C9800-L-F-K9 – 4×2.5G Copper + 2x10G SFP+ Ports – 250/500 APs – Half-Width 1RU Wireless Controller

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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

Fiber Run To The Campus Core

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.

SD-Access Fabric Wireless

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.

Adding Wi-Fi 7 Access Points

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

C9800-L-C-K9

CW9800L

C9800-40-K9

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

Description

1

Service port LED

2

Redundancy port LED

3

Service Port (SP) (RJ-45) for out-of-band management

4

Redundancy port

5

RJ-45 console port

6

Micro-B USB console

7

USB 3.0 port

8

2x 10G/Multigigabit fiber

9-12

Quad RJ-45 2.5G/1G Multigigabit Ethernet ports

13

Reset button

14

System LED

15

Alarm LED

16

High availability LED

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

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Questions & Answers

  • Does C9800-L-F-K9 support a redundant power supply?

    No. C9800-L-F-K9 runs from a single external 12 V DC, 110 W adapter, C9800-AC-110W, and the ordering table lists no redundant power PID. The adapter takes 100-240 VAC at 50/60 Hz, and the unit accepts 90-264 VAC at 47-63 Hz.
  • What are the dimensions of C9800-L-F-K9 and which tray mounts it in a rack?

    C9800-L-F-K9 is 8.5 in wide, 9.06 in deep and 1.58 in high (21.59 x 23.01 x 4.02 cm). Mount it with the C9800L-RMNT tray, ordered as C9800L-RMNT= for a spare. Front and rear brackets C4948E-BKT-KIT= are also listed with the accessories.
  • Which software image PID does C9800-L-F-K9 come with?

    C9800-L-F-K9 uses image SC9800LK9-xxxx, where xxxx is the factory-installed release, and the C9800-AC-110W adapter is selected automatically. The buyer chooses only the country power cord, such as CAB-AC-C5-ITA, CAB-AC-C5-AUS, CAB-AC-C5-JAP or CAB-AC-C5-KOR.
  • How many WLANs and VLANs does C9800-L-F-K9 support?

    C9800-L-F-K9 supports up to 4096 WLANs and 4096 VLAN IDs per the datasheet scale table, whether or not the Performance license is installed. The Performance license raises only access point, client and throughput limits, so plan WLAN and VLAN design inside these fixed counts.

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  • C9800-L-F-K9 Datasheet