Cisco Switching Essentials licenses provide the core networking capabilities required to operate and manage Cisco Catalyst 9000 Series Smart Switches, including the Cisco C9350 Series. Designed as a perpetual software licence, Switching Essentials enables essential switching, management, and operational features delivered through the device operating system.
Essential Features for Cisco Catalyst Smart Switching
The Cisco C9350 Series supports both Switching Essentials and Switching Advantage licensing tiers, allowing organisations to select the functionality level that matches their network requirements. The Essentials tier provides foundational switching features, while the Advantage tier adds advanced capabilities such as enhanced security services and AI-powered network analytics.
Cisco C9350 Series Essentials licence tags include C9350-OS-ESS, with subscription options available for different switch port capacities, including Tier 1 medium and large access deployments.
Simplified Licensing and Management
Cisco Switching Essentials forms part of the Cisco Networking Subscription licensing model, helping organisations align hardware, software capabilities, and support services. Licence status can be monitored directly on devices using commands such as show license summary and show license usage.
Cisco recommends managing subscriptions through Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) or Cisco Smart Software Manager Utility (SSM) to simplify licence tracking, compliance, and lifecycle management across enterprise networks.
