Deploy SSM On-Prem on ESXI and Register Catalyst 9000 Switches

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Updated:September 18, 2025
Document ID:224945

Bias-Free Language

The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.

    Introduction

    This document describes how to Deploy SSM On-Prem on ESXI and register Catalyst 9000 Series Switches. 

    Prerequisites

    Requirements

    Cisco recommends that you have knowledge of these topics:

    • Basic configuration of VMware ESXi.

    • Smart Licensing Using Policy for Cisco Catalyst 9000 Series Switches.

    • Familiarity with Smart Software Manager On-Prem.

    Components Used

    The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

    • C9200
    • C9300
    • C9400
    • C9500
    • C9600
    • Cisco IOS® XE &17.X software

    The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

    Configure

    Network Diagram

    Network Diagram

    Configurations

    Deploy SSM On-Prem on ESXI

    1. Download the ISO image from CCO and upload it to the ESXi datastore.

    Image Link: Smart Software Manager On-Prem - 8-202401

    Deploy SSM On-Prem on ESXi

    2. Click Create / Register VM in the upper left corner of ESXI to create a virtual machine.

    Click Create or Register VM

    3. On the Select creation type page, select Create a new virtual machine and click next to proceed to the next step.

    Create a New Virtual Machine

    4. Select a VM name and guest OS, ensure the OS type is set to Linux and the Guest-OS is set to either CentOS 7 64 bit or Linux Other 64 bit.

    Select a VM Name and Guest OS

    5. Select storage for On-Prem deployment. Please ensure that there is sufficient space.

    Select Storage for On-Prem Deployment

    6. Configure the virtual machine hardware and virtual machine additional options, the configuration of the virtual machine must meet these configuration requirements as listed in the table.

    Configure the Virtual Machine Hardware and Virtual Machine Additional Options

    Customize Settings

    7. Review your settings selection before finishing the wizard. After confirmation, click the Finish button to complete the deployment of the virtual machine.

    Ready to Complete

    8. Next, please power on the newly deployed virtual machine to start the installation process. Find the VM you just created in Virtual Machines in ESXI, select it and click Power On above.

    Power On Newly Deployed Virtual Machine

    9. Open console for VM and choose Install Cisco SSm On-Prem. This state stays for about 1 minute, and then it enters the basic settings page.

    Choose Install Cisco SSM On-Prem

    Press Enter Key to Begin Installation

    10. On this page, you need to fill in some SSM On-Prem configurations such as hostname, ip, dns and so on.

    Fill In SSM On-Prem Configurations

    11. After clicking OK, the system asks you to set a password. The passwords you enter twice must be the same. This password is used to log in to the CLI later.

    Set a Password

    12. Then SSM On-Prem continues to install. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. Once completed, the VM automatically starts. Then, SSM On-Prem continues to install.

    Continue Installation

    13. After the restart is complete, you can log in to the CLI to verify. The username is admin and the password is the one you just set.

    Restart Complete

    14.After the installation is complete, you can use your browser to log in to https://x.x.x.x:8443 and proceed to the next step. When the login screen displays, login using these credentials---admin/CiscoAdmin!2345, This is the initial password for the first login to On-Prem.

    Log Into an Existing Account

    15. After clicking Log In, the On-Prem deployment enters the next stage, starting with System Language Selection.

    System Language Selection

    16. On the Temporary Password Reset page, this step resets the GUI password.

    Temporary Password Reset

    17. Next, please set the Host Common Name.

    Set the Host Common Name

    18. Finally, on the Review and Confirm page, please review the configuration just made.

    Review and Confirm

    19. Once you click the Apply button, the page jumps. Please log in with your new password. The installation of SSM On-Prem is now complete.

    Page Jumps to Log In to an Existing Account

    Register Catalyst 9000 Series Switches

    1. Click on Admin Workspace in the upper right corner to enter the On-Prem Admin Workspace.

    Click Admin Workspace

    2. Click Accounts on the left, create an account and activate it, please make sure the account status is Active. For information on how to Create a New Local Account and Re-Registering an Account, please refer to pages 77 to 82 of Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem User Guide .

    Click Accounts

    Account Status is Active

    3. Ensure network reachability for product instance-initiated communication.

    #conf t
    (config)#ip http server
    (config)#ip http secure-server
    (config)#ip http secure-trustpoint SLA-TrustPoint
    (config)#ip http client source-interface g x/x/x
    (config)#ip name-server x.x.x.x
    (config)#ip domain lookup source-interface g x/x/x
    (config)#ip domain name xxx

    (config)#crypto pki trustpoint SLA-TrustPoint
    (ca-trustpoint)#enrollment terminal
    (ca-trustpoint)#revocation-check none

    (config)#exit
    #copy running-config startup-config

    4. Retrieve the Transport URL from Smart Software Manager On-Prem > Smart Licensing > Inventory > General.

    Retrieve the Transport URL from Smart Software Manager OnPrem

    When you click the CSLU Transport URL, On-Prem returns this Product Registration URL.

    Product Registration URL

    5. Setting the Transport Type, URL on Catalyst switch.

    #conf t
    (config)#license smart transport cslu
    (config)#license smart url cslu https://x.x.x.x/cslu/v1/pi/xxxxx%xxxx-x
    (config)#exit
    #copy running-config startup-config

    6. Synchronize the product instance with SSM On-Prem, the switch actively initiates synchronization with SSM On-Prem.

    #license smart sync all

    7. Check Product Instances for SSM On-Prem, The switch information can be observed, which means that the switch is synchronized with SSM On-Prem successfully.

    Check Product Instances for SSM On-Prem

    8. Next, synchronize the usage information on the SSM On-Prem with the Cisco SSM (CSSM) in Smart Software Manager On-Prem > Smart Licensing > Reports > Usage Schedules.

    Synchronize Usage Information

    9. Log in to Smart Software Manager  and check whether the synchronization with SSM On-Prem is successful.

    Synchronization Successful

    Related Information

    Revision History

    Revision Publish Date Comments
    1.0
    18-Sep-2025
    Initial Release
    TAC Authored

    Contributed by Cisco Engineers

    • Hanzhu Yang
      Technical Consulting Engineer

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