Cisco Data Center Network Manager (Cisco DCNM) is a multi-domain manager for NX-OS capable platforms that helps provision, monitor, manage, and maintain NX-OS based data center deployments. Cisco DCNM supports SAN fabrics, LAN fabrics, IP for media controller and traditional LAN deployments.

Cisco DCNM has various features which are enabled at no cost as part of the image. The features are divided based on SAN and LAN platforms (hardware support and Cisco NX-OS features) and application specific features such as VMware path analytics [vCenter integration], performance trending, event forwarding and many more.

In order to enable all advanced features and capabilities of DCNM management tool, a license is required. Each device managed by Cisco DCNM needs a license key, which provides a Right to Manage (RTM) for a given node. The license key, or a pack of licenses, may be installed in the Cisco DCNM server (for LAN or SAN function) or on the switch (for SAN function ). DCNM LAN expertise is licensed as part of switch-tier licenses which includes Essential, Advantage, and Premier tiers. DCNM SAN expertise is licensed as part of the ACI-STRG which is an add-on for Cisco Nexus 9300 switches.

From Release 11.1(1), DCNM supports the Cisco Smart License hosting of DCNM Licenses. After enabling smart licensing in DCNM, you can request a DCNM license from Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) server. CSSM is an intuitive portal where you can activate and manage all your licenses related to Cisco.

From Release 11.2(1), DCNM also provides a license-hosting platform for the Network Insights applications, like Network Insights for Resources (NIR) and Network Insights Advisor (NIA). It validates the license entitlements on behalf of these applications.

From Release 11.3(1), DCNM supports discovery and provisioning of non-Nexus switches such as Cisco UCS, and Cisco CSR.

From Release 11.4(1), DCNM supports non-Nexus switches such as Cisco ASR1k, and Cat 9000.

From Release 11.5(2), Switch-smart license type is added for switches.

The purpose of DCNM advanced feature license is to enable additional capabilities and features apart from a basic installation offered for no cost.

Few basic licensing concepts are illustrated here:

• DCNM server-based license keys supply a license ID that uniquely identifies the server hosting the DCNM application.

• DCNM server-based license keys are created in such a way that they include this license ID.

• You will receive the license key file. Go to Administrator > Manage Licensing > DCNM. On Server License Files tab, click Add license file to add the .lic file. It permits the use of additional features packaged in the Cisco DCNM software.

• DCNM switch-based licenses keys must be created with a license ID that is the switch's HostID. vFM_SERVER_PKG is an option available on switch-based license only for SAN.

• To install switch-based license through POAP, place an appropriate switch license file in the path /var/lib/dcnm/licenses. DCNM generates a .idx file, later bootstrap will copy and install the license on the switch.

• Cisco Nexus Essentials and Advantage Licenses supply an implicit RTM license that is tied to the switch's HostID. DCNM must be able to detect those licenses by querying the node.

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 (https://software.cisco.com/software/csws/ws/platform/home).

For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/licensing/licensing-guide.html.

For DCNM server-based licenses, the DCNM keeps a pool of licenses that are assigned to the discovered switches. The DCNM licensed devices feature allows you to select which physical devices you can manage. You assign a license instance to one of the discovered nodes.

For switch-based licenses such as SAN, NX-OS, DCN storage add-on, and DCN tiered licenses (Essentials/Advantage/Premier) DCNM indicates that the device is managed as DCNM recognizes the device carries an RTM license.

You can add devices to licenses based on your license support. For example, if you install two LAN Enterprise licenses that each support 5 devices of a given type of device, you can add a total of 10 devices to the list of licensed devices.

The license price for DCNM native PIDs, which are not Nexus Essentials or Advantage are determined by the platform type and by the number of units within each platform. The advanced feature licenses are available for the following switching platforms: Cisco Nexus 7000, Nexus 7700, Nexus 9200, Nexus 9300, Nexus 9500, Nexus 5000, Nexus 3000, MDS 9100, MDS 9200, MDS 9300, MDS 9500, and MDS 9700 Series. Each platform has an individual price that is based on whether it is a LAN versus SAN switch and modular versus fixed chassis. The supported features for Cisco Nexus 1000V series switches are part of the image at no cost.

If you have purchased the Cisco DCNM server-based advanced feature license for any Cisco Nexus or Cisco MDS switches, that license stays valid for the lifetime of the platform at Cisco. For example, if you replace an older switch with a new generation switch of the same platform (that is, MDS 9706 with MDS 9718) the license can be reassigned.

If you have purchased the Cisco DCNM switch-based smart software license for any Cisco Nexus switches, it enables you to purchase licenses for 3 years, 5 years, or 7 years based on your licensing requirements.

For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/licensing/licensing-guide.html.

Cisco DCNM also honors older Fabric Manager (FM) licenses (SAN only) that have been installed on switches. Just like all switch-based licenses, Fabric Manager licenses are only valid for the lifetime of the switch inside the data center and expire when the switch is decommissioned from the data center.

Service contracts SWSS are required for DCNM SAN Advanced license for Cisco TAC support and upgrades from one version of Cisco DCNM to another.

If you try to use a Cisco DCNM licensed feature on a device that you have not added to the list of licensed devices, the Cisco DCNM client does not allow you to use the feature to configure the unlicensed device.

Cisco DCNM is packaged with a time-based default evaluation license upon installation. An Advanced Feature Trial License exists on the server after the initial installation. On the Cisco DCNM Web Client, a license filename with text of 30DayTrialLicense is added in Administration > DCNM Server > License window. After 30 days of trial, click Assign All or Unassign All to change all the license from evaluation license to permanent licenses.

The 120 Days trial license provides 50 SAN and 50 LAN advanced feature licenses without having to download or install a single file. This license will work for any licensable switch and expires after 120 days. If you are using server-based licenses, you must use the MAC address of the DCNM server to fetch an evaluation license or a permanent license from www.cisco.com. Switch-based permanent licenses for Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches need the serial number of the chassis instead.

The following terms are used in the Licensing Guide:

• Advanced license: License that unlocks advanced features of Cisco DCNM.

• Chassis serial number: The switch serial number that is used to claim a fabric manager license by providing a valid Product Authorization Key (PAK). This serial number is the same as the Host ID of the switch.

• Eval: The duration of support for a product or a feature.

• Evaluation license: License that is time-bound and valid for 60 days for every 20 units of the specified platform.

• Host IDs: MAC address of the Cisco DCNM server used to claim a license by providing a valid PAK or the Host ID of the switch for a switch-based license.

• License enforcement: Mechanism that prevents a feature from being used without first obtaining a license.

• License key file: Device-specific unique file that specifies the licensed features. Each file contains digital signatures to prevent tampering and modification. License keys are required to use a licensed feature. License keys are enforced within a specified time span. You can download license keys directly from the Cisco website and send it as an email attachment.

• Licensed application: A software feature that requires a license to be used.

• Licensed feature: Permission to use a particular feature through a license file, a hardware object, or a legal contract. This permission is limited to time span, and the implemented switch.

• Node-locked license: License that can only be used on a particular switch that uses the unique host ID.

• Permanent license: License that is not time-bound.

• Product Authorization Key (PAK): The feature that allows you to obtain a license key from one of the sites that are listed in the proof of purchase document. After registering at the specified website, you will receive your license key file and installation instructions through an email.

• Product identifier (PID): The product ID that provides information about the product like the name, product number, and so on.

• Proof of purchase: A document that entitles its rightful owner to use licensed features on a Cisco MDS switch as described in that document. This document is also known as the claim certificate.

• Server-based license: Cisco DCNM license that is tied down to the host ID of the management or database server. It is located on the management server or the license pool.

• Switch-embedded license: DCNM license that is installed on the switch supervisor and associated with a switch serial number.

• Support: If you purchase Cisco support through a Cisco reseller, contact the reseller directly. If you purchase support directly from Cisco, contact Cisco Technical Support at this URL: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/support/tsd_cisco_worldwide_contacts.html

• Term: The duration of a license.

• Unlicensed features: Features that come at no cost as part of the product install. These features are unlocked.

Note	The Cisco DCNM related license supports only US English. Installing a license for any locale other than US English results in an error.

Administering DCNM Licensed Devices has the following configuration guidelines and limitations:

• You can add only managed devices to the list of licensed devices.

• You can add to the list of licensed devices only as many devices as permitted by all of the advanced feature licenses that you have installed or that are recognized in the switch.

• When you remove a device from the list of licensed devices, the device becomes unlicensed.

  Note	A device will not be deleted from inventory based on a license action.

  If the physical device supports virtual device context (VDCs), all the VDCs on the device are removed from Cisco DCNM. To continue managing the device, you must discover the device.

Cisco DCNM Licensing can be server-based or switch-based, smart thru DCNM license, or switch smart-based. Licenses are identified by specific product identifiers (PIDs).

• Server-based: They are generic for a given product family. For example, DCNM-LAN-N95-K9 is a server-based license for Nexus 9500 Series Switches. The server manages any device it finds for that series of switches. All licenses are tied to the MAC address of the server.

• Switch-based: They are specific to the managed switch. For example, DCNM-SAN-M92X-K9= is a switch-based license for Cisco MDS 9200 Switches. The license is tied to the host ID of the switch, for example, JAE1842025J.

  To get a host ID, use the following command: switch# show license host-id.

  The “X” in the license PID indicates a switch-based license. This type of license is typically used for storage functionality, but it is not used for LAN functionality. The NXOS Essentials or Advantage licenses are effectively switch-based licenses that enable DCNM.

• Smart through DCNM: These are smart licenses enabled on DCNM, used to manage licenses from CSSM for devices and renew them if required.

  For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/licensing/licensing-guide.html.

• Switch smart-based: They are specific to the switches. If smart licensing is enabled on a switch, the switch procures switch-smart license from CSSM (Cisco Smart Software Manager).

You can get a license in the following two ways:

• Purchase along with switch

  • Get the NXOS, DCN Storage add-on, and DCN tiered licenses or Advantage license or the NXOS/ACI combined Essentials, Advantage, or Premier license subscription. This package gives you the RTM with DCNM.

  • Get the software bundle as part of the purchase, like N77-C7710-SBUN-P1.

  • Get the Cisco DCNM native license, like DCNM-LAN-N93-K9, as part of the purchase.

• Spare License

  • Purchase a spare Nexus Essentials or Advantage or Nexus/ACI combined Essentials, Advantage, Premier subscription license.

  • Purchase a spare Software Bundle.

  • Purchase a Server-based license. For example: L-DCNM-N5K-K9=

  • Purchase a Switch-based license. For example: L-DCNM-S-M97XK9=

Following table displays the various license examples:

Table 1. Server-based License Examples

PID/License	Class	Description	Type
DCNM-SVR-11-K9	DCNM	Server PID for 0$ SKU Purchase	Implicit License; no license file required
DCNM-SVR-11-K9=	DCNM	Server PID for 0$ SKU Purchase	Implicit License; no license file required Note  Only one DCNM-SVR-11-K9= license is required for each Native HA cluster, regardless of the number of DCNM nodes.
DCNM-LAN-N5K-K9	N5000	DCNM LAN Adv Features for Nexus 5000	Server-based
DCNM-LS-N5K-K9=	N5000	DCNM LAN+SAN Adv Features for Nexus 5000	Server-based
L-DCNM-LS-N5K-K9=	N5000	DCNM LAN+SAN Adv Features for Nexus 5000 eDelivery	Server-based
L-DCNM-S-N7K-K9=	N7000	DCNM SAN Adv Features License for Nexus 7000 eDelivery	Server-based
N77-SBUN-P2=	N7000	Includes LAN, VDC, EL2, TRS & DCNM LAN Licenses - Promotion includes DCNM-L-N77-K9-SBUN Server-license	Server-based
DCNM-LAN-N77-K9	N7000	DCNM LAN Adv Features License for Nexus 7700 Server-based	Server-based
DCNM-LAN-N95-K9	N9500	DCNM LAN Adv Features License for Nexus 9500 Server-based	Server-based
DCNM-SAN-M91-K9	MDS9000	DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9100 Server-based DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9100 Server-based	Server-based
L-DCNM-S-M91-K9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN License for MDS 9100	Server-based (eDelivery; Spare)
DCNM-SAN-M92-K9	MDS9000	DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9200 Server-based DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9200 Server-based	Server-based
L-DCNM-S-M92-K9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN License for MDS 9200	Server-based (eDelivery; Spare)
DCNM-SAN-M97-K9	MDS9000	DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9700 Server-based DCNM for SAN Adv. License for MDS 9700 Server-based	Server-based
L-DCNM-S-M97-K9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN License for MDS 9700	Server-based (eDelivery; Spare)

Table 2. Switch Based License Examples

PID/License	Class	Description	Type
L-DCNM-S-N5KXK9=	N5000	DCNM SAN Adv Features for Nexus 5000 Switch-based eDelivery	Switch-based
DCNM-S-M91XK9	MDS9000	DCNM SAN Adv Features for MDS 9100 Switch-based	Switch-based
DCNM-S-M91XK9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN for MDS 9100	Switch-based (eDelivery; Spare)
DCNM-S-M92XK9	MDS9000	DCNM SAN Adv Features for MDS 9200 Switch-based	Switch-based
DCNM-SAN-M93X-K9	MDS9000	DCNM SAN Adv. License for MDS 9300 Switch-based	Switch-based
L-DCNM-S-M93X-K9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN License for MDS 9300	Switch-based (eDelivery; Spare)
DCNM-S-M97XK9	MDS9000	DCNM SAN Adv. Feat. For MDS 9700 Switch-based	Switch-based
DCNM-S-M97XK9=	MDS9000	DCNM SAN for MDS 9700	Switch-based (eDelivery; Spare)

For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/licensing/licensing-guide.html.

The following table shows the feature history of the licensing features in DCNM Web UI.

Table 4. Cisco DCNM Server Licensing Feature History

Release	Feature History
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(2)	Switch smart license: New license type is added for switches. Trial Period: Changed from 60 days to 120 days. However, the trial period remains 60 for inline upgrades.
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.4(1)	There are no updates for this release.
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.3(1)	Application Licensing Tool: Support added to manage licenses for applications. Bulk Install: Support added to upload multiple licenses at a single instance and manage file-based licenses installed on the switches. Honor License Mode: Support added to use licensed features even after the license expires. Switches remain in honor mode until the switch is licensed again or you manually remove the license. Number of licenses: Changed from 500 to 50. However, the number of licenses remains 500 for inline upgrades. Trial period: Changed from 30 days to 60 days. However, the trial period remains 30 for inline upgrades.
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.2(1)	There are no updates for this release.
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.1(1)	Smart License: Support added to manage the licenses at device-level and renew them if required. For a more detailed overview on Cisco Licensing, go to https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy/licensing/licensing-guide.html.

The following table provides the navigation paths to the licensing features in Cisco DCNM Web UI.

Table 5. Cisco DCNM Server Licensing Navigation Path

DCNM Release	Supported Deployments	DCNM Web UI Navigation Path 1
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.5(1)	LAN Fabric	Manage Licensing You can view the existing DCNM licenses, switch licenses, and application licenses in the Cisco DCNM Web UI. Choose Administration > Manage Licensing. The Manage Licensing menu includes the following submenus: DCNM License Assignments Smart License Server License Files Switch Features Bulk Install Applications Application Licenses Application License Files Note  The application licensing tool is supported on Cisco DCNM OVA and ISO installations only.
	Media Controller
	SAN Management
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.4(1)	LAN Fabric
	Media Controller
	SAN Management
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.3(1)	Classic LAN
	LAN Fabric
	Media Controller
	SAN Management
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.2(1)	Classic LAN	Managing Licenses You can view the existing Cisco DCNM licenses in the Cisco DCNM Web UI. Choose Administration > DCNM Server > License. You can view and assign licenses in the following tabs: License Assignments Smart License Server License Files
	LAN Fabric
	Media Controller
	SAN Management
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.1(1)	Classic LAN	Managing Licenses You can view the existing Cisco DCNM licenses in the Cisco DCNM Web UI. Choose Administration > DCNM Server > License. You can view and assign licenses in the following tabs: License Assignments Smart License Server License Files
	LAN Fabric
	Media Controller
	SAN Management
Cisco DCNM, Release 11.0(1)	Classic LAN	Managing Licenses You can view the existing Cisco DCNM licenses in the Cisco DCNM Web UI. Choose Administration > DCNM Server > License. You can view and assign licenses in the following tabs: License Assignments Server License Files
	LAN Fabric
	Media Controller
	SAN Management

This section includes free and licensed DCNM-LAN features, DCNM-SAN features, and the SAN Client features that work with licensed fabric. The features for which no license is required are also listed out.

If the switch is pre-configured with a smart license, DCNM validates and assigns a switch smart license. To assign licenses to switch using the Cisco DCNM UI, choose Administration > Manage Licensing >Assign License or, AssignAll.

Note	From Cisco NX-OS Release 9.3(6), switch smart license is supported.

To enable switch smart license on DCNM:

• Enable smart license feature on the switch, using freeform CLI configuration.

• Configure smart licensing on the switch, using feature license smart or license smart enable command on the switch.

• Push token of your device to smart account using license smart register idtoken command. Use EXEC option in DCNM to push token. For more details, refer to Running EXEC Mode Commands in DCNM.

For unlicensed switches, licenses are assigned based on this priority:

1. DCNM Smart License

2. DCNM Server License

3. DCNM Eval License

The following are the features for which no license is required.

• SAN and LAN discovery.

• Event Registration (traps/syslogs/accounting/threshold).

• Event Registration (traps/syslogs/accounting/threshold).

• Web Services (SOAP XML API).

• Federation (upto 10 DCNM servers).

• EMC Callhome.

The following are a few restrictions with respect to opening an unlicensed fabric. Opening a fabric from remote SAN client requires Cisco DCNM Advanced License.

• If you are using a remote Cisco DCNM SAN client, you will not be able to open any unlicensed fabric. The fabric needs to be licensed, and therefore the Cisco DCNM Essential license will not work.

• If you are trying to open an unlicensed fabric from SAN client running on the Cisco DCNM server, you will be able to open only one unlicensed fabric at a time.

• If one instance is opened from a local SAN client, you can not open another instance of an unlicensed fabric.