CISCO CATALYST C9300, C9400, C9500 ADVANTAGE vs. ESSENTIALS

CISCO CATALYST C9300, C9400, C9500 ADVANTAGE vs. ESSENTIALS

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches offer two primary perpetual licensing tiers: Network Essentials and Network Advantage. These licenses determine the feature set available on your switch. Additionally, Cisco offers subscription-based licenses—Cisco DNA Essentials and Cisco DNA Advantage—which provide advanced software capabilities and support services

Network Essentials License

Overview: The Network Essentials license provides fundamental Layer 2 and basic Layer 3 features suitable for standard access layer deployments.​

Key Features:

• Layer 2 and Basic Layer 3 Routing: Includes support for static routing, RIP, EIGRP stub, and OSPF with up to 1,000 routes.

• Security Features: Offers 128-bit MACsec encryption, 802.1X authentication, and basic ACLs.​
  

• Quality of Service (QoS): Provides standard QoS capabilities for traffic prioritization.​

• Basic Multicast Support: Supports PIM stub multicast routing.​

• Programmability: Enables basic programmability with NETCONF/RESTCONF/gRPC/YANG.​

• Management: Managed via CLI and WebUI.​

Use Case: Ideal for access layer switches in environments that require basic routing and switching without advanced features.​

? Network Advantage License

Overview: The Network Advantage license builds upon the Essentials tier, offering comprehensive Layer 3 features and advanced capabilities for more complex network requirements.

Key Features:

• Advanced Layer 3 Routing: Includes full support for OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and IS-IS protocols.
  

• Enhanced Security: Provides 256-bit MACsec encryption, VRF-lite for network segmentation, and advanced ACLs.​

• High Availability: Supports features like HSRP, StackWise Virtual, and ISSU/eFSU for seamless upgrades.

• Advanced Multicast: Enables PIM Bi-Directional and Rendezvous Point (RP) discovery
  

• Programmability: Offers full programmability with model-driven telemetry and scripting capabilities.​

• Management: Managed via CLI, WebUI, and supports integration with Cisco Catalyst Center for advanced automation.​

Use Case: Suited for distribution and core layer deployments requiring advanced routing, high availability, and enhanced security features.​Reddit

? Upgrading from Essentials to Advantage

If you initially purchase a switch with the Network Essentials license and later require the advanced features of Network Advantage, you can upgrade by purchasing the appropriate license upgrade. This process involves acquiring a DNA Advantage subscription, which, upon activation, upgrades the base license to Network Advantage. The DNA subscription terms are typically available in 3, 5, or 7-year durations

? Feature Comparison Summary

Note: ✅ - Supported, ❌ - Not Supported

? Choosing the Right License

• Network Essentials: Best for organizations with straightforward networking needs, focusing on basic routing and switching without the necessity for advanced features.​

• Network Advantage: Ideal for enterprises requiring advanced routing protocols, enhanced security, high availability, and integration with Cisco's advanced network management tools.