Components of Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series #

• Switch Hardware: The physical switch unit.
• Network Stack Perpetual License: Required for operation.
• Software Subscription License: Choose between Cisco DNA, Cisco Catalyst, or Meraki.

Licenses and Smart Product IDs (SKUs) #

• Software Subscription Licenses: Smart product IDs (SKUs).
• Cisco Catalyst and Cisco DNA: Subscription license comes with a perpetual license and is required with hardware.
• Meraki SKU: Requires separate term license, needed for Meraki Dashboard recognition.

Smart Account #

• Requirement: A Smart Account is necessary during purchase. For details, refer to the Smart Accounts section.

Service Options #

• Solution Support
• Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW)
• Smart Net Total Care Support
• Success Tracks
• Included Base Product-Level Support

Common Terminology #

• Network Stack (NW)
• Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA)
• Cisco Catalyst Software Subscription (DNX)
• Essentials (-E)
• Advantage (-A)
• Smart Account (SA)
• Smart License (SL)

Purpose of This Document #

This document provides an overview of the ordering process for Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches on Cisco Commerce Workspace.

Hardware and Software Order Overview #

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches can be ordered through Cisco Commerce Workspace with the following options:

• Cisco Catalyst
• Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage
• Meraki Enterprise or Advanced Subscription

Cisco Catalyst and Cisco DNA options include switch hardware with Cisco IOS and Network Stack software.

How to Order a Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Swithch #

Cisco DNA or Catalyst Subscription Term License: Must be selected at the time of order.

Mandatory Licenses: Network Stack licenses and Cisco DNA or Catalyst software subscription licenses are required at the time of purchase.

Licensing Tiers: Available in Advantage and Essentials.

Network Stack Licenses: Included with the hardware.

To place an order in the Cisco Commerce Workspace, follow these steps:

1.     Select the appropriate Network Stack license type -A, -E

2.     Choose the preferred consumption model

3.     Choose the Cisco Catalyst, Cisco DNA or Meraki Software subscription term license (3, 5 or 7 years for Catalyst and Cisco DNA; 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 years for Meraki).

4.     Add other components (for example: secondary power supply, power cables, etc).

Step-by-Step Ordering in Cisco Commerce Workspace

Enter the hardware SKU in Cisco Commerce Workspace.

The Network Stack license is perpetual and included with the hardware by default (it will not be visible in the selection menu) per the respective hardware SKU suffix (example: C9300-48P-E/C9300-48P-A).

The Cisco ThousandEyes Network and Application Synthetics license is included by default upon the selection of a Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage option with a 3, 5 or a 7 year subscription. Please see this guide for more information about the free Cisco ThousandEyes entitlements that come with your Cisco Catalyst 9300 or 9400 Series Cisco DNA Advantage subscription.

Expand to “View Full Summary” view to view the Cisco ThousandEyes Network and Application Synthetics license (TE-EMBEDDED-T). The TE-EMBEDDED-T is bundled with the Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage subscription and follow the same term as the Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA subscriptions.

The Cisco Spaces Extend license is included by default upon the selection of a Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage option with a 3 year, 5 year or a 7 year subscription. Each Catalyst 9300 Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage subscription entitles the customer to run the equivalent of one Spaces gateway and access to IoT device marketplace, Cisco Spaces cloud with included software and support.

Expand to “View Full Summary” view to view the Cisco Spaces Extend license (D-DNAS-EXT-S-T). The D- DNAS-EXT-S-T is bundled with the Cisco Catalyst and Cisco DNA Advantage subscription and follow the same term as the Cisco Catalyst and Cisco DNA subscriptions.

A Cisco DNA Advantage option is available for selection and is the default. Customers are encouraged to purchase the Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage option to enable advanced Cisco DNA features as a bundled solution.

Follow steps below to change from 5 year default term to a 3 or 7 year term for Cisco DNA Advantage Software subscription license.

Check Summary to validate all terms are aligned to intended term.

North America cable is defaulted, but another cable can be selected based on country or geography. A power cable must be selected to complete the configuration:

The primary power supply is added by default, based on the hardware model:

A secondary power supply is selected by default. Please select the C9300-SPS-NONE or C9300L-SPS-NONE option if a secondary power supply is not required.

For modular uplink models, C9300X SKUs come with C9300X-NM-2C network module as default and C9300 SKUs come with C9300-NM-8X network module as default, but another selection can be made. C9300X-NM- NONE or C9300-NM-NONE can be selected if a network module is not desired. This step is not required when ordering fixed uplink models (C9300L SKUs) since they have fixed uplinks that are already part of the SKU.

A 3m (C9300X SKUs) or 50cm (C9300 SKUs) StackWise cable is selected by default for both -E and -A hardware models. 50CM, 1M and 3M stacking cable options are available. If a StackWise cable is not required, C9300X-STACK-NONE or C9300-STACK-NONE should be selected:

For fixed uplink models (C9300L SKUs), a C9300L-STACK-KIT is selected by default which includes a 50CM stacking cable by default. 50CM, 1M and 3M stacking cable options are available.

A 30cm (C9300/C9300L) or 150CM (C9300X) Cisco StackPower cable is selected by default for both -E and – A hardware models. Customers have the option to choose 30CM or 150CM StackPower cable type or select C9300-SPWR-NONE if StackPower is not desired.

Console cables are also available as shown below:

Default Accessories Shipped with the Switch #

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches are shipped with the following components and accessories by default*:

• Switch
• Default Power Supply: Based on the selected switch model.
• Secondary Power Supply: Identical to the default primary power supply.
• 2 Power Cables: Specific power cable must be selected.
• Stacking Kit: Includes a 50cm stacking cable (for C9300L SKUs only).
• Stack Cable: Includes 50cm and 1M cables, unless not selected (for C9300/C9300X SKUs only).
• StackPower Cable: Includes 30cm and 150cm cables, unless not selected (for C9300/C9300X SKUs only).
• Mounting Brackets

Note: When ordering Catalyst 9300 switches with the Meraki software option, all accessories are ordered separately.

Licensing #

Cisco Catalyst Software Subscription for Switching #

• Essentials and Advantage Tiers: Includes base software and hardware support.
• Support: Provides a four-hour TAC response objective for severity 1 and 2 service requests.
• Advantage Tier: Includes ISE licenses, with 10 endpoint sessions per Catalyst Advantage license.

Cisco DNA Software Subscription for Switching #

• Base Support: Includes software support only.
• Support: Provides a one-hour TAC response objective for severity 1 and 2 service requests.
• ISE Licenses: Not included.
• RMAs: Accessed through the Catalyst warranty program.

Additional Notes #

Hardware Replacements: Accessed separately through the Catalyst warranty program.

Cisco DNA Features and Tier Levels: Essentials and Advantage remain the same.

Cisco Catalyst software subscription Overview

Catalyst software subscription feature matrix

All Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches are available with three software options as shown in Table 1

Table 1.           License Levels and Options

Upgrading License Levels #

Customers can upgrade their Network Stack, Cisco Catalyst, and Cisco DNA license levels (e.g., from -E to -A) through a license upgrade process, which will be available after launch. To upgrade, customers must purchase the upgrade license and then contact Cisco Partner Services (CPS) to initiate the process. Customers can choose term licenses using the SKUs C9300-LIC= or C9300L-LIC= for a-la-carte upgrades of Cisco Catalyst and Cisco DNA licenses. The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series software license upgrade SKUs are detailed in the “Ordering Information” section.

Note: Licenses cannot be upgraded at the time of purchase.

Smart Accounts #

For all Catalyst 9000 family switches, including the Catalyst 9300 Series, Smart Accounts are mandatory. A Smart Account is a central repository that provides visibility and access control for all Cisco software licenses and entitlements within an organization. It allows customers to store, manage, and move assets across locations and devices with ease. Smart Accounts are essential for enabling Cisco Smart Software Licensing.

Once a Smart Account is set up, customers can create subaccounts (virtual accounts) to manage licenses for different departments, areas, or locations. Licenses can be pooled within virtual accounts as needed. Smart Accounts support role-based user access controls, allowing the delegation of authority to administrators at both the Smart Account and virtual account levels. Additionally, customers can grant partners visibility and management rights at either the virtual or enterprise account level.

Introduction to Smart Licensing #

Cisco Smart Licensing offers a flexible, streamlined approach to purchasing and managing software across Cisco’s portfolio. It simplifies the process by eliminating Product Activation Keys (PAKs) and provides the following benefits:

• Easy Activation: Establish a pool of software licenses usable across your organization.
• Unified Management: Use My Cisco Entitlements (MCE) to view all Cisco products and services in a single portal.
• License Flexibility: Transfer and use licenses across hardware as needed.

To use Smart Licensing, you must first set up a Smart Account on Cisco Software Central. For a detailed overview, visit the Cisco Licensing Guide.

Cisco Smart Software Manager #

The Cisco Smart Software Manager is a tool for managing software licenses. It allows you to activate products, manage entitlements, and handle renewals and upgrades. An active Smart Account is required for Smart License registration. For more information, visit Cisco Smart Accounts and Software Manager.

Smart Account and Smart License Availability #

• Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switch SKUs are Smart SKUs, with license entitlements deposited in Cisco Smart Software Manager and Smart Accounts.
• Customers can view entitlements and track consumption within their Smart Account.
• Smart Accounts are required at the time of order. If a customer does not have a Smart Account before purchase, a new account must be created.

Deploying Smart Licenses for Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches #

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches offer different licensing packages compared to existing platforms. Once Smart Licensing is enabled on the switch, the ordering process will necessitate setting up a Smart Account where licenses will be deposited. Smart Licenses can be transferred between devices of the same type (e.g., from one Catalyst 9300 switch to another). For details, see the relevant figures and documentation.(See Figure 1.)

Figure 1.              

Deploying Smart Licenses #

In the deployment model shown in Figure 2, the Cisco Smart Account backend and Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches operate as separate entities with no direct communication channel for reporting usage and consumption. In this setup, switches must be configured in RTU (Right to Use) mode with the correct license levels to enable the purchased feature set.

Possible Deployment Modes #

• RTU Mode: The Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches continue to use RTU licensing mode in Cisco IOS XE 16.5.1a. The RTU licensing structure has been updated to align with the future Smart License model, simplifying migration and implementation of Smart Licenses with usage reporting.

Consumption Reporting #

• Reporting Mechanism: License usage and consumption reporting is only possible through the Cisco Smart Software Manager when the device supports Smart License reporting. Cisco IOS XE 16.5.1a does not include the necessary infrastructure for reporting to the Cisco Smart Software Manager on the switches.

For more details on Cisco Catalyst 9000 RTU licensing, please refer to the Configuration Guide.

Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) #

Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) provides policy-based automation from edge to cloud through a controller-based architecture. Key features include:

• Validated Design Templates
• Simplified Device Deployment
• Unified Management of Wired and Wireless Networks
• Network Virtualization and Segmentation
• Group-Based Policies and Contextual Analytics

SD-Access can be activated with Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage. Note that an additional purchase of ISE, available in the Cisco DNA Expansion Pack, is required.

Services and Warranty #

The Solution Support service option is highly recommended as it covers both Cisco Catalyst hardware and Cisco DNA Essentials and Advantage software licenses. Additional hardware support options include Smart Net Total Care support, partner service support, and an enhanced limited lifetime hardware warranty. It is advisable to align the term of your hardware support contract with the software subscription license term to prevent any support gaps.

Base Product-Level Support vs. Smart Net Total Care and Software Support Services #

• Response Times:
• For severity 1 and 2 issues, the Cisco TAC response objective is four hours, compared to one hour with Smart Net Total Care and Software Support Basic.
• For severity 3 and 4 issues, the response is Next Business Day (NBD) where commercially available, compared to one hour during business hours and next business day outside of business hours for Smart Net Total Care, and next business day for Software Support Basic.
• Hardware Replacements:
• Handled through the Catalyst warranty program, as opposed to the eight RMA service-level options available with Smart Net Total Care and Software Support Basic.

Support Service Options for Enhanced Needs #

If you require faster response times, more RMA options, or higher levels of support than those included in the Catalyst Switch software subscription, Cisco Success Tracks and CX Cloud are recommended.

• Cisco Success Tracks: Designed to accelerate adoption and maximize value from Cisco’s security, automation, and assurance capabilities. It offers:
• Faster Response: 30-minute response times for severity 1 and 2 issues.
• Comprehensive RMA Options: Up to eight RMA service options, with the fastest being two hours.
• CX Cloud: This unified digital interface provides:
• Expert Resources: Guidance, best practices, and methodologies for successful adoption.
• Trusted Support: Prescriptive support for complex hardware, software, and multi-product issues, with a dedicated Cisco contact.
• Insights and Analytics: Proactive and predictive analytics for problem-solving and operational optimization.
• Contextual Learning: Digital resources, training, and certification to enhance workforce skills and efficiency.

CX Cloud

To see how Success Tracks can drive faster adoption and ROI for your Catalyst-based enterprise network, connect with your Cisco representative and request a CX Cloud demo.

Table 2.           Comparison of Cisco support models for Catalyst Software subscriptions

Cisco Enhanced Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches come with an Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW). This warranty includes:

• Next-Business-Day (NBD) replacement hardware delivery where available
• 90 days of 8×5 Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) support

Ordering Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches with Meraki Licensing #

The Meraki Software option combines the intuitive Meraki dashboard with the powerful Catalyst 9000 hardware. This option supports high-bandwidth applications and high-speed 802.11ax/Wi-Fi 6/6E access points with features such as:

• Multigigabit ports
• 480G stacking
• Modular 10/40G uplinks

Catalyst 9300 models with the Meraki Software option offer:

• Enhanced resilience with rapid stack convergence and StackPower
• Adaptive Policy using over-the-wire tags to segment traffic into security groups for scalable security

The Meraki dashboard simplifies management, making it a powerful solution for demanding wired access applications.

To order a Catalyst 9300 model with Meraki OS, choose the model with an “-M” license designation. For example, to order a 24-port data-only model with SKU C9300-24T, select the C9300-24T-M. Ensure to select all necessary options separately, including:

• Enterprise or Advanced term licenses
• Power cables
• Secondary power supplies
• Uplink modules
• SSDs
• Accessories

Supported Catalyst 9300 Models with Meraki Software Option #

C9300-24S

Data-only:

C9300X-48TX

C9300-48T

C9300-24T

C9300L-48T-4X

C9300L-24T-4X

30W PoE+:

C9300-48P

C9300-24P

C9300L-48P-4X

C9300L-48PF-4X

C9300L-24P-4X

60W UPOE:

C9300-48U

C9300-48UXM

C9300-48UN

C9300-24U

C9300-24UX

C9300L-48UXG-4X

C9300L-24UXG-4X

90W UPOE+:

C9300X-48HX

C9300X-24HX

C9300X-48HXN

Fiber:

C9300X-24Y

C9300X-12Y

C9300-48S

How to order Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches with services

Solution Support is the defaulted service. Customers can attach desired services by following the steps outlined below:

1.     Customer will click “Edit Options”

2.     Customer will then configure the product. Cisco DNA Software subscription option will be chosen. Then click “Done”.

Customer will select “Edit Service/Subscription” to view and edit service options.

3.     Customer will select “Change Services” to change services if needed.

4.     The customer can then choose from a variety of different service options. Click “Apply” the “Done” when finished.

Ordering Cisco ThousandEyes Internet and Cloud Intelligence with Existing Catalyst 9300 Switches

Customers with existing Catalyst 9300 switches can claim credits for Cisco ThousandEyes by following these steps:

• Access the CSSM Activation Guide: For detailed instructions, refer to the CSSM Activation Guide.

Ordering Cisco Spaces Indoor IoT Services with Catalyst 9300 Switches #

For New Orders with Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage Licensing #

When ordering new Catalyst 9300 switches with Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage licenses:

• The Cisco Spaces Onboarding team will proactively reach out to customers.
• Alternatively, customers can contact the Cisco Spaces team directly to request account activation.

For Existing Switches with Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage Licensing #

If you already have Catalyst 9300 switches with Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage licenses:

New or Existing Cisco Spaces Account

Contact the Cisco Spaces Team to request account activation by providing the following details:

Email: Send your request to [email protected]

Subject: Title the email as “Activate Cisco Spaces for Catalyst Switching”

Company/Account Name

Smart Account Domain

Contact Information for Account Provisioning:

Contact Name

Contact Email

Contact Phone

Quantity for Activation: Specify the number of switches based on the quantity of Cisco Catalyst or Cisco DNA Advantage licenses ordered

Web Order/Sales Number

Ordering information

Tables 3 through 9 provide ordering information for switches, network modules, stacking cables, Cisco Catalyst, Cisco DNA and Cisco Meraki licenses respectively.

Table 3.           Switch ordering information

Table 4.           Network Module Ordering information

Table 5.           Stacking Cable Ordering information

Table 6.           Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Software license ordering information24-Port Cisco DNA Software License Ordering Information

Table 7.           48-Port Cisco DNA Software License Ordering Information

Table 8.           Cisco Catalyst Software License Ordering Information

Table 9.           Cisco Meraki Software License Ordering Information

Tables 10 and 11 provide Cisco DNA Software license upgrade ordering information.

Table 10.       Cisco Catalyst 9300 24-Port Cisco DNA Software License Upgrade

Table 11.       Cisco Catalyst 9300 48 Port Cisco DNA Software license upgrade

Distribution ordering addendum

This section details the steps necessary to order Cisco Catalyst 9300 Switches through distribution partners.

Figure 2.              

Distribution ordering options for Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches

Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches for stocking

By selecting “Stocking” as “Intended Use”, the system will show only hardware and does not include the Cisco DNA subscription (the subscription must be ordered at point of sale).

Figure 3.              

Distributor ordering Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switches for stocking

Figure 4 shows the scenario where the distributor will dropship the entire order from Cisco to the end customer. The intended-use drop-down menu is set to Resale, which allows the default options for hardware support and software to become available. Hardware support can be changed to premium Solution Support or Smart Net Total Care, or it can be removed completely.

Figure 4.              

Distributor drop shipping the entire order

Figure 5 shows the distributor drop-shipping the entire order from Cisco to the end customer using Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage software subscriptions.

Figure 5.              

Distributors drop-shipping entire Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series switch Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage software subscription order

Figure 6 shows the partner quote request to the distributor. The distributor can choose to fulfill the entire order by drop-shipping or fulfill the hardware from stock and create a dropship order for Cisco DNA software.

Figure 6.              

Distributor fulfilling partner quote

Figure 7 shows the SKUs that the distributor has to use when ordering software as a dropship in Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage subscription option scenarios.

Figure 7.              

SKU details for distributor ordering software as dropship