CW9800M – 3000 AP 32000 Client Capacity – 4×1/10G SFP+ 2x25G Uplinks – Midsize Wireless Controller
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CW9800M Description
The CW9800M is a Cisco Catalyst CW9800 Series midsize wireless controller for campus and multi-site networks that run Cisco IOS XE. The 1RU controller manages up to 3000 access points and 32,000 clients at up to 50 Gbps of throughput, with four 1G/10G SFP+ and two 25G SFP28 uplinks. The controller starts without a license, but each joining access point needs a Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking Subscription.
Quick Specs
|
Parameter |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Product ID |
CW9800M |
|
Access point capacity |
Up to 3,000 APs |
|
Client capacity |
Up to 32,000 clients |
|
Maximum throughput |
50 Gbps |
|
Uplink ports |
4x 1/10G SFP+ and 2x 25G SFP28 |
|
Redundancy ports |
1x RJ-45 plus 1x SFP 10 Gbps, both for SSO pairing |
|
Default power supply |
Single AC supply, hot-swappable PEM |
|
Maximum power consumption |
350W |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 |
|
AP join licensing |
Per-AP Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking subscription |
|
Form factor |
1RU appliance |
Application Scenarios
In a campus core or data hall rack, the controller terminates access point tunnels for an entire multi-building site from one 1RU appliance, with an SSO standby unit alongside where the design pairs controllers.
A headquarters or regional hub can control Cisco FlexConnect access points across branch offices, where user traffic switches locally at each branch while configuration and RF control stay central.
Inside a Cisco SD-Access fabric site, the controller is managed through Cisco Catalyst Center so wireless clients receive the same segmentation and policy treatment as wired endpoints.
Product Comparison
|
Parameter |
CW9800M |
CW9800H1 |
CW9800L |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum number of access points |
Up to 3000 |
Up to 6000 |
Up to 500 |
|
Maximum number of clients |
Up to 32,000 |
Up to 64,000 |
Up to 10,000 |
|
Maximum throughput |
50 Gbps |
100 Gbps |
10 Gbps |
|
Uplink ports |
4x 1G/10G SFP+ and 2x 25G SFP28 |
8x 1G/10G SFP+ and 4x 25G SFP28 |
2x 1G/10G SFP+ |
|
Power supply |
Single AC power supply, hot-swappable PEM |
Dual power supplies standard (750W AC or 950W DC) |
C9800-AC-110W 110W AC adapter, optional redundant supply kit |
|
Maximum power consumption |
350W |
500W |
90W |
|
Weight |
9.3 kg (20.5 lb) |
9.3 kg (20.5 lb) |
2.1 kg (4.6 lb) |
|
Minimum software release |
Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 |
Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 |
CW9800M and CW9800H1 start from the same Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 release, but CW9800M stops at 3000 APs, 32,000 clients and 50 Gbps, where CW9800H1 reaches 6000 APs, 64,000 clients and 100 Gbps. A site planned beyond 3000 APs, or one that needs four 25G SFP28 ports instead of two, moves to CW9800H1, which also arrives with dual power supplies from the factory. An estate that stays under 500 APs and 10,000 clients fits CW9800L, with two 1/10G SFP+ ports and 10 Gbps, but it needs Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 or later, which rules it out for sites standardized on earlier images. CW9800M carries one AC supply, so power redundancy means adding a second PWR-CH1-750WACR.
Ordering Checklist
- AP subscriptions: Add one Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking subscription (LIC-CW-E Essentials or LIC-CW-A Advantage) per joining AP; the unified SKUs need Cisco IOS XE 17.15.x or later. The controller boots without a license, but each AP needs its own entitlement to join.
- Second power supply: Add a spare PWR-CH1-750WACR (750W AC) for power redundancy. The chassis carries a single AC supply, so redundancy exists only once a second module is on the order.
- Uplink optics: Add SFP28 optics such as SFP-25G-SR-S or SFP-H25G-CU1M for the 25G ports, and GLC-SX-MMD or SFP-10G-LR for the 1/10G ports. Each port group has its own supported optic list, and an unlisted optic can be refused.
- Rack mounting: Add C8500-4PT-KIT= if the rack needs the CW9800 rear mount kit; it is a separate accessory PID.
Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product ID | CW9800M | Product type | Cisco Catalyst CW9800 Series midsize wireless controller appliance |
| Uplink ports | 4x 1/10G SFP+ and 2x 25G SFP28, individually configurable, hot-swappable (OIR) | Supported access points | 802.11ac Wave 2, Catalyst 9100 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E), and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) access points |
| 25G SFP28 optics support | SFP-25G-SR-S, SFP-25G-CSR-S, SFP-25G-ER-I, SFP-10/25G-LR-S, SFP-10/25G-LR-I, SFP-10/25G-BXD-I, SFP-10/25G-BXU-I, SFP-25G-AOC (1-10 m), SFP-H25G-CU1M/CU5M | 1G/10G SFP optics support | GLC-TE, GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD, GLC-EX-SMD, GLC-ZX-SMD, GLC-BX-D/U; SFP-10G-SR and SFP-10G-LR series, SFP-10G-CSR-S, SFP-10G-ER, SFP-10G-BXD-I/BXU-I, SFP-10G-AOC series |
| Maximum throughput | 50 Gbps | Access point capacity | Up to 3000 |
| Client capacity | Up to 32,000 | WLANs | 4096 |
| Site tags | 3000 | Policy tags | 3000 |
| RF tags | 3000 | RF profiles | 6000 |
| Policy profiles | 1000 | Flex profiles | 3000 |
| FlexConnect APs per site | 300 | Deployment modes | Centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, SD-Access fabric wireless |
| AP join licensing | One Cisco DNA or Cisco Networking subscription per AP; unified SKUs LIC-CW-E / LIC-CW-A on IOS XE 17.15.x or later | VLANs | 4096 |
| Redundancy ports | 1x RJ-45 (RP) and 1x SFP 10 Gbps Ethernet (RP), used for SSO | High availability | 1:1 SSO active-standby, N+1 redundancy, ISSU, SMU hot patching, rolling AP upgrades |
| Management ports | 1x RJ-45 console, 1x USB 3.0 console, 2x USB 3.0 for external storage, 1x RJ-45 service port | Management options | Built-in WebUI, Cisco Catalyst Center, NETCONF/YANG, RESTCONF, model-driven telemetry, Cloud Monitoring via Meraki dashboard |
| Minimum software release | Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 | Default power supply | Single AC power supply, hot-swappable PEM, continuous operation on one PEM |
| Spare power supply | PWR-CH1-750WACR (750W AC) | Maximum power consumption | 350W |
| Sound power | 73.5 dBA under normal operating conditions | Cooling | Front-to-back airflow, 4 fans at the chassis rear |
| Heat dissipation | 1194 BTU/hr | Rack height | 1RU |
| Rack mount accessory | C8500-4PT-KIT= rear rack mount kit | Dimensions (W x D x H) | 43.94 x 46.74 x 4.39 cm (17.3 x 18.4 x 1.73 in) |
| Regulatory compliance | UL/CSA 60950-1, IEC/EN 60950-1, AS/NZS 60950.1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1; FCC 47 CFR Part 15 Class A EMC |
Quality Certifications
Customer Reviews
Questions & Answers
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What is CW9800M?
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How much wireless capacity does CW9800M support?
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Which uplinks and redundancy port does CW9800M provide?
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How does the CW9800M power design compare with CW9800H1 and CW9800L?
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Does CW9800M include redundant power supplies by default?
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Which software and AP license does CW9800M require?
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Where does CW9800M fit in a FlexConnect deployment?
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When are the two 25G uplinks on CW9800M a good fit?
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