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Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controller for Cloud

Enterprise wireless control, deployed in any cloud. A single virtual appliance manages your entire wireless network on AWS, Azure, GCP, or private hypervisors with zero dedicated hardware.

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Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controller for Cloud
6,000 APs 64,000 Clients 5 Gbps SR-IOV Multi-Cloud SSO & ISSU WPA3 & ETA

Product Overview

Capacity & Performance

Up to 6,000 APs, 64,000 clients. Up to 5 Gbps throughput with SR-IOV on ESXi/KVM or 2.1 Gbps standard. Three scale profiles from a single image.

Deployment & Use Case

Deploy on AWS, Azure, GCP, VMware ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V, or Cisco NFVIS. Ideal for distributed enterprises, multi-site campuses, and cloud-first organizations.

Uplink Compatibility

Virtual appliance — no physical uplinks required. Supports SR-IOV for enhanced throughput on ESXi and KVM hypervisors. AWS GovCloud supported.

High Availability

Stateful switchover (SSO) with active standby, hot and cold patching, and ISSU keep your wireless running with zero downtime across cloud instances.

Security

Runtime defenses, image signing, integrity verification, Encrypted Traffic Analytics, and SD-Access protect every layer — same security as physical controllers.

Management & Automation

Cisco IOS XE with NETCONF/YANG APIs, model-driven telemetry, and Catalyst Center integration. FlexConnect enables central auth with local switching.

Features and Benefits

Built for cloud-native wireless that scales on demand.

The Catalyst 9800-CL brings the full capabilities of the 9800 platform to any cloud — no dedicated hardware required.

Deploy Anywhere

Run your wireless controller on AWS, Azure, GCP, VMware ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V, or Cisco NFVIS. One controller image works across every platform.

One Package Any Scale

A single deployment package covers Small, Medium, and Large profiles — from 1,000 to 6,000 APs. No separate images to manage.

Always On

High availability with SSO, hot patching, ISSU, and intelligent rolling AP upgrades keep your wireless running through planned and unplanned events.

Secure by Design

Runtime defenses, image signing, integrity verification, Encrypted Traffic Analytics, and SD-Access protect every layer automatically.

Open & Programmable

NETCONF/YANG APIs, model-driven telemetry, and Plug-and-Play provisioning automate day-0 through day-N operations at scale.

Cloud Monitoring

Cloud Monitoring for Catalyst Wireless via the Meraki dashboard provides unified visibility, included with DNA Essentials and Advantage.

Feature & Benefit Details

Feature
Benefit
Public Cloud Support
Deploy as IaaS on AWS, Azure, or GCP marketplaces with guided cloud-formation templates and workflows.
Private Cloud Support
Run on VMware ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V, or Cisco NFVIS on ENCS for on-premises virtualized deployments.
Flexible Scale Profiles
Small (1,000 APs / 10K clients), Medium (3,000 APs / 32K clients), Large (6,000 APs / 64K clients) — all from a single deployment image.
High Availability
Stateful Switchover (SSO) with active standby for uninterrupted wireless service during failures.
ISSU
In-Service Software Upgrade delivers complete image updates with zero downtime for connected clients.
Encrypted Traffic Analytics
Identify malware in encrypted traffic without decryption, preserving privacy while maintaining security.
FlexConnect
Central authentication with local switching for distributed branch sites — reduced WAN bandwidth without sacrificing policy.
User Defined Network
Per-user wireless partitions for shared environments such as dormitories, hotels, and multi-tenant buildings.
Wi-Fi 6 Readiness
Verify device, software, and client compatibility through the Cisco Catalyst Center Wi-Fi 6 readiness dashboard.

Specifications

Performance & Scale Profiles

Small profile1,000 APs / 10,000 clients
Medium profile3,000 APs / 32,000 clients
Large profile6,000 APs / 64,000 clients
Standard throughput2.1 Gbps
SR-IOV throughput5 Gbps (ESXi/KVM)

Cloud & Hypervisor Support

Public cloudAWS, Azure, GCP
AWS GovCloudSupported
Private cloudVMware ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V
Cisco NFVISSupported
AP onboardingVPN tunnel or Public IP (17.8+)

Deployment Options

Deployment modesCentralized, FlexConnect, Mesh, SD-Access
Operating systemCisco IOS XE
ManagementWebUI, Catalyst Center, NETCONF/YANG
Ordering SKUC9800-CL-K9

Supported Access Points

Wi-Fi 5Cisco Aironet 802.11ac Wave 1 & 2
Wi-Fi 6/6ECisco Catalyst 9100 Series
Wi-Fi 7Cisco CW Series

Documentation

Data Sheet

Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL Cloud Wireless Controller Data Sheet. Full specifications, cloud deployment options, licensing, and ordering information.

Download PDF ›

Ready to deploy the 9800-CL?

Our wireless specialists will build a custom quote — including volume discounts, multi-year licensing, and professional services.

  • Volume and multi-year pricing available
  • Cisco Smart Net Total Care bundling
  • Professional deployment & migration services
  • Response within one business day
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Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL Wireless Controller for Cloud