United States
Q
What license levels are available for Cisco Nexus 9000 switches?
A
Cisco Nexus 9000 switches offer three NX-OS license tiers: Essentials (Base), Advantage and Premier, each unlocking progressively advanced networking, security and automation features.
Q
Which features are included in the Essentials (Base) license?
A
The Essentials license provides core Layer 2/3 switching, IPv4/IPv6 routing, basic QoS and standard automation capabilities for production-ready campus and data center deployments.
Q
What additional capabilities does the Advantage license provide?
A
The Advantage license adds advanced network services such as VXLAN EVPN, BGP EVPN, enhanced telemetry, MPLS L3VPN and scalable multicast for modern spine-leaf and overlay architectures.
Q
Which advanced services are unlocked by the Premier license?
A
The Premier license enables full Cisco NX-OS feature set including CoPP, advanced security (MACsec, microsegmentation), MPLS L2/L3 VPNs, SD-WAN and extended telemetry.
Q
How do I upgrade my Nexus 9000 switch license?
A
Use the NX-OS CLI command ‘license install’ with your new license file or enable Smart Licensing via ‘license smart register’ to automatically consume and upgrade entitlements.
Q
How do I install a permanent license on a Nexus 9000 switch?
A
Upload the .lic file to flash, then run ‘license install flash:<filename>’, save the configuration and reload the switch to activate the permanent license.
Q
What is the difference between permanent and evaluation licenses?
A
Permanent licenses provide unlimited runtime for the purchased feature set, while evaluation licenses are time-limited trials (typically 60 days) for testing advanced capabilities.
Q
Can I transfer a Nexus 9000 license between switches?
A
Yes. For Smart Licenses, simply unregister the source device via ‘license smart deregister’, then register the target switch. For file-based licenses, follow Cisco PAK transfer procedures.
Q
How does Cisco Smart Licensing work on Nexus 9000?
A
Smart Licensing centrally tracks and manages entitlements in Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM), allowing dynamic feature activation and real-time consumption reporting across your estate.
Q
How do I register a Nexus 9000 switch for Smart Licensing?
A
Use the NX-OS commands ‘license smart enable’ and ‘license smart register idtoken <token>’ to connect your switch to Cisco Smart Software Manager and activate your licenses.
Q
How can I verify the current license status on a Nexus 9000?
A
Execute ‘show license status’ or ‘show license all’ in the NX-OS CLI to display installed licenses, usage counters and Smart Licensing registration details.
Q
What is the duration of the evaluation license on Nexus 9000?
A
The standard evaluation license on a Nexus 9000 is valid for 60 days from activation and can be extended only with Cisco TAC approval.
Q
What happens when an evaluation license expires?
A
Upon expiration, advanced features become inactive and the switch reverts to the base Essentials license until a permanent or renewed evaluation license is installed.
Q
Are advanced security features included in the base license?
A
No. Advanced security features such as MACsec encryption, microsegmentation and CoPP are available only with the Premier license tier.
Q
Do I need a separate license for fabric services in ACI mode?
A
No additional licensing is required for ACI fabric services. All ACI-specific features are included under the Cisco ACI software subscription separate from NX-OS licenses.
Q
How does licensing differ between ACI mode and standalone NX-OS mode?
A
In ACI mode, licensing is managed via the APIC controller under Cisco ACI software subscriptions. In standalone NX-OS mode, feature access is governed by the Nexus 9000 NX-OS license tiers.
Q
How do I migrate licenses in a VPC pair or cluster?
A
For file-based licenses, ensure both switches have identical license files and synchronize them via ‘copy flash:license to standby:flash:’. For Smart Licensing, both automatically consume from the same Smart account.
