United States
Q
What are the different Cisco Catalyst 9000 switch license tiers?
A
Cisco Catalyst 9000 switch licenses are offered in two network tiers—Network Essentials and Network Advantage—and two DNA software tiers—DNA Essentials and DNA Advantage—to scale features from foundational connectivity to full policy-based automation.
Q
How do I choose between Network Essentials and Network Advantage licenses?
A
Choose Network Essentials for basic L2/L3 routing and QoS, and select Network Advantage to unlock advanced features such as OSPF, BGP, multicast, segmented networks, and enhanced telemetry.
Q
What features are included in the Network Essentials license?
A
The Network Essentials license provides core capabilities like basic Layer 2 switching, static routing, enhanced QoS, and limited security features for small to mid-size deployments.
Q
What additional features does the Network Advantage license provide?
A
The Network Advantage license adds advanced routing (OSPF, BGP), IPv6, MPLS, VXLAN bridging, segment routing, full multicast support, and comprehensive telemetry for large-scale networks.
Q
What is Cisco DNA licensing and how does it relate to Catalyst 9000?
A
Cisco DNA licensing unlocks software-defined automation, assurance, and analytics on Catalyst 9000 switches through two tiers—DNA Essentials for basic automation and DNA Advantage for AI-driven assurance and policy enforcement.
Q
What is the difference between DNA Essentials and DNA Advantage?
A
DNA Essentials offers basic automation tools such as device provisioning and compliance, while DNA Advantage adds advanced analytics, intent-based segmentation, threat detection, and automated remediation.
Q
Can I upgrade my Catalyst 9000 license from Essentials to Advantage?
A
Yes, you can upgrade from Network Essentials to Network Advantage or from DNA Essentials to DNA Advantage through Cisco Smart Software Manager or a Cisco licensing reseller without hardware replacement.
Q
How do I activate a Cisco Catalyst 9000 switch license?
A
Activate your license by registering the switch on Cisco Smart Software Manager, assigning the entitlement to the device via its PID and VID, and syncing the device to pull the license token.
Q
Does the Catalyst 9000 series require Smart Licensing?
A
Yes, Catalyst 9000 switches use Cisco Smart Licensing to centrally manage, monitor, and report license consumption in real time via the Cisco Smart Software Manager portal.
Q
What happens if my Catalyst 9000 license expires?
A
If a DNA license expires, advanced software features will revert to evaluation mode or shut down; network traffic forwarding remains unaffected under perpetual network-tier licenses.
Q
How long are Catalyst 9000 license terms?
A
Catalyst 9000 licenses are available in one-, three-, and five-year subscription terms; network-tier licenses can also be purchased as perpetual entitlements.
Q
How is Catalyst 9000 licensing priced?
A
Pricing is based on the switch model and license tier, with volume discounts available; subscriptions are priced per-device per-year while perpetual network licenses incur a one-time fee.
Q
Can I transfer Catalyst 9000 licenses to a new switch?
A
Yes, you can transfer licenses by removing the entitlement from the original device in the Cisco Smart Software Manager and reassigning it to the new switch’s PID/VID.
Q
How do I verify the license status on a Catalyst 9000 switch?
A
Use the CLI command `show license status` or check the Cisco DNA Center or Smart Software Manager portal to view active, expired, or in-use licenses on your switch.
Q
Are trial licenses available for Catalyst 9000 switches?
A
Yes, Cisco offers 90-day evaluation licenses for both network and DNA tiers that you can request through the Cisco Software Central portal for testing before purchase.
Q
Do Catalyst 9000 licenses include built-in security features?
A
Network-tier licenses include basic security, while DNA Advantage adds advanced threat detection, Encrypted Traffic Analytics, Trust Sec segmentation, and automated compliance checks.
