topic Cisco DNA opt-out? in Cisco Catalyst Center

Cisco DNA opt-out?

austiabrm57 — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:28:23 GMT

I think the whole DNA thing is BS and a way for Cisco to make more MRR. I saw some opt-out sku's for the 3800 series. Looks like they don't work in ccw though. Is there any way to opt out? (specifically for the Cat 9k line) I work at an MSP where a lot of the smaller clients only need layer 3 routing as far as licensing goes.

Re: Cisco DNA opt-out?

Jonathan Cuthbert — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:36:09 GMT

Can you please reach out to your sales team, account manager, Cisco Partner, and/or Cisco Distributor (however you purchase) to see what options are available.

Re: Cisco DNA opt-out?

cmcclinton — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 16:47:34 GMT

The Cisco DNA tax on 9K switches with no-opt out.

When the 9300 launched and the compulsory DNA licensing freaked everyone out Cisco where able to calm the waters by pointing out that a 9300 with DNA subscription was price equivalent to a 3850 and that the cost of the hardware line item had been significantly reduced.

However, 2 years later when talking to customers who have never heard of 3850s I can no longer keep comparing the cost of a new switch with that of an old switch, and when customers ask what the DNA subscription is for and I have to tell them it is for a service they will never use as a DNAC appliance is too expensive. It is just not a situation that I can justify or defend to my customers so I now just refer to it as the DNA tax and leave it to the customer to decide if they still wish to purchase Cisco switches.

All of this in a completive environment where Juniper and HP/Aruba are offering switches with a subscription that actually has customer perceived value in the form of Juniper Mist or Aruba Central.

Re: Cisco DNA opt-out?

Jason Salmans — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:50:32 GMT

I'm certainly not an expert in Cisco licensing, I'm not in sales, and I am definitely using DNA.. but my understanding is that the subscription also comes with the permanent licensing that allows LAN Base, IP Base, IP Enterprise, AP WLC licenses, etc. From a justification standpoint, even if you're not using DNA Center, couldn't this be explained as the new equivalent to the old licensing that you had to purchase anyways? At the end of the mandatory 3 year DNA subscription, if you don't need DNA I'd think you just wouldn't renew it but I think you still retain the network feature licensing that it included.

Re: Cisco DNA opt-out?

gustm — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 20:44:23 GMT

Permanent feature licenses are Network Essential / Network Advantage. It's part of the product SKU (SKU is different for switch with Ess and Adv license). It has nothing to do with DNA.

A compulsory DNA license with discounted HW was a promo to provide customers with a DNA 3-year subscription trial free-of-charge, but without saying, it's a free-of-charge trial. It's weird and short-sighted.

Re: Cisco DNA opt-out?

Leo Laohoo — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 06:56:31 GMT

@Jason Salmans wrote:
even if you're not using DNA Center, couldn't this be explained as the new equivalent to the old licensing that you had to purchase anyways?

I think the "DNA tax" was a marketing scheme.

It was aimed squarely at the clients who bothered to look at the bill of materials (BoM) and gets intrigued at the DNAC line item. Once the customer calls to find out what DNAC is, then the classic hook-like-and-sinker steps in.

Back then, it was reasoned that every "DNA tax" purchased goes to DNAC development. Uh-huh. Sure.