What is the function of the "show license" command on a Cisco device?

Question

Options

• ATo show the device's hardware serial number.
• BTo display the running configuration.
• CTo list all available CLI commands.
• DTo display the current software licenses installed and their status.

• A
  7% (2)
• C
  4% (1)
• D
  89% (25)

Explanation

show license on a Cisco device does exactly what its name implies - it displays the software licenses currently installed on the device, including their type, status (active/inactive), and any feature entitlements. This is essential for verifying that a device is licensed for specific IOS features like advanced security or routing protocols.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A - Hardware serial numbers are retrieved with show version or show inventory, not license commands.
• B - The running configuration is displayed with show running-config; licenses are a separate concern from configuration.
• C - Listing available CLI commands uses ? (the help character) or show ?, not a license command.

Memory tip: Think of "license plate" - just like a license plate tells you what's registered and valid for a vehicle, show license tells you what software features are registered and valid for your Cisco device.

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