Catalyst 9300 Network Essentials vs. Network Advantage

[m.yost]

I'm trying to determine what features Network Advantage gives you over Network Essentials in the Meraki Cloud Managed world. I know in traditional Cisco, Advantage gives you full routing (Non-limited OSPF routes, VRFs, BGP), HA (HSRP, Stackwise virtual), and complete multicast features, but I don't see much as far as Meraki documentation goes confirming features match the traditional Cisco deployment.

I'm really most concerned with # of OSPF routes, VRF support (I know this is coming in 17.18 in Meraki), and normal L3/PIM multicast operations where I would normally configure a static RP and PIM sparse-mode on a L3 interface. If I need Advantage for what I would call normal PIM operation, I would want to know that.

[aleabrahao]

Here's the list of features supported by each licensing model.

It's a bit complicated because not everything supported by the traditional Catalyst line is supported by Meraki.

Therefore, the licensing level won't give you a complete picture of what's supported and what's not.

https://documentation.meraki.com/General_Administration/Licensing/Subscription_-_MS_Licensing

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS

[Philip D'Ath]

Are you referring to DNA Network Advantage, or the Meraki Subscription Advantage licence?

[m.yost]

In the context of an 9300 connected to the meraki dashboard, I'm talking the Meraki Subscription Advantage license. I'm comparing it to a 9300 not connected to the Dashboard (traditional deployment) and using the DNA Advantage. The link @alessandrodematos pasted shows all the features, but it feels incomplete. We have Meraki adding BGP and VRFs in 17.18 code for Dashboard connected devices. I would think you would need the Meraki Advantage license for those since the same switch in traditional mode needs Advantage to run those.

[aleabrahao]

It's like I told you, there you have an overview, for example, OSPF and BGP are within L3 Switching.

So you would need to go into the guide for these features to validate the minimum requirements. I'm not sure if that's clear?

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Layer_3_Switching/MS_Layer_3_Switching_and_Routing

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Layer_3_Switching/MS_OSPF_Overview

[joey.debra]

The Meraki licensing works a bit differently than the DNA/Catalyst licensing as it stands now. I'm not sure if the new C9350 hardware that comes with unified licensing will have different enforcements.

The Meraki license has never before done any route limits only feature limits. So all the main routing stuff should be available on the essentials tier.

You might want to create a support case just to be sure though.

[m.yost]

Interesting thing is if you look at the Cloud Config Release page for 17.18.x, it mentions an Enterprise License for VRFs, BGP, Rapid PVST+, etc. To my knowledge, Enterprise doesn't exist and it's just Essentials and Advantage....

https://documentation.meraki.com/MS/Cloud_Management_with_IOS_XE/Cloud-Management_IOS_XE_Overview/Cloud_Configuration%3A_Release_Versions_and_Highlights#:~:text=available%20in%20beta.-,Feature,Enterprise,-ISSU%20will%20only

[joey.debra]

Yes it does say minimum required license level. We do need to have 100% confirmation if any limits will be imposed since that is not really present.

On one had I find it quite strange you would be able to just have macro segmentation and perhaps even fabric support with BGP since that is supported too on the essentials/enterprise tier.