How does licensing work for switches added under DNAC as fabric or non fabric switches? Do i need internet access to reach these switches to smart license portal?

[balaji.bandi]

DNAC required to contact License Server. - since DNAC manages the License.

[VipinGupta]

But I can see the logs on the switch which is managed by DNAC that switch is trying to reach smart license. IF DNAC is managing the license then switch should not try to reach the  smart license. right?

CALL_HOME-5-SL_MESSAGE_FAILED: Fail to send out Smart Licensing message to: https://tools.cisco.com/its/service/oddce/services/DDCEService (ERR 207 : Connection time out)

[balaji.bandi]

check the call home profile good video :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-uttij-l10

[Tomas de Leon]

There are 3 SSM Connection modes:

SSM Connection Mode

Direct connection mode requires all smart enabled devices in your network have direct internet access to Cisco SSM cloud.

Cisco Smart Software Manager On-Prem (formerly known as Cisco Smart Software Manager satellite) offers near real-time visibility and reporting of the Cisco licenses you purchase and consume. In case your organisation is security-sensitive it gives you and an option to access a subset of Cisco SSM functionality without using a direct Internet connection to manage your licenses with Cisco SSM cloud.

Smart proxy connection mode offers that this Product Instance performs as a proxy for smart enabled devices in your network to Cisco SSM cloud . With this connection mode Smart enabled devices in your network need not have direct internet access and only this product instance has direct internet access to Cisco SSM cloud.

Direct (which is what we have in versions 1.3.3.x and earlier) - The Network Devices need internet access to communicate with the CSSM.

CSSM On-Prem (where the Cisco DNA Center connects to satellite On-Prem) - The Network Devices need access to communicate with the CSSM On-Prem.

Smart Proxy (where the Cisco DNA Center is the SL Proxy to CSSM) - The Network Devices need access to communicate with the Cisco DNA Center which acts as a proxy to the CSSM.