Cisco Crosswork Essentials and Advantage Suites Data Sheet
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A simpler and easier way to get the automation tools you need for your network.
Cisco Crosswork® Network Automation is a modern platform for advanced automation designed to give your organization the ability to move quickly and precisely in this dynamic business and technical environment. The platform is supported by of a suite of software applications built around three functional pillars:
| Visibility |
Establish ground truth regarding what is happening in the network, a view of the current state of devices, and the ability to verify the customer experience |
| Insights |
Apply analytics to gathered data to identify trends and patterns both for planning and problem resolution |
| Action |
Automate operational processes, provide programmatic control of infrastructure, and reduce the latency of end-to-end workflows |
Crosswork is designed with modern low/no-touch operations in mind. It supports both multivendor and multidomain networks, and is centered on both programmatic infrastructure control and real-time access to operational and state data. Crosswork includes both cloud/SaaS and on-premises software. Its capabilities encompass the full service lifecycle management and operations which includes planning, design, implementation, optimization and assurance. Visibility, insights and action enable closed- loop operational control of the network, enabling operators to dynamically and effectively adapt to changing demands.
While each software application that support the Crosswork Network Automation platform can be licensed individually, for simply designing and deploying automation, they are also available in packaged form. There are two options to choose from – the Crosswork Essentials suite and the Crosswork Advantage suite. These options group the software applications that share a common purpose and also provide the advantage of lower licensing costs than if you purchased them individually.
Crosswork Network Automation suite options
Table 1. Crosswork Suite Benefits
| Crosswork Suite |
Benefit |
| Essentials |
● Device-centric
● Focused on automating full device lifecycle
● Incudes out-of-the-box use cases for common activities
● Aligned to the needs of teams that own and manage infrastructure
|
| Advantage |
● Services-centric
● Advanced tooling and capabilities for complex automation, cross-domain workflows, visualization, analysis
● Aligned to the needs of the teams that own process automation and end-to-end workflows
|
Platform software applications
Crosswork Essentials
As noted earlier, the Essentials suite is designed for infrastructure operations teams to fully automate the Cisco device lifecycle. It provides capabilities for device turn-up, config and operating system management, and monitoring and audit. It includes the following three software applications:
● Network Services Orchestrator along with the Network Element Drivers for Cisco IOS® XE, IOS XE, and NX OS
● The Essentials edition Evolved Programmable Network Manager
● Workflow Manager Essentials
Crosswork Advantage
The Advantage suite is designed for teams’ orchestration workflows for their organization. It includes advanced capabilities for multivendor support, complex workflows, multidomain automation, visualization, and analytics. The key software applications of the Advantage suite are:
● All Network Services Orchestrator NEDs for both Cisco devices and third-party devices
● The Advantage edition of Evolved Programmable Network Manager
● Workflow Manger Advantage
● Network Controller
● WAN Automation Engine
● All the software applications of the Essentials suite
Crosswork Essentials and Crosswork Advantage product components
Crosswork Essentials and Advantage are sold as suites. Customers interested in the individual software applications from the suite should consider a la carte options for each of the applications.
The licensing of the Crosswork Automation suites is based on three factors:
1. A flat annual fee that grants you access (Right to Use or RTU) to the base application software included in the suite
2. A per-device Right-To-Manage (RTM) fee
3. 1-year to 5-year term contracts
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are not enough—Cisco continues to transform the way that products are made and managed throughout their lifecycles. Cisco is committed to designing and managing its products and packaging for reuse, repair, and resource efficiency.
Implementing automation and orchestration tools with Crosswork reduces the need for truck rolls and, consequently, emissions. ASIC breakthroughs, right-sizing of the network, and streamlining operations contribute to power efficiency gains of more than 60% and reduce the total carbon footprint of your business.
Installation requirements for each Crosswork Essentials and Advantage component are available in the respective individual product data sheets or the installation guides available on www.cisco.com/go/crosswork.
Contact your Cisco account representative for details on how to order Cisco Crosswork Essentials and Advantage.
Cisco Crosswork is covered by the following warranty: www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/warranties/warranty-doc-c99-740613.html.
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For more information on Cisco’s network automation portfolio for service providers, please visit www.cisco.com/go/crosswork, or to schedule a demonstration, contact your Cisco sales representative.
| New or Revised Topic |
Described In |
Date |
| Updated platform support and platform software applications information |
Product overview, Platform software applications sections |
June 27, 2023 |