Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model (XR FCM) Playbook
This playbook is designed to provide you with use case education, customer requirements, and actions you'll need to take to help your customers navigate their Cisco product adoption.
You will be guided through the specific objectives of each stage of adoption and how they relate to the aligning automated digital experience.
As we learn more about what it takes for customers to be successful with their adoption, new resources and updated information can be added to this playbook, including if a customer becomes Stalled in Stage or requires additional troubleshooting aid.
Refer to the last page of this playbook for definitions, descriptions, and all associated resources to help your customer through their adoption.
How to coach for success with Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model (XR FCM)
Help your customers get started with initial XR FCM onboarding steps, then learn how to tap into advanced features to further centralize, automate, and scale their network.
To assist customers with XR FCM, guide them through activating entitled licenses, exploring Guided Resources, and joining virtual events. Help customers streamline deployment, optimize configurations, and ensure ongoing compliance — positioning their business for future-ready outcomes and continued success.
Refer to the last page of this playbook for definitions, descriptions, and all associated resources to help your customer through their adoption.
Customers enter the XR Flexible Consumption Model (XR FCM) journey when they meet the following corresponding entry criteria:
ASR 9000 SIA Essentials License, ASR 9000 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, ASR 9000 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
Cisco 8000 SIA Essentials License, Cisco 8000 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, Cisco 8000 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 540 SIA Essentials License, NCS 540 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 540 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 5500 SIA Essentials License, NCS 5500 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 5500 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 560 SIA Essentials License, NCS 560 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 560 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS1KFC SIA Essentials License, NCS1KFC SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS1KFC SIA Advantage without Essentials License
IOSXRSW SIA Essentials License, IOSXRSW SIA Advantage with Essentials License, IOSXRSW SIA Advantage without Essentials License
Cisco 8000 SIA Essentials License, Cisco 8000 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, Cisco 8000 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 540 SIA Essentials License, NCS 540 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 540 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 5500 SIA Essentials License, NCS 5500 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 5500 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS 560 SIA Essentials License, NCS 560 SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS 560 SIA Advantage without Essentials License
NCS1KFC SIA Essentials License, NCS1KFC SIA Advantage with Essentials License, NCS1KFC SIA Advantage without Essentials License
IOSXRSW SIA Essentials License, IOSXRSW SIA Advantage with Essentials License, IOSXRSW SIA Advantage without Essentials License
Customers are eligible for the journey when they have purchased:
| Eligibility Rule | Hierarchy Component | Rule Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 1 | License | Must have SIA IOS XR license |
| Eligibility Scenarios |
|---|
| If Rule 1 is TRUE, then your customer is ELIGIBLE |
Refer to the last page of this playbook for definitions, descriptions, and all associated resources to help your customer through their adoption.
Guidance on helping your customer adopt Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model (XR FCM)
In this stage, the customer will:
- Create a Smart Account
- Create Virtual Accounts for better utilization and planning
- Verify licenses have been deposited in the correct account
- Review customer capacity planning and SIA renewal strategy
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- An understanding of the XR Flexible Consumption Model (XR FCM) concepts
- An understanding of the XR features and versions
- An understanding of Smart Licensing
- A Smart Account, created one Virtual Account, and there is at least one license in the account
Tips for Partner:
- It's a best practice for the customer to create multiple Virtual Accounts to allow for depositing and/or transferring licenses
- Confirm customer has a Smart Account created and, if they have multiple accounts, that the main account is being used by the team
- Verify at least one license has been purchased
Activate
Subject Line: Activate to begin your journey: Cisco IOS XR
Preheader: Gain full use of your investment by taking these actions today
Trigger: Customer receives this email when their stage = Onboard or Implement and they have not activated their Smart License
Goal: Promote creation of Cisco Smart Account and activation of Cisco Smart License
Preheader: Gain full use of your investment by taking these actions today
Trigger: Customer receives this email when their stage = Onboard or Implement and they have not activated their Smart License
Goal: Promote creation of Cisco Smart Account and activation of Cisco Smart License
Activate
In this stage, the customer will:
- Attend relevant virtual events
- Review the Guided Resources
- Explore Cisco Community
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Received this email
Tips for Partner:
- Ensure your customer is consuming current Cisco content
Welcome resources
Subject Line: Bookmark these Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model resources
Preheader: Everything you need for a successful deployment
Trigger: Customer receives this email when they have activated their Smart License
Goal: Provide customer with resources needed to adopt their product
Preheader: Everything you need for a successful deployment
Trigger: Customer receives this email when they have activated their Smart License
Goal: Provide customer with resources needed to adopt their product
Welcome resources
In this stage, the customer will:
- Install Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) on-prem
- Configure Smart Call Home on device
- Configure XR FCM or deploy using Direct Cloud Access
- Configure DNS
- Configure input file template for direct deployment
- Execute EZ-Register script which will create a token in CSSM on-prem or reuse the existing token and register the software with the token from CSSM on-prem
- Review XR FCM subscriptions
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Deployed Smart Licensing
- Obtained registration token from CSSM on-prem
- Registered device using EZ-Register or manually
Tips for Partner:
- Validate customer has installed CSSM on-prem
- Validate customer has configured DNS Smart Call Home on device and XR FCM
- Verify customer's "product instance" is at least one in their Smart Account
- Verify with customer that at least one of their licenses is "in use" in their Smart Account
Best practices
Subject Line: Tips for your implementation: Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model
Preheader: Implement with these best practices for success
Trigger: Customer receives this email one week after the Resources: Getting started email is sent
Goal: Provide customer with implementation best practices
Preheader: Implement with these best practices for success
Trigger: Customer receives this email one week after the Resources: Getting started email is sent
Goal: Provide customer with implementation best practices
Best practices
In this stage, the customer will:
- Consume at least 20% of licenses using CSSM or EZ-Register
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Consumed at least 20% of SIA licenses
Tips for Partner:
- Run a Smart Account license report
- Confirm that the number of "in use" licenses is less than or equal to the number of "purchased" licenses
- If your customer is not in compliance, work with your customer to purchase the required number of licenses
- If Smart Account is out-of-compliance due to insufficient licenses, purchase and deposit the correct number and type of licenses into the Smart Account
- If Smart Account is out-of-compliance due to device registration or reporting out of compliance, ensure that the device is registered within 90 days or that the device is reporting usage every 90 days or less
Core features
Subject Line: Ready to deploy Cisco IOS XR?
Preheader: Start with these Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model configurations
Trigger: Customer receives this email when there's a new contact one week after the Resources: Getting started email or when existing contacts’ stage = Use, Engage, Adopt, and Optimize
Goal: Highlight core product features and provide resources to learn more
Preheader: Start with these Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model configurations
Trigger: Customer receives this email when there's a new contact one week after the Resources: Getting started email or when existing contacts’ stage = Use, Engage, Adopt, and Optimize
Goal: Highlight core product features and provide resources to learn more
Core features
In this stage, the customer will:
- Consume at least 30% of licenses using CSSM or EZ-Register
- View XR roadmap for new features and benefits
- Download image and go through CLIs to install and upgrade software image in lab environment
- Test and validate XR image in lab environment
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Consumed at least 30% of SIA licenses
- An understanding of qualifying XR images
- Validated customer has tested and validated XR image in lab environment
Tips for Partner:
- Validate customer has tested and qualified the XR image in their lab environment
Feature focus
Subject Line: Tips for Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model deployment
Preheader: Scale and deploy with these best practices
Trigger: Customer receives this email two weeks after the Core features email is sent
Goal: Provide steps to customer on how to plan and deploy their product
Preheader: Scale and deploy with these best practices
Trigger: Customer receives this email two weeks after the Core features email is sent
Goal: Provide steps to customer on how to plan and deploy their product
Feature focus
In this stage, the customer will:
- Deploy image to production
- Consume at least 50% of licenses using CSSM or EZ-Register
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Upgraded to the latest version
Tips for Partner:
- Validate customer has upgraded their XR version
Top 3 recommendations
Subject Line: What you should know about successful Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model customers
Preheader: Use these top three best practices
Trigger: Customer receives this email two weeks after the Feature focus email is sent
Goal: Provide customer with best practices for using and tuning their product
Preheader: Use these top three best practices
Trigger: Customer receives this email two weeks after the Feature focus email is sent
Goal: Provide customer with best practices for using and tuning their product
Top 3 recommendations
In this stage, the customer will:
- Deploy image to production
- Consume at least 50% of licenses using CSSM or EZ-Register
The customer will exit this stage when they have:
- Deployed image to production
- Consumed at least 50% of licenses using CSSM or EZ-Register
Tips for Partner:
- Ensure customer has reviewed the Capacity Upsell Guide
- Engage with customer to verify if they have purchased additional licenses to meet capacity increases in their network
- Engage with customer to verify if their previously used licenses have been transferred to a newly registered device
- Verify customer has upgraded to the latest version of CSSM on-prem
- Verify customer has renewed their XR SIA contract
Advanced features
Subject Line: Tuning and customizations for Cisco IOS XR
Preheader: Optimize your Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model solution
Trigger: Customer receives this email four weeks after the Top 3 recommendations email is sent
Goal: Provide advanced features and integrations
Preheader: Optimize your Cisco XR Flexible Consumption Model solution
Trigger: Customer receives this email four weeks after the Top 3 recommendations email is sent
Goal: Provide advanced features and integrations
Advanced features
Refer to the last page of this playbook for definitions, descriptions, and all associated resources to help your customer through their adoption.
To further support your customers along their digital journey, you can provide them with key resources:
Refer to the last page of this playbook for definitions, descriptions, and all associated resources to help your customer through their adoption.