Smart Licensing–APs consuming Networkstack Advantage instead of Essent

[hfaisca]

Hi,

I am facing a licensing issue in Cisco Software Central / Smart Licensing and would appreciate your guidance. According to the BoM and licenses purchased, the environment should be using, AP Perpetual Networkstack Essentials. However, in Cisco Software Central, the consumption shown is, AP Perpetual Networkstack Advantage (4 APs).

This results in a license mismatch, as no Networkstack Advantage licenses were purchased.

We have deployed a Cisco Catalyst 9800-L-C WLC with Essentials licensing.
No new Access Points were purchased as part of this project, we are reusing existing APs (4x AIR-CAP1702I-E-K9)

What has already been checked:

• The WLC is correctly registered to the Smart Account
• The wireless configuration is set to Essentials (no Advantage features enabled)
• A license resync and reload were already performed on the WLC
• The issue persists only at the Smart Licensing / Software Central level

My questions are:

1. Why are the APs automatically consuming Networkstack Advantage instead of Essentials?
2. What is the correct procedure to reassign or downgrade the AP license consumption from Advantage to Essentials in Cisco Software Central?
3. Is this correction expected to be done via Smart License Exchange, or does it require a Cisco TAC case?

Thank you in advance.

[Cristian Matei]

Hi,

 @hfaisca Can you post the output, from WLC, for command show license usage. Are you saying that in Smart Account you're seeing Network Advantage licenses? If yes, than what you see on WLC, it is expected outcome, and it means you've actually ordered Advantage, or, luckily have been provisioned with Advantage. If not, suggest to de-register WLC from Smart Account an re-register it.

Thanks,

Cristian. 

[hfaisca]

Wed Jan 28 2026 14:07:50 GMT+0000 (Hora padrão da Europa Ocidental)
===================================================================================
#sh license usage
License Authorization:
Status: Not Applicable
air-network-essentials (DNA_NWSTACK_E):
Description: air-network-essentials
Count: 4
Version: 1.0
Status: IN USE
Export status: NOT RESTRICTED
Feature Name: air-network-essentials
Feature Description: air-network-essentials
Enforcement type: NOT ENFORCED
License type: Perpetual
air-dna-essentials (AIR-DNA-E):
Description: air-dna-essentials
Count: 4
Version: 1.0
Status: IN USE
Export status: NOT RESTRICTED
Feature Name: air-dna-essentials
Feature Description: air-dna-essentials
Enforcement type: NOT ENFORCED
License type: Perpetual

[Cristian Matei]

Hi,

@hfaisca Can you de-register and re-register WLC with Smart Licensing?

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/217348-configure-troubleshoot-catalyst-9800-w.html

Thanks,

Cristian.

[pieterh]

the 4x AIR-CAP1702I-E-K9 are existing AP's
you probably had the licences all the time
intended to promote DNA, there was a time you could only purchase AP's including a DNA advantage licens

-> look back at the shipping-list of that purchase.
you can also look back at the history (transactions) that the license was assigned to your account

you may see also get a banner that the license was "borrowed from higher pier" or something
which means, you request a essential licens, but no essential is registered,
so it borrows from advanced license registered on your account