Cisco MDS license for NDFC

This is a question we get often and I want to provide the quickest answer to “What is the minimum license to build and manage a Cisco MDS SAN fabric with NDFC:

  • Each Cisco MDS switch must have Advantage license installed to use NDFC

Questions and Answers

Q: Is there a free version still?
A: No, that was back in the DCNM days; however, you can still use the legacy “Device Manager” on a per-switch bases by pointing your browser to the MDS assigned IP address and logging in that way; however, this is not NDFC.

Q: Can I get a perpetual license?
A: If you have a license level lower than 9.2.2 then it may still be possible to get a perpetual Advantage license; however, if you’re 9.2.2 and above it will be a subscription based license.

Q: Is there an additional cost to NDFC?
A: From an additional license perspective, no. However, if you elect to run NDFC on the dedicated appliance cluster there is an obvious cost of the hardware and support that comes along with it. You can download and run the OVA at no cost but you must adhere to the installation instructions without deviation.

Q: What licenses are required for Nexus Dashboard?
A: For Nexus Dashboard itself, there are no licenses for the platform itself. Instead, licensing is based on switches that determine what service(s) inside Nexus Dashboard you plan on running. Below will be links to the Capacity Planner (Select Fabric Controller in the “Nexus Dashboard Services” section below the Cluster Form Factor section)
Click here for NDFC Capacity Planner
– Click here for NDFC verified scalability guide (select appropriate version in the left drop-down menu)
– Click here for Nexus Dashboard and Services Compatibility Matrix