Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches Ordering Guide

 

Things to know

Before placing an order, review the following information:

●     Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches offer structure has two main components: the hardware switch, which includes the Network Stack perpetual license, and a Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) term license.

●     Cisco DNA term licenses and Network Stack perpetual licenses are Smart Product IDs (PIDs). Cisco DNA term licenses are required with a hardware purchase.

●     A Smart Account is mandated during purchase (for more information, please see the Smart Accounts section).

●     Available services options are:

◦    Solution Support

◦    Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW)

◦    Solution support for hardware and Network Stack perpetual license

◦    Embedded support for Cisco DNA term license

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series highlights

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches are Cisco’s lead fixed enterprise core and aggregation switching platform and as part of the Catalyst 9000 family, are build to transform your network to handle a hybrid world where the workplace is anywhere, endpoints could be anything, and applications are hosted all over the place.

The Catalyst 9500 Series, including the new Catalyst 9500X models, continues to shape the future with continued innovation that helps you reimagine connections, reinforce security and redefine the experience for your hybrid workforce big and small.

This document is aimed at providing a detailed overview of the ordering process for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches on Cisco Commerce Workspace.

Hardware and software order overview

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches can be ordered through Cisco Commerce Workspace as Cisco DNA Advantage or Essentials software subscriptions. All options include a switch hardware embedded with Cisco IOS and Network Stack software. In addition to the hardware and embedded network software, the offer requires the addition of the term-based Cisco DNA subscription software, which includes Embedded Support. Figure 1 gives an overview of available Cisco DNA software subscription options and shows what is included in each software package.

How to order a Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switch

Both Network Stack licenses and Cisco DNA licenses are mandatory at the time of purchase and come in two licensing tier options: Essential (-E) and Advantage (-A). Network Stack Essential or Advantage comes embedded in the hardware, while a Cisco DNA term license needs to be selected at the time of order.

To order in the Cisco Commerce Workspace, follow these steps:

1.     Select the appropriate C9500 or C9500X -E or -A device for the desired license type.

2.     Choose the preferred consumption model Cisco DNA Advantage or Essentials.

3.     Choose the Cisco DNA term license (3, 5, or 7 years).

4.     Add other components (for example, secondary power supply, power cables, IOS Software version, SSD and so on).

Step-by-step ordering in Cisco commerce workspace

Enter the hardware PID in Cisco Commerce Workspace.

The Network Stack license is perpetual and embedded in the hardware by default (it will not be visible in the selection menu) and aligns with the hardware PID (-E/-A).

The Cisco DNA license is term-based and preselected by default to the 5-year term, but can be changed to 3- or 7-year terms. The Cisco DNA license is mandatory (customers must select one of the terms to complete the configuration).

A selection of minimum quantity of 1 from Software is mandatory to complete the configuration:

The primary power supply is added by default, based on the hardware model:

A secondary power supply is selected by default. Please select the C9500-SPS-NONE option if a secondary power supply is not required.

A power cable must be selected to complete the configuration:

For C9500X, an option is provided to select the desired direction of airflow (Note: 6 front to back cooling Fans selected by default and can be changed to 6 back to front cooling Fans):

Default accessories shipped with the box

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches ships with the following components and accessories by default:

●     Switch

●     Default power supply (based on selected switch)

●     Power cable

●     Accessories (19” Mounting brackets, cable guide etc. as described in the Catalyst 9500 Hardware Installation Guide)

Licensing

Introduction to Smart Licensing

Cisco Smart Licensing is a flexible licensing model that provides you with an easier, faster, and more consistent way to purchase and manage software across the Cisco portfolio and across your organization. And it’s secure – you control what users can access. With Smart Licensing you get:

●     Easy Activation: Smart Licensing establishes a pool of software licenses that can be used across the entire organization—no more PAKs (Product Activation Keys).

●     Unified Management: My Cisco Entitlements (MCE) provides a complete view into all of your Cisco products and services in an easy-to-use portal, so you always know what you have and what you are using.

●     License Flexibility: Your software is not node-locked to your hardware, so you can easily use and transfer licenses as needed.

To use Smart Licensing, you must first set up a Smart Account on Cisco Software Central (software.cisco.com).

For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to cisco.com/go/licensingguide

All Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series hardware has two software options. Each software option includes two components, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1.           License levels and options

Upgrading license level

Customers will be able to upgrade the Network Stack and Cisco DNA license levels (for example, -E to -A license upgrade). Customers will be credited for the remainder of the term. Customers will purchase the upgrade license and then reach out to CPS (Cisco Partner Services) to initiate the upgrade process, which includes the license-level upgrade and credit.

Note that a license cannot be upgraded at the time of purchase.

Smart accounts

Things to know:

●     Smart License enabled refers to Cisco offers that have Smart Software Licensing capabilities.

●     Smart Account assignments at the time of order are mandatory. Customers benefit from Smart Software Licensing capabilities across their entire Cisco Smart Software License-enabled installed base all appearing in a central location: their Smart Account.

●     Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM) will enable the management of Cisco catalyst 9500 Series switch software licenses.

●     Smart License consumption visibility will only be available when the switch supports the Smart Licensing technology via the Entitlement Portal.

A Smart Account is a central data repository that provides visibility and access control to all of Cisco software licenses and entitlements across an organization. Smart Accounts allow you to store, manage, and move assets from one place to another and begin to use them immediately. Smart Accounts are crucial to helping enable Cisco Smart Software Licensing. With Smart Software Licensing, capabilities extend across an entire organization:

●     Operations Exchange site featuring Smart Account overviews and training sessions; navigate to the Smart Account Resources panel on the page

●     Smart Account one-page aid

After a Smart Account has been set up, customers have the flexibility to create subaccounts (virtual accounts) to help manage licenses for departments, areas, or locations within their organization. Licenses can be pooled within virtual accounts as needed. Smart Accounts have role-based user access controls, which allow the delegation of authority to account administrators at the Smart Account level or at the virtual account level. In addition, customers can manage partner visibility and management rights to your virtual or enterprise-level accounts.

Creating smart accounts

To learn how to create Smart Accounts, visit https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/smart-accounts.html.

Smart licensing

Smart Licensing is a cloud-based approach to licensing. The solution simplifies the purchase, deployment, and management of Cisco software assets. Entitlements are immediately deposited into your virtual account for usage. This eliminates the need to install license files on every device. Products that are smart enabled communicate to Cisco to report consumption. The primary location to manage product registration and monitor Smart License consumption is the Cisco Smart Software Manager. License ownership and consumption are readily available to help make better purchase decisions based on consumption or other business needs.

Smart Software Manager Section

Cisco Smart Software Manager enables the management of software licenses. The interface allows you to activate your product, manage entitlements, and renew and upgrade software. A functioning Smart Account is required to complete the Smart License registration process.

To learn more about end-to-end Smart Account and Smart Licensing management, visit https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/smart-accounts/software-manager.html.

Smart Accounts and Smart Licensing availability

Important information about Smart Account and Smart License availability

●     C9500 and C9500X PIDs are smart PIDs, but the switch will operate in RTU mode by default. License entitlements will be deposited in the Cisco Smart Software Manager and the Smart Account. In addition to viewing entitlements, customers will be able to track consumption.

●     Smart Accounts are mandatory. If a customer does not have a Smart Account set up prior to the purchase, a new Smart Account must be created at the time of purchase.

Deploying smart licenses for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches come in different licensing packages in comparison to existing Cisco Catalyst platforms. The ordering process will include a requirement to establish a Smart Account where software licenses will be deposited. Smart Licenses are transferable between the same type of devices (for example, from C9500 to C9500 switches). (See Figure 2.)

Smart licensing model

In the deployment model in Figure 2, the Smart Account Cisco back end and Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches do not have a communication channel to report usage and consumption. They operate as separate entities. The switches must be configured in RTU mode with correct license level to enable the purchased feature set:

●     Consumption reporting: License usage and consumption are performed on Cisco Smart Software Manager only when the device has capability to report Smart License usage.

For further references about the Cisco Catalyst 9000 RTU licensing model, refer to the Configuration Guide.

Software-Defined Access (SD-Access)

Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) enables policy-based automation from edge to cloud with foundational capabilities using controller-based architecture, including design with validated design templates, simplified device deployment, unified management of wired and wireless, network virtualization with segmentation, group-based policies, and contextual-based analytics.

SD-Access can be enabled via individual Cisco DNA Advantage.

Services and warranty

The Solution Support service option is strongly recommended; it provides coverage Cisco DNA Advantage software licenses. Additional product-level hardware support options are available: Smart Net Total Care, Partner Support Service, embedded support, and Enhanced Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty (E-LLW). Please note that if Solution Support is not selected, Cisco DNA Advantage software licenses can still be covered by selecting the embedded support option.

It is strongly recommended that the term of the hardware support contract match the software subscription license term to avoid any service support gaps for the duration of the term.

The figures below describe the various service options for Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series switches.

Solution Support

Smart Net Total Care support

Partner Support Service

Embedded support

Technical service features comparison

Cisco Enhanced Limited Lifetime hardware Warranty

Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series switches come with an Enhanced Limited Lifetime hardware Warranty (E-LLW) that includes Next-Business-Day (NBD) delivery of replacement hardware where available and 90 days of 8x5 Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) support.

Ordering Information

Tables 2 provides ordering information for switches, Cisco DNA Software licenses

Table 2.           Switches and Cisco DNA subscription software

Table 3 provides ordering information for network modules, power supplies, cables, fan and accessories

Table 3.           Network modules, power supplies, cables, fan and accessories

Table 4 provides ordering information for Software PIDs

Table 4.           Software PIDs

Optics support

The Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series supports a wide range of optics. Because the list of supported optics is updated on a regular basis, please consult the tables available here for the latest compatibility information: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/interfaces-modules/transceiver-modules/products-device-support-tables-list.html.

Important links

Smart Accounts: all you need to know

●     Operations Exchange: partner and distributor software training: A comprehensive list of external software training resources. Detailed training modules for ordering and license management.

●     SalesConnect Briefcase: Software training resources for Cisco internal sellers.

●     Smart Account Leading Practices for Customers: A leading practices guide that can help customers decide how to structure their Smart Accounts or if they need multiple Smart Accounts.

●     Smart Account Decision Tree: A short branching survey that helps partners and customers understand what type of Smart Accounts to create. Message templates for account managers to use when sending information about Smart Accounts to customers.

●     CDC site: The primary Cisco.com site for Smart Accounts.

●     AMER Software training schedule: List of live software training sessions currently offered.

●     Training reservation form: Form to request a live software training session.