C9800-L-F-K9 – 4×2.5G Copper + 2x10G SFP+ Ports – 250/500 APs – Half-Width 1RU Wireless Controller
Why Layer23-Switch
Stocked, Shipped and Supported by One Team
Ships in 1 Business Day
In-stock orders leave our Hong Kong or U.S. warehouse within 1 business day after payment, with tracking by email.
LSCare Warranty
3years on enterprise equipment
Free CCIE Support
Certified engineers help before and after you buy. Reply within 1 business day by email or live chat.
Verify Before You Pay
100%factory-sealed
Get label and serial photos before shipment, and check every serial number with Cisco.
C9800-L-F-K9 Description
The C9800-L-F-K9 is a Cisco Catalyst 9800-L wireless controller that joins the wired network over two 10G SFP+ fiber uplinks. Out of the box it handles 250 access points, 5000 clients and 5 Gbps, the perpetual Performance license lifts that to 500 access points, 10,000 clients and 10 Gbps, and four 2.5G/1G RJ-45 ports sit beside the SFP+ pair. The half-width 1RU chassis runs from one external 110W AC adapter, C9800-AC-110W, which ships with the controller.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
C9800-L-F-K9 |
|
Controller type |
Catalyst 9800-L fixed wireless controller, fiber uplink |
|
Maximum number of access points |
250; 500 with Performance license |
|
Maximum number of clients |
5000; 10,000 with Performance license |
|
Maximum throughput |
5 Gbps; 10 Gbps with Performance license |
|
Fixed uplinks |
2x 10G SFP+ fiber |
|
Data ports |
4x 2.5G/1G RJ-45 copper |
|
Redundancy port |
1x RJ-45 for SSO |
|
Power supply |
External 110W AC adapter C9800-AC-110W, shipped by default |
|
Maximum power consumption |
84.5W |
|
Form factor |
1RU half-width |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1 |
Application Scenarios
Where the controller lives in a different equipment room or building from the core switch, its SFP+ ports carry 10G over multimode or single-mode fiber with optics such as SFP-10G-SR or SFP-10G-LR.
On a campus built on Cisco SD-Access, the controller runs in fabric mode and brings Catalyst 9100 Wi-Fi 6 access points into the same policy fabric as the wired network.
A site that is starting to install Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points can keep them on this controller once it runs Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2, next to the Aironet Wave 2 and Catalyst 9100 units already in service.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
C9800-L-F-K9 |
CW9800L | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum number of access points |
250; 500 with Performance license |
250; 500 with Performance license |
Up to 500 |
Up to 2000 |
|
Maximum number of clients |
5000; 10,000 with Performance license |
5000; 10,000 with Performance license |
Up to 10,000 |
32,000 |
|
Maximum throughput |
5 Gbps; 10 Gbps with Performance license |
5 Gbps; 10 Gbps with Performance license |
10 Gbps |
Up to 40 Gbps |
|
Fixed uplinks |
2x 10G SFP+ fiber |
2x 10G/Multigigabit copper (RJ-45) |
2x 1G/10G SFP+ |
4x 10G/1G SFP+/SFP |
|
2.5G/1G copper ports |
4x RJ-45 |
4x RJ-45 |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
|
Power supply |
External 110W AC adapter |
External 110W AC adapter |
110W AC adapter, optional redundant supply kit |
AC PEM with optional redundant AC PEM |
|
Maximum power consumption |
84.5W |
86.9W |
90W |
381W |
|
Form factor |
1RU half-width |
1RU half-width |
1RU |
1RU |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 16.12.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 16.12.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 |
Cisco IOS XE 16.10.1 |
C9800-L-F-K9 has SFP+ fiber on its two 10G uplinks, while C9800-L-C-K9 has Multigigabit RJ-45 copper there, and the two share the same capacity and four 2.5G/1G copper ports. When the controller sits next to a switch with 10G copper ports, C9800-L-C-K9 links up over RJ-45 patch cables instead of SFP+ optics. On either model, growth from 250 to 500 access points is the LIC-C9800L-PERF= license, not a new controller. CW9800L keeps fiber uplinks at 500 access points and 10 Gbps with an optional redundant supply kit, but requires Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 or later. Above 500 access points the step is C9800-40-K9, with 2000 access points and 40 Gbps.
Ordering Checklist
- Uplink optics: Order modules for the two SFP+ ports from the supported list, such as SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR or GLC-SX-MMD, or SFP-H10GB-CU direct-attach cables. The uplinks need these modules or cables before they can reach the switch.
- Access point subscriptions: Every access point needs a Cisco DNA Essentials or Advantage subscription of 3, 5 or 7 years on a Smart Account. Without one, access points cannot join.
- Unified licensing release: Plan Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2 or later when LIC-CW-E or LIC-CW-A Cisco Networking Subscriptions will be used on C9800-L-F-K9. Earlier images cannot consume them.
- Performance license: Order LIC-C9800L-PERF with the controller when more than 250 access points or 5000 clients are planned. An SSO pair needs the license on both controllers.
- Standby controller: An SSO active-standby or N+1 design needs a second C9800-L-F-K9 on the order, linked over the RJ-45 redundancy ports.
- DTLS license: Add LIC-C9800-DTLS-K9 if traffic between access points and the controller must be encrypted. The DTLS license is an optional ordering step.
- Power cord and rack tray: Pick the Type C5 power cord for the destination country, such as CAB-AC-C5-UK or CAB-AC-C5-EUR, and add the C9800L-RMNT tray for rack installation.
C9800-L-F-K9 Front View
|
Label 4907_8880a8-a4> |
Description 4907_c6b386-10> |
|
1 4907_131149-ac> |
Service port LED 4907_136c90-bd> |
|
2 4907_c02a7b-0d> |
Redundancy port LED 4907_1004f3-fc> |
|
3 4907_c8a330-ab> |
Service Port (SP) (RJ-45) for out-of-band management 4907_08f1ef-e1> |
|
4 4907_ebd4cb-e7> |
Redundancy port 4907_85c22e-df> |
|
5 4907_7d48b8-6c> |
RJ-45 console port 4907_777ec9-12> |
|
6 4907_34ad92-ab> |
Micro-B USB console 4907_c24834-68> |
|
7 4907_d6e727-92> |
USB 3.0 port 4907_d98464-e4> |
|
8 4907_82cd8e-59> |
2x 10G/Multigigabit fiber 4907_edd1b6-42> |
|
9-12 4907_d5d273-b1> |
Quad RJ-45 2.5G/1G Multigigabit Ethernet ports 4907_6eb953-88> |
|
13 4907_9dbddd-15> |
Reset button 4907_badd3c-9a> |
|
14 4907_fa0129-75> |
System LED 4907_174ac1-ed> |
|
15 4907_6823e6-cb> |
Alarm LED 4907_18df88-19> |
|
16 4907_018d15-87> |
High availability LED 4907_9fc581-1a> |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C9800-L-F-K9 | Controller model | Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Fiber Uplink) Wireless Controller |
| Form factor | 1RU half-width chassis; side-by-side installation in a standard 19-in. rack | Operating system | Cisco IOS XE |
| Minimum software release | Cisco IOS XE Software 16.12.1 | Deployment modes | Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and fabric |
| Maximum number of access points | 250; 500 with Performance license | Maximum number of clients | 5000; 10,000 with Performance license |
| Maximum throughput | 5 Gbps; 10 Gbps with Performance license (1374-byte packets) | Throughput with IMIX | 5 Gbps with or without Performance license |
| Maximum WLANs | 4096 | VLAN IDs | 4096 |
| Fixed uplinks | 2x 10G SFP+ fiber | Data ports | 4x 2.5G/1G RJ-45 copper; 10 Mbps not supported; must connect to a switch |
| Management port | 1x RJ-45 service port for out-of-band management | Redundancy port | 1x RJ-45 for SSO |
| Console port | 1x RJ-45 console and 1x Micro USB console | USB port | 1x USB 3.0 for external memory |
| CPU | Intel Broadwell-NE, 8 cores, 2 GHz | DRAM | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Flash | 32 GB eMMC bulk flash | Bluetooth | Hardware support for a Bluetooth dongle as an IP management interface |
| Access points | Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 access points, Cisco Catalyst 9100 802.11ax access points | Wireless | IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11d, WMM/802.11e, 802.11h, 802.11n, 802.11k, 802.11r, 802.11u, 802.11w, 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2, 802.11ax |
| Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points | Supported on-premises from Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2; some access point models need a later release | Interoperability | AireOS-based controllers |
| Management | Cisco DNA Center, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, embedded WebUI, and open standards APIs | High availability | SSO with active standby and N+1 redundancy; ISSU; SMU hot and cold patching |
| License | Smart License enabled; Cisco DNA subscription required for each access point; optional perpetual Performance license LIC-C9800L-PERF | Default power supply | External single-output 12V DC, 110W, 120/240V AC adapter C9800-AC-110W, shipped by default |
| AC input | 90 to 264 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz; adapter input 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz | Maximum power consumption | 84.5W (two 2.5W SFPs and 4.5W USB load) |
| Heat dissipation | 288.2 BTU/hr (two 2.5W SFPs and 4.5W USB load) | Sound power level | 40 dBA normal at 25°C; 42.9 dBA maximum at 40°C |
| Operating temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F); maximum derated 1.0°C per 1000 ft (305 m) of altitude | Storage temperature | -25°C to 70°C (-13°F to 158°F) |
| Operating altitude | 0 to 3000 m (0 to 10,000 ft) | Nonoperating altitude | 0 to 12,192 m (0 to 40,000 ft) |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.5 x 9.06 x 1.58 in (21.59 x 23.01 x 4.02 cm) | Weight | 1.82 kg (4.01 lb) |
| Safety certifications | UL/CSA 60950-1, IEC/EN 60950-1, AS/NZS 60950.1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1 | EMC emissions | Class A: FCC 47CFR15, AS/NZS CISPR 22, CISPR 22, EN55022/EN55032, ICES-003, VCCI, KN 32, CNS-13438; EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3 |
| Supported SFP modules | GLC-BX-D, GLC-BX-U, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-ZX-SMD, GLC-TE | Supported SFP+ modules | SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-SR-S, SFP-10G-SR-X, SFP-10G-LR, SFP-10G-LR-S, SFP-10G-LR-X, SFP-10G-LRM, SFP-H10GB-CU1M/1.5M/2M/2.5M/3M/5M, SFP-H10GB-ACU7M/ACU10M |
Get More Information
Need pricing, stock, or shipping details for the C9800-L-F-K9 ? Layer23-Switch can help you check current availability, lead time, and delivery options for this. Send us the part number, quantity, and destination country via live chat or email [email protected] for a fast quotation.
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
-
Does C9800-L-F-K9 support a redundant power supply?
-
What are the dimensions of C9800-L-F-K9 and which tray mounts it in a rack?
-
Which software image PID does C9800-L-F-K9 come with?
-
How many WLANs and VLANs does C9800-L-F-K9 support?
Warranty
Layer23-Switch.com offers genuine, high-quality ICT products at competitive wholesale prices—ensuring exceptional value without compromising quality.
All items are brand new, original, and factory-sealed.
Upon request, each unit can be fully tested and verified by a Cisco CCIE-certified engineer to ensure perfect working condition before shipment.
Our Cisco CCIE-certified experts provide free professional support via phone, email, online chat, or remote login—helping you deploy and troubleshoot with confidence.
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may request an exchange or full refund. Our customer service team will guide you through the return process quickly and smoothly. Visit Return Policy page for more information.
We support multiple secure payment and logistics options, backed by industry-leading verification:












Visit How to Pay page for more information
Extended, Worry-Free Warranty Coverage Factory New Sealed Enterprise Hardware:
· 3 Years Factory New Sealed
Visit Warranty Policy page for more information
Verify, plan, and comparewith confidence
Use practical tools to check device details, review lifecyclemilestones, and compare hardware before you buy.
Standard Services
Personalized Service, Superior Product Maintenance for Ultimate Satisfaction.
- Projects and Technical Support
- Easy Purchasing Supply
- Product Lifecycle Protection
- Exclusive F3 Team Support
Customized Support for Your Needs with CCIE, HCIE, HPE ASE, etc.

Asked about a niche detail. They knew the answer immediately.
What we saved on hardware, we reinvested in supporting infrastructure.
Layer23’s product quality is a reason we keep ordering.
It’s built to last. I checked the internals, it’s a good machine.
We can hear everyone now. The network is up. Thanks for the quick ship.