Description

In Junos version 19.4R2 with new Agile licensing, VMX is not accepting the correct/proper Agile license (trial/production) keys via Junos CLI.

The following CLI options for activating a license is working:
  • request system license add terminal
  • request system license add filename

Symptoms

root@vmx-v1> show system license
License usage:
                                 Licenses     Licenses    Licenses    Expiry
  Feature name                       used    installed      needed

Licenses installed: none

root@vmx-v1> request system license add terminal
[Type ^D at a new line to end input,
 enter blank line between each license key]
JUNOSxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx
error: license validation failed with safenet error: The given license code is invalid. Hence, it could not be added to the "no-net" license server.
add license failed (1 errors)    

root@vmx-v1> request system license add JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic
error: license validation failed with safenet error: The given license code is invalid. Hence, it could not be added to the "no-net" license server.
add license failed (1 errors)    

root@vmx-v1> show chassis hardware
Hardware inventory:
Item             Version  Part number  Serial number     Description
Chassis                                VM6006610490      VMX
Midplane
Routing Engine 0                                         RE-VMX
CB 0                                                     VMX SCB
FPC 0                                                    Virtual FPC
  CPU            Rev. 1.0 RIOT-PERF    BUILTIN
  MIC 0                                                  Virtual
    PIC 0                 BUILTIN      BUILTIN           Virtual

root@vmx-v1> show version brief
Hostname: vmx-v1
Model: vmx
Junos: 19.4R2.6
JUNOS OS Kernel 64-bit  [20200411.2b552dd_builder_stable_11]
JUNOS OS libs [20200411.2b552dd_builder_stable_11]
JUNOS OS runtime [20200411.2b552dd_builder_stable_11]
JUNOS OS time zone information [20200411.2b552dd_builder_stable_11]
JUNOS network stack and utilities [20200429.150822_builder_junos_194_r2]
. . .

Solution

As a workaround, create the license file under /config/license folder(@VCP VM) and reboot the vMX.

Steps:

  1. Login to VCP/VMX shell as root user with 'start shell'
  2. Change the directory to /config/license
  3. Create the license file ( .lic ) with license key as filename. ex: 'vi JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic'
  4. Copy the license key as below format to the license file ( JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic )
     JUNOSxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
                    xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
                    xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
                    xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx
  1. Verify the license key file JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic is in above format: 'cat JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic'
  2. Exit from shell to Junos CLI and reboot the VMX: '> request system reboot'
  3. After VMX comes online, login to VCP and verify new license should be applied properly:
     root@vmx-v1> show system license detail
                                      Licenses     Licenses    Licenses     Licenses    Expiry
       Feature name                       used    installed      needed    available
       VMX-SCALE-PREMIUM                     1            0           1            0    29 days

     Licenses installed: none
     Licensing Mode: Agile Licensing Standalone

CLI output:
root@vmx-v1> show system license
License usage:
                                 Licenses     Licenses    Licenses    Expiry
  Feature name                       used    installed      needed

Licenses installed: none

root@vmx-v1> start shell
root@vmx-v1:~ # cd /config/license/
root@vmx-v1:/config/license # vi JUNOSxxxxxx.lic

root@vmx-v1:/config/license # cat JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic
JUNOSxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx
               xxxxxx xxxx
root@vmx-v1:/config/license # ls
JUNOSxxxxxxxxx.lic      licinfra_notify.sync    safenet
root@vmx-v1:/config/license # exit
root@vmx-v1> request system reboot

root@vmx-v1> show system license detail
                                 Licenses     Licenses    Licenses     Licenses    Expiry
  Feature name                       used    installed      needed    available
  VMX-SCALE-PREMIUM                     1            0           1            0    29 days

Licenses installed: none
Licensing Mode: Agile Licensing Standalone

root@vmx-v1> show version brief
Hostname: vmx-v1
Model: vmx
Junos: 19.4R2.6
JUNOS OS Kernel 64-bit  [20200411.2b552dd_builder_stable_11]
. . .