Cisco Networking Subscription Data Sheet
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Cisco Networking Subscription streamlines management of Cisco software, hardware, services, and platforms. This licensing model supports your network investment today and protects it for the future.
With an active Cisco Networking Subscription, you have flexibility to:
● Aggregate and align renewal dates to your cost-center needs
● Add licenses to an existing subscription and keeping a consistent renewal date
● Upgrade entitlements mid-term and at end-of-term (renewal)
● Include different license tiers (Essentials or Advantage) in the same subscription
Additionally, the Cisco Networking Subscription includes product support, providing a consistent and reliable customer support experience with hardware and software coverage.
A Cisco Networking Subscription can include our new unified licenses: Cisco Wireless Essentials and Advantage, Cisco Switching Essentials and Advantage and Cisco WAN Essentials and Advantage. These licenses give you the flexibility to set up networks in different ways—whether that’s on-premises or in the cloud.
For a full list of feature please visit:
● Cisco Switching Licensing Feature Matrix
● Cisco Wireless Licensing Feature Matrix
● Cisco Routing* and WAN Licensing Feature Matrix
Note: For a new subscription, a standard minimum term length is 36 months.
Additionally, a Cisco Networking Subscription can also consist of Meraki subscription licenses for the Meraki line of products.
The following hardware models have the capability to choose whether to operate in the cloud or on-premises for ultimate flexibility:
● Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points: Cisco Wireless 9172, 9176, and 9178 series
● Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches
● Cisco C9610 Series Smart Switches
Cisco Networking Subscription deployment options
Deployment Options for Cisco Wireless and Switching
Cloud: If you choose to manage your subscription in Meraki Dashboard, your Wi-Fi 7 and switching deployment can be cloud-managed, or a mixed mode (licensing and inventory management* on Dashboard, with devices managed on-premises).
On-Premises: If you choose to manage your subscription in Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM), your Wi-Fi 7 and switching deployment can be on premises only, with no access to Meraki Dashboard functionality.
Deployment options for Cisco WAN
Cloud/On Premise – WAN licenses in CSSM can be managed by Catalyst SD-WAN manager, with support for On-Premise/Cloud. Cisco Hosted and Managed service will be an add-on under Cisco Networking subscription.
With Cisco Networking Subscription, the following enforcement scenario applies:
License Expiration:
● Devices will continue to pass traffic
● Management and monitoring via Cisco network management platforms will be restricted
● On-device management (WebUI, CLI, API) available
● Software updates will be restricted, except for PSIRT and critical bug fixes
● Additional Cisco cloud-based services and features (e.g., Spaces, ISE, TE) included in the management license or sold as add-ons will be restricted
● Access to Cisco Support provided through the subscription will be denied
With Cisco Networking Subscription, there are 2 WAN licensing enforcement scenarios that apply:
1. Never Licensed
2. License Expiration
Never Licensed:
● Devices cannot be provisioned on Catalyst SD-WAN manager until associated with the appropriate license
License Expiration:
● Devices will continue to pass traffic
● Out of Compliance message appears on Catalyst SD-WAN manager if one or more devices has an expired licenses
● Access to Cisco Support provided through the subscription will be denied
● Software updates will be restricted, except for critical PSIRTs
● Management, Monitoring and Analytics via Cisco network management platform (catalyst SD-WAN manager) will be restricted
Switching Licensing Enforcement
For the on-device features, there will be no enforcement, so the OS functionality on your device will continue to operate even if the license expires.
To have uninterrupted access to the platform and its features (Meraki Dashboard and Catalyst Center) an active subscription license is needed. If your license expires or your device is never licensed, your access to the platforms will be limited, and management and monitoring capabilities will be restricted. Access to support through Cisco Networking Subscription will not be available.
The Cisco Network Subscription includes support benefits consistent with Cisco Support – Standard. Each subscription, and devices linked to the subscription, are provided 24x7 TAC access, OS updates, and digital insights. The support included in the subscription does not include hardware RMA or replacement. If hardware RMA is needed, Cisco recommends the purchase of an RMA upgrade service level. See Service Descriptions for more information.
Cisco RMA upgrade
This advanced replacement hardware service option is available for Cisco Network Subscription products. There are multiple service levels to choose from. The RMA upgrade service, combined with support included in the Cisco Network Subscription provides full alignment to the Cisco Support – Standard service level. See Service Descriptions for further detail on the advanced replacement options.
Cisco Support – Enhanced
Cisco Support - Enhanced is the recommended support offer for the hardware. It includes centralized support for Cisco Solution Alliance Partner products in your infrastructure deployment to resolve complex issues faster, proactive digital insights, and RMA upgrade. This support offer is orderable on the hardware and provides coverage of both the hardware and associated Networking Subscription licenses Essentials and Advantage OS features.
Supported Switches:
| Cisco C9350 Series Smart Switches |
Cisco C9350-48HX, Cisco C9350-48TX, Cisco C9350-48U, Cisco C9350-24U, Cisco C9350-48P, Cisco C9350-24P, Cisco C9350-48T, Cisco C9350-24T |
| Cisco C9610 Series Smart Switch |
Cisco C9610R |
Supported Routers:
| Cisco 8000 Series Secure Routers |
C8570-G2, C8550-G2, C8475-G2, C8455-G2, C8375-E-G2, C8355-G2, C8235-G2, C8231-G2, C8161-G2, C8151-G2 |
Supported Access Points:
| Cisco Wireless 9178 Series |
CW9178I |
| Cisco Wireless 9176 Series |
CW9176I, CW9176D1 |
| Cisco Wireless 9172 Series |
CW9172I, CW9172H |
Supported Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs):
| Cisco 9800 Wireless LAN Controller Series |
C9800-80-K9, C9800-40-K9, C9800-L-C-K9, |
| Cisco CW9800 Wireless LAN Controller Series |
CW9800H1, CW9800H2, CW9800M |
Unified Licensing SKUs:
| Cisco Wireless Essentials |
LIC-CW-E |
| Cisco Wireless Advantage |
LIC-CW-A |
| Cisco Switching Essentials |
LIC-CS-AC1-L-E LIC-CS-AC1-M-E |
| Cisco Switching Advantage |
LIC-CS-AC1-L-A LIC-CS-AC1-M-A LIC-CS-CO-MO-A |
WAN Licensing SKUs:
| Cisco WAN Essentials |
LIC-CSWAN-S-E LIC-CSWAN-M-E LIC-CSWAN-L-E LIC-CSWAN-XL-E |
| Cisco WAN Advantage |
LIC-CSWAN-S-A LIC-CSWAN-M-A LIC-CSWAN-L-A LIC-CSWAN-XL-A |
| Cisco Hosted/Managed Cloud service |
LIC-CSWAN-HCLD LIC-CSWAN-HCLDPRO |
| Advanced Security Add-ON SKUs |
LIC-SEC-XL-T LIC-SEC-XL-M LIC-SEC-XL-C LIC-SEC-L-T LIC-SEC-L-M LIC-SEC-L-C LIC-SEC-M-T LIC-SEC-M-M LIC-SEC-M-C LIC-SEC-S-T LIC-SEC-S-M LIC-SEC-S-C |
| Meraki Subscription Licenses |
MX
● LIC-MX-S-A
● LIC-MX-S-E
● LIC-MX-M-A
● LIC-MX-M-E
● LIC-MX-L-A
● LIC-MX-L-E
● LIC-MX-XL-A
● LIC-MX-XL-E
MS
● LIC-MS-100-S-A
● LIC-MS-100-S-E
● LIC-MS-100-M-A
● LIC-MS-100-M-E
● LIC-MS-100-L-A
● LIC-MS-100-L-E
● LIC-MS-200-M-A
● LIC-MS-200-M-E
● LIC-MS-200-L-A
● LIC-MS-200-L-E
● LIC-MS-300-M-A
● LIC-MS-300-M-E
● LIC-MS-300-L-A
● LIC-MS-300-L-E
● LIC-MS-400-M-A
● LIC-MS-400-M-E
● LIC-MS-400-L-A
● LIC-MS-400-L-E
MR
● LIC-MR-A
● LIC-MR-E
MV
● LIC-MV-E
● IC-MV-SEN
● LIC-MV-CA7
● LIC-MV-CA30
● LIC-MV-CA90
● LIC-MV-CA180
● LIC-MV-CA360
MG
● LIC-MG-E
SM
● LIC-SM-E
Z
● LIC-Z-A
● LIC-Z-E
|
Minimum firmware requirements:
● Wireless on-premises: IOS-XE 17.15.2
● Switching: IOS-XE 17.18.1
● SD-WAN: IOS-XE 20.15.3
● Cloud: no Meraki firmware requirements
Flexible payment options make it easier than ever to get the Cisco technology you need.
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| New or Revised Topic |
Described In |
Date |
| Updates to Cisco Support section |
Cisco Support |
5 Jan 2026 |