Maximum Access PointsSame
CW9800H1
6,000
CW9800H2
6,000
Cisco wireless controller comparison
CW9800H1 vs CW9800H2
The CW9800H1 and CW9800H2 differ only in their high-speed uplinks: four 25G SFP28 ports on the CW9800H1, two 40G QSFP ports on the CW9800H2. Everything else, including the 6,000 access point limit, is identical, so choose by the switch they connect to.
2models compared
31specs published for every model
2confirmed 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 ClientsSame
CW9800H1
64,000
CW9800H2
64,000
Maximum ThroughputSame
CW9800H1
100 Gbps
CW9800H2
100 Gbps
Wi-Fi Standards and BandsSame
CW9800H1
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
CW9800H2
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2, Wi-Fi 6/6E and Wi-Fi 7 APs; 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
Wi-Fi 7 SupportSame
CW9800H1
From Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2, with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHz
CW9800H2
From Cisco IOS XE 17.15.2, with Multi-Link Operation and 320 MHz channels in 6 GHz
Uplink PortsDifferent
CW9800H1
8 x 1/10G SFP+; 4 x 25G SFP28
CW9800H2
8 x 1/10G SFP+; 2 x 40G QSFP
How to choose between CW9800H1 and CW9800H2
Choose the CW9800H1 if the switch has 25G SFP28 ports
The CW9800H1's four 25G ports allow a wider port channel to the switch than the two high-speed ports on the CW9800H2.
Choose the CW9800H2 if the switch uplinks at 40G
The CW9800H2's two QSFP ports take 40G optics. They match a switch with 40G ports or a C9800-80-K9 link that ran on a 40G module.
Before ordering a CW9800H1 or CW9800H2 HA pair, choose one model for both units
Stateful switchover pairs only identical hardware, so a CW9800H1 cannot back up a CW9800H2. Pick the uplink type once for both units.
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Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | CW9800H1 | CW9800H2 |
| Product and ordering | ||
| Product Type | Cisco Catalyst CW9800H1 Wireless Controller | Cisco Catalyst CW9800H2 Wireless Controller |
| Scale and performance | ||
| Maximum Access Points | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Maximum Clients | 64,000 | 64,000 |
| Maximum Throughput | 100 Gbps | 100 Gbps |
| Maximum Site Tags | 6,000 | 6,000 |
| Maximum FlexConnect APs per Site | 300 | 300 |
| 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 GHz | 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 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. |
| Operating System | Cisco IOS XE | Cisco IOS XE |
| Minimum Software Release | Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 | Cisco IOS XE 17.14.1 |
| Deployment Modes | Centralized, FlexConnect and fabric (SD-Access) | Centralized, FlexConnect and fabric (SD-Access) |
| Ports and interfaces | ||
| Uplink Ports | 8 x 1/10G SFP+; 4 x 25G SFP28 | 8 x 1/10G SFP+; 2 x 40G QSFP |
| HA Redundancy Ports | 1 x RJ-45; 1 x 1/10G SFPSFP redundancy port optics: GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD, SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-SR-S, SFP-10G-LR or SFP-10G-LR-S. | 1 x RJ-45; 1 x 1/10G SFPSFP redundancy port optics: GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-LH-SMD, SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-SR-S, SFP-10G-LR or SFP-10G-LR-S. |
| 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 | 2 x USB 3.0 | 2 x USB 3.0 |
| High availability and power | ||
| Stateful Switchover (SSO) | Supported (1:1 active-standby) | Supported (1:1 active-standby) |
| N+1 Redundancy | Supported | Supported |
| Default Power Supply | Dual 750 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies | Dual 750 W AC or 950 W DC power supplies |
| Power Redundancy | 1+1 with dual AC or DC power supplies | 1+1 with dual AC or DC power supplies |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 500 W | 500 W |
| Heat Dissipation | 1,706 BTU/h | 1,706 BTU/h |
| Physical and environmental | ||
| Form Factor | 1RU | 1RU |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 43.9 × 444.5 × 504.7 mm | 43.9 × 444.5 × 504.7 mm |
| Weight | 9.3 kg | 9.3 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40 °C; 0 to 50 °C short term | 0 to 40 °C; 0 to 50 °C short term |
| Operating Humidity | 10% to 90%; 5% to 90% short term | 10% to 90%; 5% to 90% short term |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) | Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) |
| 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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