Maximum Access PointsDifferent
C9800-L-F-K9
250 (500 with Performance license)
CW9800L
500
Cisco wireless controller comparison
C9800-L-F-K9 vs CW9800L
The CW9800L is the newer controller in the same tier as the C9800-L-F-K9, with the same two SFP+ uplinks and external adapter power, and reaches 500 access points and 10,000 clients without a license. Keep the C9800-L-F-K9 if the design uses its four RJ-45 data ports, which the CW9800L lacks, or an older Cisco IOS XE release.
2models compared
28specs published for every model
14confirmed differences
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At-a-glance comparison
Key capacity and performance specifications
Start with the specifications that decide whether a model fits, whether they differ or not. Each card says if the values are the same.
Maximum ClientsDifferent
C9800-L-F-K9
5,000 (10,000 with Performance license)
CW9800L
10,000
Maximum ThroughputDifferent
C9800-L-F-K9
5 Gbps (10 Gbps with Performance license)
CW9800L
10 Gbps
Wi-Fi Standards and BandsSame
C9800-L-F-K9
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
CW9800L
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
Wi-Fi 7 SupportDifferent
C9800-L-F-K9
From Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2, with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHz
CW9800L
From its first release (Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2), with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHz
Uplink PortsDifferent
C9800-L-F-K9
2 x 1/10G SFP+; 4 x 1/2.5G RJ-45
CW9800L
2 x 1/10G SFP+
How to choose between C9800-L-F-K9 and CW9800L
Choose the CW9800L if the network needs more than 250 access points
The CW9800L supports 500 access points out of the box, where the C9800-L-F-K9 needs the Performance license beyond 250. The CW9800L also accepts the optional CW9800L-RPS= redundant power kit, which the C9800-L-F-K9 cannot use.
Choose the C9800-L-F-K9 if the design uses its copper data ports
The C9800-L-F-K9 adds four 1/2.5G RJ-45 data ports alongside its two SFP+ uplinks. The CW9800L has only its two SFP+ ports.
Choose the C9800-L-F-K9 if the network stays on an older release
The C9800-L-F-K9 runs Cisco IOS XE 16.12.1 or later, while the CW9800L needs 17.18.2 or later. A network on an earlier release, or with access points newer releases no longer support, can keep adding C9800-L-F-K9 controllers.
Before moving from the C9800-L-F-K9 to the CW9800L, check the HA pair
A CW9800L cannot back up an installed C9800-L-F-K9, because stateful switchover pairs only identical hardware. Replace both units together. Wi-Fi 7 alone is no reason to switch: the C9800-L-F-K9 runs Wi-Fi 7 access points from Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2.
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Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | C9800-L-F-K9 | CW9800L |
| Product and ordering | ||
| Product Type | Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Fiber Uplink) Wireless Controller | Cisco CW9800L Wireless Controller |
| Scale and performance | ||
| Maximum Access Points | 250 (500 with Performance license) | 500 |
| Maximum Clients | 5,000 (10,000 with Performance license) | 10,000 |
| Maximum Throughput | 5 Gbps (10 Gbps with Performance license)Cisco measures the 10 Gbps with 1374-byte packets; IMIX traffic stays at 5 Gbps. | 10 Gbps |
| Performance License | Optional LIC-C9800L-PERF (perpetual)Raises the limits to 500 APs, 10,000 clients and 10 Gbps; both units of an HA pair need the license. | Not applicable |
| Maximum Site Tags | Not published by Cisco | 250 |
| Maximum FlexConnect APs per Site | Not published by Cisco | 400 |
| Maximum WLANs | 4,096 | 4,096 |
| Maximum VLANs | 4,096 | 4,096 |
| Wi-Fi and software | ||
| Wi-Fi Standards and Bands | Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) access points need Cisco IOS XE 17.7.1 or later. | Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz |
| Wi-Fi 7 Support | From Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2, with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHzWi-Fi 7 WLANs need WPA3; from Cisco IOS XE 17.15.3 a WLAN that does not meet the Wi-Fi 7 requirements runs as 802.11ax. Each access point model has its own minimum release. | From its first release (Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2), with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHzWi-Fi 7 WLANs need WPA3; from Cisco IOS XE 17.15.3 a WLAN that does not meet the Wi-Fi 7 requirements runs as 802.11ax. Each access point model has its own minimum release. |
| Operating System | Cisco IOS XE | Cisco IOS XE |
| Minimum Software Release | Cisco IOS XE 16.12.1 | Cisco IOS XE 17.18.2 |
| Deployment Modes | Centralized, FlexConnect and fabric (SD-Access) | Centralized, FlexConnect and fabric (SD-Access) |
| Ports and interfaces | ||
| Uplink Ports | 2 x 1/10G SFP+; 4 x 1/2.5G RJ-45 | 2 x 1/10G SFP+ |
| HA Redundancy Ports | 1 x RJ-45 | 1 x RJ-45 |
| Management Ports | 1 x RJ-45 service port | 1 x RJ-45 service port |
| Console Ports | 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x micro-USB console | 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x micro-USB console |
| USB Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 | 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C |
| High availability and power | ||
| Stateful Switchover (SSO) | Supported (1:1 active-standby) | Supported (1:1 active-standby) |
| N+1 Redundancy | Supported | Not published by Cisco |
| Default Power Supply | 110 W external AC adapter (C9800-AC-110W) | 110 W external AC adapter (C9800-AC-110W) |
| Power Redundancy | No redundant power supply optionA redundant supply is a CW9800L-only option (Cisco 9800 Series FAQ). | Optional CW9800L-RPS= redundant power kit |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 84.5 WMeasured with two 2.5 W SFPs and a 4.5 W USB load. | 90 WMeasured with a 4.5 W USB load. |
| Heat Dissipation | 288.2 BTU/h | 307.2 BTU/h |
| Physical and environmental | ||
| Form Factor | 1RU, half-widthTwo units can be installed side by side in a standard 19-inch rack. | 1RU, half-widthTwo units fit on the CW9800L-RMNT 1RU shelf when neither uses the redundant power supply. |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 40.2 × 215.9 × 230.1 mm | 40.2 × 216 × 234.7 mm |
| Weight | 1.82 kg | 2.1 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40 °C | 0 to 40 °C |
| Operating Humidity | 5% to 95% | 5% to 95% |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) | Up to 3,048 m (10,000 ft)Rated at 30 °C. |
| Warranty | 1-year limited hardware warranty | 1-year limited hardware warranty |
“Not published by Cisco” and “Not listed” indicate that a confirmed direct comparison is unavailable. These rows are not counted as confirmed differences.
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