licensing options for 9300 Catalyst vs 3850 Switch?

[hmc250000]

What are the licensing options for 9300 Catalyst vs 3850 Switch? Can you activate the license on the 9300 once and be done with it? 

[balaji.bandi]

There are two types of licensing for "DNA". 

1) Network

                 a) Essentials b) Advantage

2) DNA 

                 a) Essentials b) Advantage 

they do 3 years and 5 years for now.

[kapydan88]

But how i can activate this license on the switch (for example, catalyst c9300 or c9300l)? 

For example, we want to byu switch C9300L-48P-4X-E (Catalyst 9300L 48p PoE, Network Essentials ,4x10G Uplink) with 3 or 5 years DNA license essentials, what am i going to do for activation this license?

[Leo Laohoo]

You can buy the license at the same time when you buy the switch. It is easier that way.

[kapydan88]

So we just choose between C9300L-48P-4X-E (essentials) and C9300L-48P-4X-A (advantage), chose period for this license C9300L-DNA-E-48-3Y (C9300L Cisco DNA Essentials, 48-port, 3 Year Term license) or C9300L-DNA-A-48-3Y (same lic, but advantage) and add two these points into buy? And we neednt install/activate this license like in 2960 or 4500 series switches?

If yes, what we should to do aftre 3 years?

[Leo Laohoo]

The most "basic" license is Essentials.
The upgraded license is Advantage.
If I'm not mistaken, a switch will automatically get Essentials.
Advantage is what one has to quote to get additional features unlocked.

[Leo Laohoo]

Depends on the IOS of the switch.
IOS-XE running 16.11.X (and earlier), SmartLicense isn't enforced.