Question 1

What license levels are available for Cisco Nexus 9000 switches?

Accepted Answer

Cisco Nexus 9000 switches offer three NX-OS license tiers: Essentials (Base), Advantage and Premier, each unlocking progressively advanced networking, security and automation features.

Question 2

Which features are included in the Essentials (Base) license?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

What additional capabilities does the Advantage license provide?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Which advanced services are unlocked by the Premier license?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

How do I upgrade my Nexus 9000 switch license?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

How do I install a permanent license on a Nexus 9000 switch?

Accepted Answer

Upload the .lic file to flash, then run ‘license install flash:’, save the configuration and reload the switch to activate the permanent license.

Question 7

What is the difference between permanent and evaluation licenses?

Accepted Answer

Permanent licenses provide unlimited runtime for the purchased feature set, while evaluation licenses are time-limited trials (typically 60 days) for testing advanced capabilities.

Question 8

Can I transfer a Nexus 9000 license between switches?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

How does Cisco Smart Licensing work on Nexus 9000?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How do I register a Nexus 9000 switch for Smart Licensing?

Accepted Answer

Use the NX-OS commands ‘license smart enable’ and ‘license smart register idtoken ’ to connect your switch to Cisco Smart Software Manager and activate your licenses.

Question 11

How can I verify the current license status on a Nexus 9000?

Accepted Answer

Execute ‘show license status’ or ‘show license all’ in the NX-OS CLI to display installed licenses, usage counters and Smart Licensing registration details.

Question 12

What is the duration of the evaluation license on Nexus 9000?

Accepted Answer

The standard evaluation license on a Nexus 9000 is valid for 60 days from activation and can be extended only with Cisco TAC approval.

Question 13

What happens when an evaluation license expires?

Accepted Answer

Upon expiration, advanced features become inactive and the switch reverts to the base Essentials license until a permanent or renewed evaluation license is installed.

Question 14

Are advanced security features included in the base license?

Accepted Answer

No. Advanced security features such as MACsec encryption, microsegmentation and CoPP are available only with the Premier license tier.

Question 15

Do I need a separate license for fabric services in ACI mode?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 16

How does licensing differ between ACI mode and standalone NX-OS mode?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 17

How do I migrate licenses in a VPC pair or cluster?

Accepted Answer

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.

Networking Solutions Nexus 9000 Licenses

N93-LAN1K9= (LAN ENTERPRISE LICS FOR NEXUS 9300 PLATFORM)

Questions & Answers

What license levels are available for Cisco Nexus 9000 switches?

Which features are included in the Essentials (Base) license?

What additional capabilities does the Advantage license provide?

Which advanced services are unlocked by the Premier license?