You do not have to use Cisco switch licenses on a continuous range of ports; instead, you can acquire licenses for specific ports that are used and remove licenses from unused ports. You should verify the number of licensed ports in the switch configuration and, if necessary, move licenses from one port to another as needed.
This example shows a license being removed from port fc1/2, port fc1/1 being made eligible to acquire a license, and the license being acquired on port fc1/1:
Switch_A_1# conf t Switch_A_1(config)# interface fc1/2 Switch_A_1(config)# shut Switch_A_1(config-if)# no port-license acquire Switch_A_1(config-if)# exit Switch_A_1(config)# interface fc1/1 Switch_A_1(config-if)# port-license Switch_A_1(config-if)# port-license acquire Switch_A_1(config-if)# no shut Switch_A_1(config-if)# end Switch_A_1# copy running-config startup-config Switch_B_1# conf t Switch_B_1(config)# interface fc1/2 Switch_B_1(config)# shut Switch_B_1(config-if)# no port-license acquire Switch_B_1(config-if)# exit Switch_B_1(config)# interface fc1/1 Switch_B_1(config-if)# port-license Switch_B_1(config-if)# port-license acquire Switch_B_1(config-if)# no shut Switch_B_1(config-if)# end Switch_B_1# copy running-config startup-config
The following example shows port license usage being verified:
Switch_A_1# show port-resources module 1 Switch_B_1# show port-resources module 1