CW9800L – 500 AP / 10,000 Client Capacity – 2×1/10G SFP+ Uplinks – Compact 1RU Wireless Controller
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CW9800L Description
The CW9800L is a compact 1RU wireless controller in the Cisco Catalyst CW9800 family, running Cisco IOS XE to manage up to 500 access points and 10,000 clients at a maximum throughput of 10 Gbps. Two 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks carry controller traffic, and the 2.1 kg appliance operates in centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and SD-Access fabric deployments for access points spanning Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 through Wi-Fi 7. The controller itself boots without a license, while each joining access point consumes a Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking Subscription entitlement, and the platform requires Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 or later as its minimum release.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
CW9800L |
|
Access point capacity |
Up to 500 APs |
|
Client capacity |
Up to 10,000 clients |
|
Maximum throughput |
10 Gbps |
|
Uplink ports |
2x 1G/10G SFP+ |
|
Supported AP generations |
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and Wi-Fi 7 |
|
AP license requirement |
One Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking Subscription per AP |
|
Redundancy |
1:1 SSO and N+1 high availability |
|
Default power supply |
C9800-AC-110W 110W AC adapter |
|
Maximum power consumption |
90W |
|
Form factor |
1RU, 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 |
Application Scenarios
Deployed in a campus equipment room as the centralized control plane for building-wide Wi-Fi, anchoring access points in local mode from a single 1RU appliance.
Placed at a head-end site to manage distributed branch offices in Cisco FlexConnect mode, where each site switches traffic locally and the controller supports up to 400 FlexConnect APs per site.
Installed outside a dedicated equipment room, such as a shallow office cabinet, where the 234.7 mm depth and 29.5 dBA sound power at normal room temperature let the appliance sit near working areas.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
CW9800L |
CW9800M |
CW9800H1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Access point capacity |
Up to 500 APs |
Up to 3000 APs |
Up to 6000 APs |
|
Client capacity |
Up to 10,000 |
Up to 32,000 |
Up to 64,000 |
|
Maximum throughput |
10 Gbps |
50 Gbps |
100 Gbps |
|
Power supply |
Single C9800-AC-110W 110W AC adapter, optional redundant supply kit |
PWR-CH1-750WACR 750W AC supply |
Dual power supplies standard (750W AC or 950W DC) |
|
Rack form factor |
1RU |
1RU |
1RU |
- The scale break between the CW9800L and the CW9800M is the first decision point: the CW9800L tops out at 500 APs, 10,000 clients, and 10 Gbps, so a design that will pass roughly 500 access points during the hardware’s service life moves to the CW9800M for 3000 AP, 32,000-client, and 50 Gbps headroom, while a network staying under that boundary avoids paying for capacity it cannot use.
- The CW9800H1 separates itself on uplink and power class rather than capacity alone: it pairs 6000 AP and 100 Gbps scale with 8x 1/10G SFP+ plus 4x 25G SFP28 uplinks and dual power supplies as standard, whereas the CW9800L keeps a 2x 1G/10G SFP+ layout fed by a single C9800-AC-110W adapter, which is the practical difference between a core-class controller and a compact appliance footprint.
- Software baseline also splits the group: the CW9800L needs Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 or later while the CW9800H1 runs from IOS XE 17.14.1, so an environment pinned to an earlier release train can deploy the CW9800H1 today but must lift its baseline before the CW9800L. For deciding which SKU to order, settle the AP count first, then the throughput and uplink speed the aggregation layer requires.
Selection Guide
1. Sizing Against The 500 AP Ceiling
The CW9800L serves up to 500 access points and 10,000 clients; a plan that grows past that boundary within the controller’s deployment life steps up to the CW9800M with its 3000 AP and 32,000-client capacity, while a network holding under 500 APs keeps the smaller appliance instead of buying unused scale.
2. IOS XE 17.18.2 Software Floor
The CW9800L requires Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 as its minimum release, the highest floor in the CW9800 family; if the wireless estate is standardized on an earlier train, the CW9800H1 already runs from IOS XE 17.14.1, so the software baseline rather than capacity can decide which controller enters the BOM.
3. Order-Time Application Hosting Memory
Application hosting on the CW9800L depends on the CW-ACC-MEM-32G 32 GB storage option, which can only be configured when the appliance is ordered and cannot be added in the field; a team that expects to run IOx containers later must lock that option now or plan a second appliance purchase.
4. Built-In Power Redundancy Boundary
The CW9800L ships with a single C9800-AC-110W adapter and reaches power redundancy only through the optional CW9800L-RPS= kit; when a site standard requires dual supplies as shipped from the factory, the CW9800H1 arrives with two power supplies installed, so the redundancy requirement can move the order up a tier.
Ordering Checklist
|
Check Item |
What to Confirm |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
AP subscription coverage |
Confirm one Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking Subscription entitlement for every access point that will join the controller. |
The appliance boots without a license, but access points cannot join and serve clients until per-AP subscriptions are in place. |
|
Supported SFP optics |
Verify each uplink optic or cable against the CW9800L supported list, such as SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR, GLC-TE, and SFP-H10GB-CU direct-attach cables. |
An optic outside the supported matrix can be rejected by the 1G/10G SFP+ ports even when the form factor fits. |
|
Rack-mount hardware |
Add CW9800L-RMNT when the appliance goes into a 19-inch rack; the tray holds two CW9800L units side by side in one RU, and CW9800L-RMNT-R covers rear support. |
The 216 mm chassis is narrower than a 19-inch rack, so rack installation depends on the tray arriving on the same order. |
|
Catalyst Center release |
Confirm the management platform matches the release documented for the CW9800L, Cisco Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10. |
Managing the controller from an older release falls outside the documented support pairing for the IOS XE 17.18.2 baseline. |
Optional Add-ons
|
Model |
Description |
|---|---|
|
CW9800L-RPS= |
Redundant power supply kit with RPS module, 8-pin to 6-pin DC cable, and an additional power adapter |
|
PWR-RPS-DC1= |
Spare redundant power supply module only |
|
C9800-AC-110W |
110W AC power adapter with 100-240 VAC input; one ships with the appliance |
|
CW9800L-RMNT |
Rack-mount tray that fits two CW9800L controllers side by side in a single RU |
|
CW9800L-RMNT-R |
Rear rack-mount bracket for the CW9800L tray installation |
|
CW-ACC-MEM-32G |
32 GB additional storage for application hosting; configurable only at time of appliance order |
|
CW9800L-RFID-1R |
RFID asset tag recording PID, serial number, and Meraki Cloud ID |
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | CW9800L | Product role | Compact wireless controller, Cisco Catalyst CW9800 family |
| Access point capacity | Up to 500 APs | Client capacity | Up to 10,000 clients |
| Maximum throughput | 10 Gbps | Processor | Intel Icelake-D LCC, 8 cores, 2 GHz |
| Uplink ports | 2x 1G/10G SFP+ | Console ports | 1x RJ-45 console, 1x Micro USB console |
| Management port | 1x RJ-45 service port | Redundancy port | 1x RJ-45 RP port for SSO pairing |
| USB port | 1x USB 3.0 Type-C for external storage | Supported 1G optics | GLC-TE, GLC-LH-SMD, GLC-SX-MMD |
| Supported 10G optics and cables | SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-SR-S, SFP-10G-SR-I, SFP-10G-LR, SFP-10G-LR-S, SFP-10G-BXD-I, SFP-10G-BXU-I, SFP-H10GB-CU2.5M/3M/5M, SFP-H10GB-ACU7M/10M, SFP-10G-AOC series (1 m to 10 m) | WLANs | 4096 |
| VLANs | 4096 | Site tags | 250 |
| FlexConnect APs per site | 400 | Policy tags | 4096 |
| RF tags | 250 | RF profiles | 500 |
| Policy profiles | 4096 | Flex profiles | 250 |
| Supported AP generations | Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E, Wi-Fi 7; Standard Power with AFC where available | Wireless standards | 802.11a/b/g/d/e/h/n/k/r/u/w, 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2, 802.11ax, 802.11be |
| Deployment modes | Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, SD-Access fabric wireless | High availability | 1:1 SSO, N+1 redundancy, ISSU, SMU hot patching, rolling AP upgrade |
| AP license requirement | One Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking Subscription per joining AP | Security | WPA3, Secure Boot, image signing, run-time defenses, Trust Anchor module, Encrypted Traffic Analytics, aWIPS |
| Software features | Application hosting (Cisco IOx), User Defined Network Plus, Flexible NetFlow, NBAR2, QoS per BSSID and per client | Management | WebUI, Cisco Catalyst Center, NETCONF/YANG, RESTCONF, model-driven telemetry, Cloud Monitoring via Meraki dashboard |
| Application hosting storage | CW-ACC-MEM-32G 32 GB option, order-time configuration only | Default power supply | C9800-AC-110W 110W AC adapter, 100-240 VAC input |
| Redundant power option | CW9800L-RPS= kit; PWR-RPS-DC1= spare module | Maximum power consumption | 90W including 4.5W USB load |
| Heat dissipation | 307.2 BTU/hr | Acoustic sound power | 29.5 dBA up to 25.6°C; 37.4 dBA at 26-39°C; 43.8 dBA at 40-49°C; 47.3 dBA at 50°C and above |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40°C | Storage temperature | -25 to 70°C |
| Operating humidity | 5 to 95% noncondensing | Operating altitude | Up to 3048 m at 30°C |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 216 x 234.7 x 40.2 mm (8.5 x 9.24 x 1.58 in) | Weight | 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) |
| Rack units | 1RU | Rack-mount accessories | CW9800L-RMNT tray (two units per RU), CW9800L-RMNT-R rear bracket |
| Minimum software release | Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 | Catalyst Center release | Cisco Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10 |
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Questions & Answers
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