5 new things you need
to know about Catalyst
Center licensing
Gayathri Devi Viswanathan Nagendran
Technical Marketing Engineer
BRKOPS-2835
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Agenda 01 Introduction
02 Azure Virtual Appliance
03 Catalyst Center Global
Manager
04 Cisco Networking
Subscriptions
05 CNS in Catalyst Center
06 Partner Branded Support
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About Gayathri
• 18+ years of industry experience
• Service Provider & Enterprise Networking
• Software Engineering, Program Mgmt, Product Mgmt
• Tech MBA
• Baker, Art Enthusiast
🔗 linkedin.com/in/gayathridevi-vn
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Show of Hands
How many of you have deployed
Catalyst Center?
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Introduction
Challenges with license management
License Term
Support EULA
Renewals
Subscriptions
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What’s New with Catalyst Center licensing?
1 2 3
Azure Virtual Appliance CCGM Cisco Networking
Subscriptions
4 5
CNS in Catalyst Center Partner Branded Support
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Azure Virtual Appliance
Flexible Deployment Options
1 2 3 4
On Prem Appliance AWS Cloud VA ESXi Virtual Appliance Azure Cloud VA
* - Azure VA expected to available with release 3.1.3
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Physical Appliance license elements
HW license - Perpetual
Software - Pre-installed
Support - Term based
On Prem Appliance
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AWS/ ESXi VA license elements
VA license – AWS Subscription /
ESXi license
Software – Cisco supplied $0
Support - Term based
Optional ($6K/VA/Yr)
AWS Cloud VA ESXi Virtual Appliance
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Azure VA license elements
HW license – Azure Cloud
Subscription
Software – Cisco supplied $0
Support - Term based
Optional ($6K/VA/Yr)
AWS Cloud VA ESXi Virtual Appliance Azure Cloud VA
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Recommendations for VA
• Purchase $0 PID VA - licenses attached
• Virtual appliance registration with Smart Account
• TAC/CX support for VA – optional yet highly recommended
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Catalyst Center
Global Manager
Catalyst Center Global Manager
Single pane of glass for large multi-site
network architectures
Single HA cluster 3x scale with * - Azure VA expected to be available with release 3.1.3
appliance XL appliances
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CCGM Licensing
• Included with your active
DNA license
Catalyst Center Global Manager • No additional cost
(CCGM)
• No separate support
contract
• Tied to your Smart
Account and Virtual
Account
Catalyst Center Catalyst Center Catalyst Center Catalyst Center Catalyst Center
Physical Physical VA VA VA
Single Node Three Node ESXi AWS Azure
M/L/XL Cluster (Future*)
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Cisco Networking
Subscriptions
Device Licensing Erstwhile
Catalyst Center
Catalyst Center
Catalyst subscription
SWSS
Essentials/ Advantage (Subscription) Support for Catalyst Center
Catalyst Center software Software
License to manage/monitor network gear Included in Catalyst subscription
on Catalyst Center
Network Stack SNTC
Perpetual Essentials/ Advantage Support for IOS/ IOS-XE
IOS and IOS-XE software
Software license for network gear Not included in Catalyst
subscription
IOS / IOS-XE
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Cisco Networking Subscriptions for Wi-Fi 7 APs
CW9178 Cisco Networking
CW9176
Subscriptions
Cisco Wireless Essentials
Cisco Wireless Advantage
Cloud mode On-prem mode Hybrid mode
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Wi-Fi 7 Access Points
Global Use AP, Unified Product, Single SKU
Catalyst Center
Cisco Catalyst Management Mode Meraki Management Mode
C9800 & Catalyst Center Stack MR Dashboard Stack
Join WLC or Meraki stack on Day 0, based on Intent
Management Mode Change from Day 1 to N
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Catalyst Licensing Demystified
Switching &
Wireless IoT
Routing
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How does it work for Switches & Routers?
Devices Subscription (DNA) DNA License Functionality
License Availability Requirement
Mandatory CNS
C9350 License
CNS Required Essentials/ Advantage
Mandatory DNA
C9000/C8000 License
Required Essentials/ Advantage
Pre-C9000 Optional DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage*
Not required for
No DNA License Generic support
supported devices
Pre-C9000
No DNA License Unsupported devices No support
3rd Party No DNA License Not required Generic support
© 2025 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. * - Advantage functionality varies based on device capability
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What about wireless?
Devices Subscription (DNA DNA/CNS Functionality
CNS) License License
Availability Requirement
CW9176/9178 Mandatory CNS License CNS Required Essentials/ Advantage
C9000/C8000
C9000/C800 Mandatory DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage
0
Pre-C9000 Optional DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage
EoL/LDoS No DNA License Not required No support
3rd Party No DNA License Not required Generic support
Cisco reserves the right to change functionality within Essential/Advantage/Generic Device
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And IoT?
Devices DNA License DNA License Functionality
Availability Requirement
Mandatory DNA
IW License
Required Essentials/ Advantage
IR Optional DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage
IE Optional DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage
Rockwell Stratix Optional DNA License Required Essentials/ Advantage
IE1000, CGR2000,
IR809, IR829, C819H No DNA License Unsupported devices No support
Fluidmesh devices, S5700
3rd Party No DNA License Not required Generic support
© 2025 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. BRKOPS-2835 25
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Show of Hands
How are you managing your
licenses today?
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Catalyst Center
License Manager
Prep Check - Catalyst Center License Manager
02 03 04
Configure Register Connect Enable
Configure Smart Register chosen Choose appropriate Enable auto
Account to Smart Account connection mode for registration of smart
connect with with CSSM Catalyst Center to licensing enabled
Catalyst Center connect with CSSM devices
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Configure Smart Account integration
Only one Smart account can be configured at a time
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CNS in Catalyst Center
View CNS licenses
• Aggregate
purchased and
used count
• Virtual Account
view for Switches,
Routers,
Controllers and
ISE
• Purchase and
usage count by
device family
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CNS in License Manager – AP view
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CNS in License Manager – SLuP reporting
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Register, De-register & Change license level
IOS XE 17.15.x
1. Cisco Network Advantage to Cisco Network Essentials
2. Cisco Network Essentials to Cisco Network Advantage
3. Cisco Network Advantage to Default License Level
4. Cisco Network Essentials to Default License Level
Note: Device will reboot after these operations
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Change license level
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Change license level
Note: You can't remove the CNS license from a device. When you
do, device defaults to using the CNS Advantage license
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Manage Catalyst Center
Licenses
Register Smart License
• Select device to
register
• Auto-register smart
enabled devices
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Register Smart License
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Change Catalyst License Level
• Select device to change license level
• Upgrade or downgrade Catalyst subscription licenses
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Change Catalyst License Level
• Select desired subscription license
• On-demand or scheduled
• Optional reboot on update for changes to be in effect
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CSSM Sync Status
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License Manager Demo
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Partner Branded Support
Partner Support with CNS
Partner Branded Support
• Ease of consistent and reliable
support with digital insights
• Value Added Services Via Partner
• Trusted TAC support, APIs and
automation tools for an enhanced
experience
Trusted support and product insights for on-prem delivery
Competitive partner pricing
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So.. What did we learn today?
Key Takeaways
1 Azure VA and CCGM are offered free of cost
2 Cisco Networking Subscription Wireless is available today
3 Partner Branded Support is on par with Cisco TAC
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Quick References
Catalyst Center Data Sheet http://cs.co/CatalystCenterDataSheet
Catalyst Center Compatibility
http://cs.co/CompatibilityMatrix
Matrix
Switching Matrix http://cs.co/SwitchingMatrix
Wireless Matrix http://cs.co/WirelessMatrix
Routing Matrix http://cs.co/RoutingMatrix
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