Cisco Cisco IPS 4255 Sensor

If you created a shortcut, you can launch IDM by double-clicking the IDM shortcut icon. You 
can also close the The Cisco IPS Device Manager Version window. After you launch IDM, is it 
not necessary for this window to remain open.

For more information about security and IDM, refer to 

.

For the procedure for initializing the sensor, refer to 

This section describes how to obtain a license key and how to license the sensor using the CLI or IDM. 
It contains the following topics:

Although the sensor functions without the license, you must have a license to obtain signature updates. 
To obtain a license, you must have a Cisco Service for IPS service contract. Contact your reseller, Cisco 
service or product sales to purchase a contract. 

You can install the first few signature updates for 5.x without a license. This gives you time to get your 
sensor licensed. If you are unable to get your sensor licensed because of confusion with your contract, 
you can obtain a 60-day trail license that supports signature updates that require licensing.

You can view the status of the IPS subscription license key on the Licensing panel in IDM. You can 
obtain a license key from the Cisco.com licensing server, which is then delivered to the sensor. Or, you 
can update the sensor license key from a license key provided in a local file.

You must know your IPS device serial number to obtain a license key. You can find the IPS device serial 
number in  by clicking Configuration > Licensing, or through the CLI by using the show version 
command.

Whenever you start IDM, a dialog box informs you of your license status—whether you have a trial, 
invalid, or expired license key. With no license key, an invalid license key, or an expired license key, you 
can continue to use  but you cannot download signature updates. 

When you enter the CLI, you receive the following message if there is no license installed:

***LICENSE NOTICE***

There is no license key installed on the system.

Please go to http://www.cisco.com/go/license to obtain a new license or install a license.

You will continue to see this message until you have installed a license. Go to 

 and click IPS Signature Subscription Service to apply for a license.