United States
Q
What license tiers are available for Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points?
A
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points support two subscription tiers: Cisco DNA Essentials and Cisco DNA Advantage, each delivered via Cisco Smart Licensing.
Q
How do Cisco DNA Essentials and DNA Advantage differ?
A
DNA Essentials provides basic automation, security, and assurance, while DNA Advantage adds advanced analytics, RF optimization, and policy-based segmentation.
Q
What features are included in Cisco DNA Essentials for Catalyst 9100?
A
DNA Essentials includes automated provisioning, basic wireless assurance, device inventory, and compliance reporting.
Q
What additional capabilities does DNA Advantage offer?
A
DNA Advantage adds AI-based RF optimization, advanced analytics, encrypted traffic analytics, policy enforcement, and seamless roaming.
Q
How is licensing for Catalyst 9100 Access Points purchased?
A
Licenses are sold per access point as 1-, 3-, or 5-year subscriptions and managed through Cisco Smart Accounts.
Q
Do I need Cisco DNA Center to use Catalyst 9100 licenses?
A
Yes, Cisco DNA Center is required to deploy, monitor, and enforce DNA Essentials or Advantage subscriptions on Catalyst 9100 Access Points.
Q
How do I activate a Catalyst 9100 license?
A
Log into Cisco Smart Software Manager, assign the subscription to your Smart Account, then sync Cisco DNA Center to pull and activate the license.
Q
Can I upgrade from DNA Essentials to DNA Advantage?
A
Yes, you can upgrade in Cisco Smart Software Manager by modifying your subscription tier and syncing Cisco DNA Center.
Q
How do I verify license status on Catalyst 9100 Access Points?
A
Use Cisco DNA Center’s License Dashboard or the CLI command “show wireless license” on the connected controller to view active subscriptions.
Q
What happens if my access point subscription expires?
A
Expired subscriptions revert to basic access point functionality without assurance, automation, or advanced policy features.
Q
How do I renew Catalyst 9100 Access Point licenses?
A
Renew via your Cisco Smart Account portal by purchasing a new term and applying it to your existing subscription before expiry.
Q
Are Catalyst 9100 licenses transferable between devices?
A
Yes, you can reassign licenses within your Cisco Smart Account, subject to active subscription term and device compatibility.
Q
Is Smart Licensing mandatory for Catalyst 9100?
A
Yes, Cisco Smart Licensing is required to manage and monitor Catalyst 9100 Access Point subscriptions centrally.
Q
Do Catalyst 9100 Access Points have a perpetual license option?
A
No, Catalyst 9100 licensing is exclusively subscription-based under Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage models.
Q
What controller platforms support Catalyst 9100 licenses?
A
Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controllers and Cisco DNA Center-managed controllerless mode both support DNA Essentials and Advantage for 9100 APs.
Q
How does licensing impact feature availability on APs?
A
Your active DNA subscription tier directly enables or disables automation, assurance, analytics, and policy features on Catalyst 9100 Access Points.
