Bug ID 1824413: License activation in Automatic mode fails with "Couldn't contact INTERNAL licensing server

Last Modified: Jan 21, 2026

Affected Product(s):
BIG-IP Install/Upgrade, TMOS(all modules)

Known Affected Versions:
15.1.0, 15.1.0.1, 15.1.0.2, 15.1.0.3, 15.1.0.4, 15.1.0.5, 15.1.1, 15.1.2, 15.1.2.1, 15.1.3, 15.1.3.1, 15.1.4, 15.1.4.1, 15.1.5, 15.1.5.1, 15.1.6, 15.1.6.1, 15.1.7, 15.1.8, 15.1.8.1, 15.1.8.2, 15.1.9, 15.1.9.1, 15.1.10, 15.1.10.2, 15.1.10.3, 15.1.10.4, 15.1.10.5, 15.1.10.6, 15.1.10.7, 16.1.0, 16.1.1, 16.1.2, 16.1.2.1, 16.1.2.2, 16.1.3, 16.1.3.1, 16.1.3.2, 16.1.3.3, 16.1.3.4, 16.1.3.5, 16.1.4, 16.1.4.1, 16.1.4.2, 16.1.4.3, 16.1.5, 16.1.5.1, 16.1.5.2, 16.1.6, 17.1.0, 17.1.0.1, 17.1.0.2, 17.1.0.3, 17.1.1, 17.1.1.1, 17.1.1.2, 17.1.1.3, 17.1.1.4, 17.1.2, 17.1.2.1, 17.1.2.2, 17.5.0, 17.5.1

Fixed In:
21.0.0, 17.5.1.2, 17.1.3, 16.1.6.1, 15.1.10.8

Opened: Feb 24, 2025

Severity: 2-Critical

Symptoms

License activation fails with an error "Couldn't contact INTERNAL licensing server. Check your base registration key for correct formatting."

Impact

Unable to license via GUI in automatic licensing.

Conditions

-- Click System :: License : Reactivate and select automatic method to reactivate.

Workaround

Use TMSH license method. tmsh install sys license registration-key <key>

Fix Information

TMOS BIG-IP use Entrust CA in callhome updatecheck and GUI licensing(javacerts). In code base these using "ca-bundle.crt" and it is now replaced with new ca-file "f5-ca-bundle.crt" For gui licensing, tomcat uses new f5-ca-bundle-cacerts file which is generated from "f5-ca-bundle.crt"

Behavior Change

Guides & references

K10134038: F5 Bug Tracker Filter Names and Tips