Product Overview The Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller is designed for small campus deployments, offering flexibility with copper or fiber uplinks. Built on the Cisco IOS XE operating system, it provides a secure, programmable, and resilient platform for managing wireless networks. The 9800-L is ideal for organizations seeking a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance or security.
Key Features Deployment Flexibility : Supports centralized, Cisco FlexConnect, and fabric wireless (SD-Access) deployment modes.High Availability : Features Stateful Switchover (SSO) with active standby and N+1 redundancy to ensure continuous network operation.Seamless Software Upgrades : In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) capabilities allow for software updates without network downtime.Advanced Security : Built-in security features include Secure Boot, runtime defenses, image signing, and hardware authenticity.Programmability : Open and programmable APIs enable automation of day-0 to day-N network operations.Performance Licensing : Optional Performance license enhances scalability and throughput.Technical Specifications Feature Description Maximum Access Points 250 (500 with Performance license) Maximum Clients 5,000 (10,000 with Performance license) Maximum Throughput 5 Gbps (10 Gbps with Performance license) Maximum WLANs 4,096 Maximum VLANs 4,096 Uplink Ports 2x 10G/Multigigabit copper or 2x 10G/Multigigabit fiber Power Supply 110W, 12V DC, AC/DC adapter Maximum Power Consumption 9800-L-C: 86.9W; 9800-L-F: 84.5W Form Factor 1RU; half-width chassis for side-by-side installation in standard 19-in. rack Operating System Cisco IOS XE Management Cisco DNA Center, Cisco Prime Infrastructure, and third-party (open standards APIs) Interoperability AireOS-based controllers Access Points Supported Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2, Cisco Catalyst 9100 802.11ax access points Security Standards WPA3, 802.1X, MACsec, DTLS, IPsec Environmental Conditions Operating temperature: 0° to 40°C; Nonoperating temperature: –25° to 70°C Warranty 1-year limited hardware warranty
Supported Modules & Accessories Product ID Description C9800-L-F-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Fiber Uplink) Wireless Controller C9800-L-C-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Copper Uplink) Wireless Controller LIC-C9800-DTLS-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller DTLS License C9800L-RMNT= Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Rack Mount Bracket C9800-AC-110W= Cisco Catalyst Wireless Controller 110W AC Power Supply
Ordering Information Product ID Description C9800-L-F-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Fiber Uplink) Wireless Controller C9800-L-C-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800-L (Copper Uplink) Wireless Controller LIC-C9800-DTLS-K9 Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller DTLS License C9800L-RMNT= Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller Rack Mount Bracket C9800-AC-110W= Cisco Catalyst Wireless Controller 110W AC Power Supply
Licensing Details Overview The Catalyst 9800-L requires two types of licenses:
Network License : Perpetual license that includes basic connectivity and device-level capabilities.Cisco DNA Software Subscription : Adds automation, analytics, security, and assurance features.License Tiers Tier Description Cisco DNA Essentials Basic features including 802.1X, QoS, and PnP Cisco DNA Advantage Advanced features including telemetry, automation, and security
Performance License Feature Without Performance License With Performance License Access Points Supported 250 500 Clients Supported 5,000 10,000 Throughput 5 Gbps 10 Gbps
Licensing Models Model Description Smart Licensing Cloud-based license registration and reporting through Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM) Specific License Reservation (SLR) Offline model for highly secure or air-gapped environments
License Duration License Type Validity Behavior After Expiry Network License Perpetual Features remain enabled Cisco DNA Subscription 3/5/7 years DNA features disabled post expiry; base remains active
Managing Licenses with Smart Accounts Creating Smart Accounts using the Cisco Smart Software Manager (SSM) enables centralized management of software licenses.
