for the threadjack but it seems on-topic to me.

 

[jlazzaro]

20

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/pro...t0900aecd802930c5.html

 

[netsysadmin]

Problem solved...I found a dealer that was selling a ASA5505 bundled with a year of the cheapest Smartnet. It was not much more and I think it is worth it!

Thanks for the info!

John

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
20

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/pro...t0900aecd802930c5.html

That's what I thought too but I found a screenshot in the documentation stating a maximum of three per port. Trying to figure it out.