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Cisco® MDS Smart Licensing is a cloud-based licensing solution that enables compliance for hardware and software licenses with no interruption to network operations.
Smart Licensing using Policy (SLP) is the new Cisco MDS licensing model which is supported starting with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2) and it will be the only licensing mechanism available from this release and onward. It provides a cloud-based licensing solution that enables a compliance relationship to the account for the hardware and software licenses purchased and used, with no interruption to network operations.
The SLP provides a seamless experience as follows:
● Purchase: Licenses are purchased through the existing channels and use the Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) portal to view product instances and licenses.
● Use: There are two categories of Cisco MDS switch licenses — software licenses and port activation licenses. For both categories, there is no requirement for license registration. Only for Port activation licenses, an authorization key has to be generated to enable ports. In online mode, generation and installation of authorization code is automatically handled and requires no manual intervention. In offline mode, it requires manual generation and installation of authorization code. License usage is recorded on the switch with timestamps, and the required workflows can be completed at a later time.
● Report license usage to Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM): There are multiple options available for Cisco MDS license usage reporting to CSSM. An MDS SLP deployment can be configured to either report directly to CSSM through the internet or through mediated access using the Cisco Smart License Utility (CSLU) or Smart Software Manager (SSM) on premises. For air-gapped MDS networks, there is a provision for offline reporting. License usage reports can be manually downloaded from the switch/CSLU/SSM on premises, depending on the deployment model, and uploaded to CSSM. The license usage report is provided in plain XML format.
Table 1. Primary features and benefits
| Feature |
Benefit |
| Seamless day-0 operations |
It provides a completely seamless day-0 operation for Cisco MDS licenses. There is no evaluation mode for licenses, and there is no requirement for registration of licenses. For software licenses, a key is not required to be generated before allowing the use of the software. To enable switch ports using port activation license, a licenses authorization key has to be generated on the CSSM and installed on the switch. In online mode, this is automatically taken care of and doesn’t require any manual intervention; in offline mode it must be done manually. |
| Cisco MDS NX-OS |
Devices running Cisco MDS NX-OS software have a consistent uniform licensing experience. |
| Visibility and manageability |
Through a Cisco Smart Account, customers can easily view and manage all Cisco Smart Licenses and entitlements across the organization. An administrator can create virtual accounts (sub accounts) to help manage the licenses for departments, areas, or locations within the organization. Licenses can be pooled for virtual accounts as needed. Smart accounts have role-based user access controls, which allows the delegation of authority to account administrators at the Smart Account level or at the Cisco Virtual Account level. A customer can also delegate visibility and management rights to its Virtual or Enterprise level Smart Account to its partners. |
| Flexible time-series reporting |
Easy reporting options are available to remain compliant, whether you are directly or indirectly connected to CSSM or in an air-gapped network. |
| License portability |
Cisco software licenses are no longer node-locked to a switch. Customers can easily pool software license entitlements and move them across devices in the organization as and when needed. This flexibility is not available for port-activation and FCIP upgrade licenses; both these licenses will be tied to a serial number and will be perpetual in nature. |
New deployment
For greenfield Cisco MDS deployments, new Cisco MDS switch purchases with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2) pre-installed will have their first-time license reporting done at the Cisco factory. Therefore, Cisco MDS switches will not have to send a license report to Cisco for the next 365 days, based on the default reporting policy. If the switch fails to report within the SLP reporting period, the device will be marked out of compliance in the Cisco Smart Account, syslog messages will be generated on the switch depending on the SLP policy, but the features will continue to work in honor mode.
Upgrade from non-SLP release
For existing Cisco MDS deployments, where a Cisco MDS switch having PAK license is upgraded to Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2(2), the software recognizes those PAK licenses and automatically triggers a “device-led license conversion” process to convert the PAK licenses to license entitlements without any user intervention. In air-gapped mode, the conversion must be done manually. Details can be found in the Cisco MDS Smart Licensing Using Policy Guide.
Cisco MDS subscription bundles
The Cisco subscription license bundles simplify ordering and maximize savings. This Cisco subscription license model does not offer a-la-carte licenses as they are no longer price attractive. Port activation licenses remain outside subscription bundles.
Table 2. Cisco MDS subscription bundles
| Subscription |
Description |
| Premier |
● Enterprise and Cisco Nexus
® Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC; formerly DCNM), SAN Analytics
● 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year options
● Available with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2.2 or higher
|
| Advantage |
● Enterprise and Cisco Nexus
® Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC; formerly DCNM)
● 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year options
● Available with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2.2 or higher
|
| Port Expansion Licensing |
● Requires Auth-code with Smart Licensing using Policy (SLP)
● Treated like hardware, it will be perpetual and will decommission with the switch.
● Available with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2.2 or higher
|
| FCIP Upgrade Licensing |
● Requires Auth-code with Cisco Smart Licensing using Policy (SLP)
● Enables all FC and FCIP ports
● Treated like hardware, it will be perpetual and will decommission with the switch.
● Available with Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 9.2.2 or higher
|
Starting MDS NX-OS 9.4(1A) FICON functionality is part of the base switch software, and it doesn’t require a license.
License ordering information
A license can be ordered from Cisco Commerce just like any other Cisco® product. The Smart Account of the end customer or the Smart holding account of the partner must be indicated when placing the order for the licenses. Once the order is placed and successfully processed, the licenses are digitally credited to the Smart Account or the Smart holding account.
Spare subscription license ordering
To order a spare subscription license, you have to create a Cisco Commerce estimate for MDS-M9K-ADD-T; then pick “Select option” and pick one of the available licenses.
Cisco MDS Switch License PIDs
Table 3. Cisco MDS 9132T License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M91XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91XK9-A-5Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91XK9-A-7Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M91XK9-P-1Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91XK9-P-3Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91XK9-P-5Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91XK9-P-7Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9132T-PL8 |
MDS 9132T 8-Port Upgrade License |
| M9132T-PL8-SL= |
MDS 9132T 8-Port Upgrade Smart License, Spare |
Table 4. Cisco MDS 9148T License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M91XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91XK9-A-5Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91XK9-A-7Y |
MDS9100 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M91XK9-P-1Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91XK9-P-3Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91XK9-P-5Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91XK9-P-7Y |
MDS9100 Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9148T-PL8 |
MDS 9148T 8-port Upgrade license |
| M9148T-PL8-SL= |
MDS 9148T 8-port Upgrade Smart license, Spare |
Table 5. Cisco MDS 9396T License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M93XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9300 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M93XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9300 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M93XK9-A-5Y |
MDS9300 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M93XK9-A-7Y |
MDS9300 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M93XK9-P-1Y |
MDS9300 Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M93XK9-P-3Y |
MDS9300 Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M93XK9-P-5Y |
MDS9300 Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M93XK9-P-7Y |
MDS9300 Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9396T-PL16 |
MDS 9396T 16-Port Upgrade License |
| M9396T-PL16-SL= |
MDS 9396T 16-Port Upgrade Smart License, Spare |
Table 6. Cisco MDS 9148V License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M91VXK9-A-1Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91VXK9-A-3Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91VXK9-A-5Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91VXK9-A-7Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M91VXK9-P-1Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91VXK9-P-3Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91VXK9-P-5Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91VXK9-P-7Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9148V-PL8 |
MDS 9148V 64G FC switch 8-port upgrade license |
| M9148V-PL8= |
MDS 9148V 64G FC switch 8-port upgrade license, Spare |
Table 7. Cisco MDS 9124V License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M91VXK9-A-1Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91VXK9-A-3Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91VXK9-A-5Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91VXK9-A-7Y |
MDS M9100V Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M91VXK9-P-1Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M91VXK9-P-3Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M91VXK9-P-5Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M91VXK9-P-7Y |
MDS M9100V Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9124V-PL8 |
MDS 9124V 64G FC switch 8-port upgrade license |
| M9124V-PL8= |
MDS 9124V 64G FC switch 8-port upgrade license, Spare |
Table 8. Cisco MDS 9250i License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M92XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M92XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M92XK9-A-5Y |
MDS 9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M92XK9-A-7Y |
MDS 9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9250IP20-16G-SL= |
MDS 9250i 20-port FC Upgrade Smart License, Spare |
Table 9. Cisco MDS 9220i License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M92XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M92XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M92XK9-A-5Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M92XK9-A-7Y |
MDS9200 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M9220I-UPGK9-SL= |
MDS 9220I Upgrade Smart license to enable all ports, Spare |
Table 10. Cisco MDS 9700 License PIDs
| License PID |
Description |
| M97XK9-A-1Y |
MDS9700 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M97XK9-A-3Y |
MDS9700 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M97XK9-A-5Y |
MDS9700 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M97XK9-A-7Y |
MDS9700 Advantage Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
| M97XK9-P-1Y |
MDS9700 Premier Subscription License bundle for 1 year |
| M97XK9-P-3Y |
MDS9700 Premier Subscription License bundle for 3 years |
| M97XK9-P-5Y |
MDS9700 Premier Subscription License bundle for 5 years |
| M97XK9-P-7Y |
MDS9700 Premier Subscription License bundle for 7 years |
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For more information about the Cisco MDS Smart Licensing using Policy, visit Smart Licensing Using Policy Guide or contact your local Cisco account representative.
| New or revised topic |
Described in |
Date |
| FICON Functionality |
November 2024 |