Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches Ordering Guide

 

Things to know

Before placing an order, please review the following:

●      The Cisco^® Catalyst^® 9500 Series 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.

●      Smart Accounts are strongly recommended and will be mandated after First Customer Shipment (FCS) (see the Smart Accounts section for more information).

●      Smart Licensing technology is not enabled on the switch at FCS but will be available at a later time. At FCS, the license PIDs are set up as Smart PIDs but will operate in Right- To-Use (RTU) mode. See the Smart Licensing section for details.

●      Services:

◦    Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW)

◦    Solution support for hardware and Network Stack perpetual license

◦    Embedded Support for Cisco DNA term license

●      Available service options:

◦    Solution support

◦    E-LLW

◦    Cisco Smart Net Total Care^® support

◦    Embedded Support for Cisco DNA term license

Common abbreviations

●      Network Stack: NW

●      Cisco Digital Network Architecture: Cisco DNA

●      Essentials: -E

●      Advantage: -A

●      Smart Account: SA

●      Smart License: SL

●      Right to use: RTU

First customer shipment: FCS

Purpose of this document

This document provides a detailed overview of the ordering process for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches on Cisco Commerce Workspace.

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series highlights

The Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series is the next generation enterprise-class core and aggregation layer platform, including the industry’s first 100-Gbps switch targeted for the enterprise campus. Built for security, mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and the cloud, it supports full programmability and serviceability. The Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches form the foundational building block for Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access), Cisco’s lead enterprise architecture.

Hardware and software ordering overview

Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches can be ordered through Cisco Commerce Workspace as a Cisco ONE^™ subscription or as an individual subscription. Both options include switch hardware embedded with Cisco IOS^® and Network Stack software. In addition to the hardware and embedded 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 ONE and individual options and shows what is included in each software package.

Overview of Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series offers

How to order the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series

Both Network Stack licenses and Cisco DNA licenses are mandatory at the time of purchase and come in two licensing tier options: Essentials (-E) and Advantage (-A). Network Stack Essentials 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 Cisco Commerce Workspace, follow these steps:

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

2.     Choose the preferred consumption model (Cisco ONE or individual).

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

4.     Add other components (for example, secondary power supply, power cables, 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 included with the hardware by default (it will not be visible in the selection menu) per the respective hardware SKU suffix (example: C9500-12Q-E/ C9500-12Q-A).

A Cisco ONE option is available for selection and is the default. Customers are encouraged to purchase the Cisco ONE Advantage option to enable advanced Cisco DNA solutions:

Note:      Follow the steps in the screen shots below to change from the 5-year default term to a 3- or 7-year term for the Cisco ONE license.

 

Check the summary to validate that all terms are aligned as intended.

For the Cisco ONE option, Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series models come by default with typical 25 endpoints or flows; an additional 25 are available as an add-on. The next screen shot shows how to select the desired number of endpoints.

For the a la carte option, the term-based Cisco DNA license is set by default to the 5-year term but can be changed to a 3- or 7-year term. The Cisco DNA term license is mandatory (customers must select one of the term options to complete the configuration) and aligns with the hardware SKU suffix (-E or -A):

A power cable must be selected to complete the configuration:

The primary power supply is added by default, based on the hardware model (it will be visible in the selection menu).

A secondary power supply can be added. Please select the C9500-SPS-NONE option if a secondary power supply is not required.

The C9500-NM-BLANK network module is selected by default, but another selection can be made.

Console cables are also available, as shown in the screen shot below.

Default accessories shipped with the box

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

●      Switch

●      Default power supply (based on selected switch)

●      Power cable

Licensing

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 the license level (not available at FCS)

Customers will have the option to upgrade the Network Stack and Cisco DNA license levels (for example, from -E to -A) through a license upgrade, which will be available post-launch. They will purchase the upgrade license and then reach out to CPS to initiate the upgrade process. Customers will be able to select term licenses using the C9500- LIC= SKU. The Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series license upgrade SKUs are listed in the Ordering Information section.

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

Smart Accounts

Smart Accounts are mandatory at the time of ordering the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series.

A Smart Account is a central data repository that provides visibility and access control to all the Cisco software licenses and entitlements across an organization. Smart Accounts allow customers to store, manage, and move assets across locations and devices and begin to use them immediately. Smart Accounts are required for enabling Cisco Smart Software Licensing.

After a Smart Account has been set up, customers have the flexibility to create sub-accounts (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 support 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 assign partner visibility and management rights to their virtual or enterprise-level accounts.

Additional information

●      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

●      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 the customer’s virtual account for use. This eliminates the need to install license files on every device. Products that are smart enabled communicate with Cisco to report license consumption. The primary location for managing product registration and monitoring Smart License consumption is the Cisco Smart Software Manager. License ownership and consumption are readily available to help customers make better purchase decisions based on consumption or other business needs.

Smart Licensing for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches is enabled starting from the 16.9.1 release.

Cisco Smart Software Manager

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 Account and Smart License availability

Important information about Smart Account and Smart License availability

At FCS:

●      C9500 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. License consumption will be available in the future.

●      Smart Accounts are not mandatory. However, they will be mandated after FCS. Therefore, Smart Account setup is recommended at the time of or prior to the hardware purchase so that the transition to Smart Licensing is transparent and the customer can use the Smart Account and Cisco Smart Software Manager license management capabilities.

After FCS:

●      In addition to viewing entitlements, customers will be able to track consumption.

●      Smart Accounts will be mandated after FCS. 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 9400 Series Switches

The licensing packages for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches are different from those for existing Cisco Catalyst platforms. When Smart Licensing technology is enabled on the switch (at a later time), the ordering process will include a requirement to establish a Smart Account, into which Smart Licenses will be deposited. Smart Licenses are transferable between the same types of devices (for example, from C9500 switches to other 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 therefore be configured in RTU mode with the correct license level to enable the purchased feature set.

●      Possible deployment modes:

◦    RTU: The licensing mode on Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches remains RTU in Cisco IOS XE Release 16.6.1. However, the licensing structure in RTU has been modified to exactly match the packaging model that will be used with Smart License mode in the future. Unified licensing modes between RTU and Smart License mode will help to simplify the migration and reduce the time for implementing Smart Licenses with usage reports.

◦    Smart Licensing is currently not supported on Cisco Catalyst 9000 switches. It is on the roadmap for future releases.

●      Consumption reporting: License usage and consumption are performed in Cisco Smart Software Manager only when the device is capable of reporting Smart License usage. Cisco IOS XE Release 16.6.1 does not include the infrastructure for reporting license usage on the switches to Cisco Smart Software Manager.

For further information about Cisco Catalyst 9000 switch 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 templates, simplified device deployment, unified management of wired and wireless, network virtualization with segmentation, group-based policies, and context-based analytics.

SD-Access can be enabled via individual Cisco DNA Advantage or Cisco ONE Advantage, as shown in Figure 3.

Enabling SD-Access

Services and warranty

The Solution Support service option is strongly recommended; it provides coverage for a Cisco DNA or Cisco ONE software license. Additional product-level hardware support options are available: Smart Net Total Care^® support, Partner Support Service, Embedded Support, and E-LLW. Please note that if Solution Support is not selected, Cisco DNA or Cisco ONE 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. Figures 4 through 9 describe the various service options for the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches.

Services Support for Cisco Catalyst 9500

Solution Support

Smart Net Total Care Support

Partner Support Service

Embedded Support

Technical service features comparison

Cisco Enhanced Limited Lifetime hardware warranty

Cisco Catalyst 9400 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 provide ordering information for switches, Cisco DNA and Cisco ONE licenses, respectively.

Table 2.        Switches and Cisco DNA/Cisco ONE

Table 3.        Switch Accessories

Table 4.        Cisco DNA licenses

Cisco ONE subscription for Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches

The Cisco ONE subscription for switching simplifies the consumption of Cisco DNA solutions by combining automation, analytics, and security with comprehensive software support in a single purchase. Design, provision, and assure services with full network visibility while quickly accessing updates and the latest innovations. Enjoy a lower cost of entry and flexible terms.

The Cisco ONE option available for the Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series switches is Cisco ONE Advantage.

Cisco ONE Advantage includes Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Base and ISE Plus, Stealthwatch^®, and a Cisco DNA Advantage term license.

Table 5 provides ordering information for Cisco ONE.

Table 5.        Cisco ONE options

Important links

Smart Accounts: All you need to know

●      Operations exchange: Partner and distributor software training: A comprehensive list of external software training resources and detailed training modules for ordering and license management.

●      Smart Account leading practices for customers: A leading practices guide that can help customers decide how to structure their Smart Accounts, including 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.

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

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

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