Cisco Smart Licensing on Catalyst 9200

Question

I've been trying to understand what is actually required in terms of licensing for a 'plain Layer 2 switch'. No special features, just access switching. A number of 9200's were added to the environment, and are currently in eval mode.

As far as I can tell, there exists Network Essentials, Network Advantage, and DNA licenses. With the move to smart licensing, I figure the switch would require at a minimum the Network Essentials license. The following blog post doesn't really clarify, it just states that a device will return to eval mode if it doesn't call home at the required interval: https://blogs.cisco.com/enterprise/cisco-smart-software-licensing

Can anyone confirm based on the output below if these will continue to run without issue? (Meaning both operationally and being within licensing agreements.)

#show license all
Smart Licensing Status
======================

Smart Licensing is ENABLED

Registration:
  Status: UNREGISTERED
  Export-Controlled Functionality: Not Allowed

License Authorization:
  Status: EVAL MODE
  Evaluation Period Remaining: 46 days, 7 hours, 17 minutes, 24 seconds

License Usage
==============

(C9200L-DNA-E-48):
  Description:
  Count: 4
  Version: 1.0
  Status: EVAL MODE
  Export status: NOT RESTRICTED

(C9200L-NW-E-48):
  Description:
  Count: 4
  Version: 1.0
  Status: EVAL MODE
  Export status: NOT RESTRICTED

Reservation Info
================
License reservation: DISABLED

Answer 1

Can anyone confirm based on the output below if these will continue to run without issue?

First, check if the essential license is applied correctly with the following command show license right-to-use usage. Next, check whether the permanent license is output. If so, you can probably use it as L2 SW. Next is DNA. A minimum 3-year license is usually included, so make sure it is correct or your smart license home. In your evaluation state, you will see alerts from your smart account continuously when your license expires.

Everyone was confused about this smart license.
As with the Catalyst 2960x, purchase a DNA Essentials (3 years) + Network Essentials license(Perpetual).
3 years is the minimum and does not need to be renewed after 3 years.
The important thing is that the network license is Perpetual. Once purchased, you can use the device permanently without DNA Service.

Why are DNA licenses bundled?
Let's think of software as something that comes with a free service for 3 years.

What is the difference between Advantage and Essential?

Simply replace it.
IP base = Essential (L2)
IP service = Advantage (L3)
Must select Essential or advantage

Answer 2

Little late now maybe, but you might want to see this doc. Makes it pretty clear. https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-9200-series-switches/nb-06-cat9200-swit-ser-cte-en.pdf I had the same questions when doing a new design for a customer. They too wanted to cheap out - 'not do DNA', no smartnet, etc. I had to tell them that SD-Access - the core of the design - will not work with anything below DNA Advantage (required for SGT, SXP, VN (VRFs), and VXLAN, among other requirements). Also be aware that certain switch models (fixed / 'L' models) only support 1 VRF (the default). You have to move up to the non-L models to get 4 VRFs, and ‘Advanced’ SKUs for 32 VRF support. It's pretty easy to hit the ceiling at 4 VRFs when you're doing identity-based networking/SD access (SDA).

<< Augment:(think ‘building/access control’, ‘guest’, ‘security systems (cameras/PSIM)’, and maybe ‘IoT/SCADA’, to name just a few. Even more likely with PCI-DSS, Trading, Electrical grid / Energy customers, etc. >>

<< Update: one correction - the ‘-L’ models will only support one VRF, the default. Non-L models support up to 4, and there are specific ‘Advanced’ SKUs that support 32. I’m still looking for that last PID list - I’ve edited above as well >>