DNA licenses WLC 5520

[Moudar]

Hi,

Do we need to buy DNA licenses along with 9100 APs when we using 5520 WLC (version 8.10.182.3)?

We don't have DNA, and wonder why should we buy these?

This is how our WLC licenses look like:

In other thread people were not agreed if it is mandatory or not:

https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/perpetual-license-for-catalyst-9100-series/td-p/4319283 

The best is If anyone from Cisco can answer this!

Thank you

[Leo Laohoo]

Purchase of the DNA License is mandatory. 

A DNA appliance, however, is not required nor necessary.

[Moudar]

what about the other thread?

[Gaurav Kansal]

Dear Moudar,

Your query is been answered in following link. Please read it (under Licensing and migration 2nd question):

Q.  Can Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points connect to AireOS and Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series controllers? If so, what are the licensing options?

A.  Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points can connect to both AireOS 3504, 5520, and 8540 controllers and Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series controllers. These access points require a mandatory Cisco DNA license to connect to either AireOS controllers or Cisco Catalyst 9800 Controllers.

Reference : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/nb-06-802-11ax-faq-cte-en.html#Licensingandmigration

You required Cisco DNA license mandatory to connect to your controller.

Good Luck..

[Rich R · Accepted solution]

@Moudar the previous answers are incorrect but part of the confusion is because Cisco has changed the policy since they were first released (they were originally 100% mandatory). They are not any more.  The very first Q&A at the link @Gaurav Kansal  shared answers the question definitively (and somewhat conflicts with the 2nd Q&A which he quoted):
"Cisco DNA term-based licenses (AIR-Cisco DNA licenses) are mandatory with the purchase of Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points (except when connection to the AireOS controllers with a sufficient number of perpetual AP/C1 licenses)."

So when ordering there is now an opt-out option for the AP DNA license which can be selected when it is not required.  As you can see many people are still not aware of this and Cisco do not encourage this because they would prefer everyone to buy DNA licenses and migrate to 9800.  If you later need to use those APs with a 9800 then you will have to buy the DNA licenses for each AP.

[Moudar]

Licensed Feature    Max Count         Current Count     Remaining Count     Remaining Capacity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AP Count            1500              933               567                 567/1500




This is a Controller with HA-SKU license.
                                         The AP base count license was inherited from the Primary Controller.

                                                                                                             Any AP base count license on HA-SKU controller is disregarded.


                                                                                                                                                                                Feature name: ap_count (adder)
        License type: Permanent
        License state: Active, In-use
        License Nodelocked: No
        RTU License Count: 1500

@Rich R Thank you for your explanation.

Do we have the perpetual AP/C1 licenses?

[Rich R]

> Do we have the perpetual AP/C1 licenses?
Yes

[Moudar]

Is this rule the same when it comes to switches like 9200L?

when we buy 9200l we also buy DNA licenses, which are not needed as we don't have DNA!

[Rich R]

> Is this rule the same when it comes to switches like 9200L?

No that only applies to APs.  For other products the port, bandwidth and feature licenses are now part of the DNA license options so there is no opt-out possible.  In the case of 9200L you actually buy the switch SKU with DNA option integrated and all you do is choose the term.
eg: C9200L-24P-4X-E is the DNA essentials version of that switch and you select 3, 5 or 7 years when ordering.