Maximum Access PointsDifferent
CW9800H1
6,000
CW9800M
3,000
Cisco wireless controller comparison
CW9800H1 vs CW9800M
The CW9800H1 doubles the CW9800M on access points, clients and throughput in the same one-rack-unit chassis. Choose the CW9800M for networks of up to 3,000 access points, and the CW9800H1 for up to 6,000 or where the controller must run on DC power.
2models compared
31specs published for every model
11confirmed 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
CW9800H1
64,000
CW9800M
32,000
Maximum ThroughputDifferent
CW9800H1
100 Gbps
CW9800M
50 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
CW9800M
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
CW9800M
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
CW9800M
4 x 1/10G SFP+; 2 x 25G SFP28
How to choose between CW9800H1 and CW9800M
Choose the CW9800M if the network stays well under 3,000 access points
Cisco recommends planning at about 80% of a controller's maximum, so size the CW9800M from the access point count expected over its life. Below that, the CW9800M runs the same software and FlexConnect limits as the CW9800H1 at 350 W maximum power against 500 W.
Choose the CW9800H1 for a large campus or DC power
Cisco's best practices allow 1,600 local-mode access points in one site tag on the CW9800H1 against 800 on the CW9800M, which matters on a large campus. The CW9800H1 also ships with two supplies, AC or DC.
Choose the CW9800H2 instead if the switch uplinks at 40G
The CW9800H2 matches the CW9800H1 except for two 40G QSFP ports in place of the four 25G SFP28 ports.
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Detailed comparison
Full specification comparison
| Comparison parameter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Product ID | CW9800H1 | CW9800M |
| Product and ordering | ||
| Product Type | Cisco Catalyst CW9800H1 Wireless Controller | Cisco Catalyst CW9800M Wireless Controller |
| Scale and performance | ||
| Maximum Access Points | 6,000 | 3,000 |
| Maximum Clients | 64,000 | 32,000 |
| Maximum Throughput | 100 Gbps | 50 Gbps |
| Maximum Site Tags | 6,000 | 3,000 |
| 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 | 4 x 1/10G SFP+; 2 x 25G SFP28 |
| 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 | Single 750 W AC power supply |
| Power Redundancy | 1+1 with dual AC or DC power supplies | 1+1 with an optional second AC power supply |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 500 W | 350 W |
| Heat Dissipation | 1,706 BTU/h | 1,194 BTU/h |
| Physical and environmental | ||
| Form Factor | 1RU | 1RU |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 43.9 × 444.5 × 504.7 mm | 43.9 × 439.4 × 467.4 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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