doubt about cisco licensing: perpetual or subscription

[eleyzam]

Hello, I would like to ask a question, In the company's smart account there are some licenses reported as perpetual, however, a Cisco provider indicates that the smart account is wrong and these licenses are by subscription. The licenses are as follows, taken from the transaction report

2022-Mar-19 15:54:53	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	20	PERPETUAL	ENTERPRISE-SW	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2022-Mar-19 15:54:53	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	-20	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2022-Mar-19 15:53:17	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	20	PERPETUAL	ENTERPRISE-SW	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2022-Mar-19 15:53:17	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	-20	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2022-Jan-20 02:01:04	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	20	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: xxxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2020-Oct-16 15:01:35	C9300-NW-A-48	C9300 48P Network Advantage	20	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: xxxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2022-Mar-19 15:54:52	C9500-NW-A	C9500 Network Advantage	-2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2022-Mar-19 15:54:52	C9500-NW-A	C9500 Network Advantage	2	PERPETUAL	ENTERPRISE-SW	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2020-Oct-16 15:01:31	C9500-NW-A	C9500 Network Advantage	2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx

2022-Jul-06 22:04:45	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2022-Jul-06 22:01:56	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	4	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: xxxxxx Line: xxxxxx
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-4	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	-4	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	TRANSFER
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	2	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: 112895607 Line: 1129333996
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: 1xxxxxxLine: xxxxxx
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: 113227925 Line: 11xxxxxx
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	4	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: 112895607 Line: 1129xxxxxx
2021-Nov-03 16:24:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	2	PERPETUAL	DATACENTER	Order: 112895607 Line: 11xxxxxx
2021-Oct-21 02:04:06	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 113xxxxxx Line: 11xxxxxx
2021-Oct-21 02:02:13	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	1	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 113xxxxxx Line: 1134xxxxxx
2021-Oct-06 23:01:11	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	4	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 112895607 Line: 1129333900
2021-Oct-06 23:01:07	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	4	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 11xxxxxx Line: 112xxxxxx
2021-Oct-06 22:03:58	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 11xxxxxx Line: 112xxxxxx
2021-Oct-06 22:01:03	ACI-AD-XF	DCN Advantage for 10G+ Leaf XF	2	PERPETUAL	DEFAULT	Order: 1xxxxxx Line: 1xxxxxx

To make your point, you sent me this link

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/software/nb-06-dna-swit-wire-subs-aag-ctp-en.html

The point is: it is true that smart account is wrong and those licenses are really subscriptions. And if they are perpetual, these licenses could be converted to subscription and what benefit would such conversion bring?

Or if it is better to leave them perpetual.

Thank you very much in advance for your answers.

[ammahend · Accepted solution]

Those license are perpetual and not subscription, smart account is not wrong. For instance when you buy DNA advantage license for 3 years, you get DNA license for 3 years but with it the network advantage license comes as perpetual, so after 3 years, If you choose not to renew the subscription, the box will continue to function with the perpetual license features (Network Essentials/Advantage) however you will loose functionality that you do from controller like DNAC, for instance assurance, automation etc.

hope this helps.

[eleyzam]

Thank you very much for your prompt response. A query, If I am understanding then this is the perpetual part for the operation of the equipment and therefore Smart account is reporting Good.
The next step would be to know if these additional subscription support would have the same name or if these licenses fall within a particular subscription license pack. Sorry for the inconvenience in advance and thank you for your reply.

[ammahend · Accepted solution]

subscription license will have different name for e.g. C9300 48P DNA advantage

if you click on it you can see details on that license, an example below