NX-OS licensing model

This article provides information about licensing for N9300 Smart Switches, such as the Cisco N9324C-SE1U and N9348Y2C6D-SE1U, which run NX-OS software. Nexus 9000 and 3000 series switches use a policy-based licensing solution introduced in NX-OS Release 10.2(1)F known as Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP). SLP is the default and mandatory licensing model for all Nexus 9000 and 3000 series switches, including the N9300 Smart Switches. It offers a consistent licensing experience across all Cisco NX-OS devices.

Tier-based licenses

The Cisco N9300 Series Smart Switches use a tier-based licensing model. This model

  • groups features into different tiers, with each offering a specific set of functionalities,
  • provides more advanced features at higher tiers, and
  • includes Cisco Data Center Networking (DCN) licenses available as subscriptions for 3, 5, or 7 years.

The tier-based DCN licenses supported on N9300 Series Smart Switches are

  • Essentials–provides basic network capabilities,
  • Advantage–includes enhanced features beyond Essentials, and
  • Premier–offers the full set of features.
 Note

The default system software includes a comprehensive set of Layer-3 security and management features.

The tiered licensing approach lets you choose the right level of features and services based on your deployment needs and scale. For more information, see Cisco NX-OS Licensing Options Guide.

Smart Licensing Using Policy

Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP) is a policy-based, flexible software licensing model that

  • provides a seamless licensing experience without disrupting network operations,
  • allows you to use features immediately without needing prior registration or key generation, and
  • tracks license usage and reports it to the Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) for compliance and management.
 Note

All licenses on Nexus switches are unenforced.

To learn, deploy, and troubleshoot NX-OS SLP, see the Cisco NX-OS Licensing page.