Cisco C9800-CL-K9 Full English Product Description

1. Short Official Part & License Label

C9800-CL-K9: Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL Cloud Virtual Intent-Based Wireless LAN Controller, IOS-XE Virtual Appliance Image, Zero Embedded AP Capacity (Controlled via Smart Licensing Using Policy), Supports Multiple VM Resource Templates, Max Scale up to 6000 Lightweight Catalyst/Aironet APs & 64,000 Concurrent Wireless Clients, Up to 2.5 Gbps Forwarding Throughput, DNA-Ready, Supports Wi‑Fi 6/6E, CleanAir RF Intelligence, FlexConnect Local Switching, NBAR2 AVC, aWIPS, ETA Encrypted Traffic Analytics, Full AP+Client Stateful Switchover (SSO) HA, ISSU Non-Disruptive Upgrades, Supports ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V and NFVIS, Active Supported Virtual Wireless Controller

2. Full Product Overview

The Cisco Catalyst 9800-CL-K9 is the virtual cloud-native wireless controller within the modern Catalyst 9800 IOS‑XE Intent-Based Networking portfolio, the successor to the legacy AireOS VMWLC-K9 virtual controller. It runs as a virtual machine on mainstream hypervisors and Cisco ENCS NFVIS platforms, designed for private datacenter virtualization, multi-site FlexConnect branch architectures, virtualized campus control planes and edge virtual deployments.

This virtual appliance image ships without fixed built-in AP capacity. Administrators select a VM resource template during deployment and manage scale via Cisco Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP). Four standard templates are available: Ultra-Low, Small, Medium and Large, supporting variable AP/client counts from 100 up to a maximum of 6000 lightweight Catalyst 9100 Wi‑Fi 6/6E and Aironet Wave 2 APs. It terminates DTLS‑encrypted CAPWAP tunnels and supports three primary deployment modes: Central Local Mode for dense campus networks, FlexConnect distributed branch switching to minimize expensive WAN backhaul traffic, and SD‑Access Fabric integration for zero-trust software-defined campus architectures. Wireless mesh is supported on compatible AP models.

The C9800-CL delivers up to 2.5 Gbps non-blocking forwarding throughput. It supports SR‑IOV virtualization optimizations to boost virtual network performance. Supported high availability is full AP + Client Stateful Switchover (SSO), replicating CAPWAP tunnel state, PMK security cache and all active client sessions for sub-second zero-outage failover. Modular IOS‑XE supports hot patching and ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade) for non-disruptive firmware updates without wireless service interruptions. Built-in Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA) enables threat detection within encrypted flows without full packet decryption, paired with Secure Boot and image signature validation to strengthen baseline system security.

C9800-CL remains actively supported, not End-of-Sale. Supported hypervisors include VMware ESXi, Linux KVM, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Cisco NFVIS on ENCS platforms. Management options include embedded HTTPS web UI, IOS‑XE SSH serial CLI, NETCONF/YANG/RESTCONF open programmable APIs and centralized orchestration via Cisco Catalyst Center (DNA Center) or Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

Key Differentiator vs legacy VMWLC-K9: Modern IOS‑XE operating system, native Wi‑Fi 6/6E support, full AP+Client SSO (not only AP SSO), ETA encrypted traffic analytics, multi-hypervisor support, ISSU non-disruptive upgrades and open API programmability. Compared to physical CW9800L/M/H series: Pure virtual workload with no fixed rack hardware, flexible resource scaling for virtualized datacenter environments.

3. Virtual Machine Resource Specifications

Supported Hypervisors

VMware ESXi, Linux KVM, Microsoft Hyper-V, Cisco NFVIS (ENCS 5000 series)

Standard VM Resource Templates

Ultra-Low Profile (Max 100 APs / 1,000 Clients)

vCPU: 2 vCPUs
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: Minimum 8 GB virtual disk

Small Template (Max 1000 APs / 10,000 Clients)

vCPU: 4 vCPUs
RAM: 8 GB
Storage: Minimum 8 GB virtual disk

Medium Template (Max 3000 APs / 32,000 Clients)

vCPU: 6 vCPUs
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: Minimum 8 GB virtual disk

Large Template (Max 6000 APs / 64,000 Clients, FlexConnect Recommended)

vCPU: 10 vCPUs
RAM: 32 GB
Storage: Minimum 8 GB virtual disk

Virtual Interfaces

Data Uplink vNIC: CAPWAP tunnel termination, wireless control traffic, supports LAG EtherChannel and SR‑IOV
Dedicated Service Port vNIC: Isolated out-of-band management traffic
Virtual serial console for local CLI access
USB virtual interface for configuration and firmware files

Virtual Platform Environmental & Compliance

Pure virtual workload, no physical power/thermal constraints
Regulatory certifications inherited from underlying hypervisor hardware
Regulatory Certifications: UL 60950‑1 safety, CE, FCC Class A

Official Licensed Capacity & Performance Benchmarks

Maximum Supported Lightweight APs: Up to 6000 APs (capacity governed by VM template + Smart License entitlements)
Maximum Concurrent Active Wireless Clients: 64,000 total across all managed APs
System Non-Blocking Throughput: Up to 2.5 Gbps
Supported Unique WLAN SSIDs: Up to 4,096 broadcast/hidden SSIDs
Maximum 802.1Q Tagged VLAN Interfaces: Up to 4,095 VLANs
Max AP Groups: 1,500 independent AP groups
Max FlexConnect Remote Branch Groups: 1,500 groups (max 100 APs per group)
Roaming Capabilities: Intra-controller Layer2 seamless roaming, Layer3 inter-controller mobility groups, 802.11r fast secure roaming (supports 64,000 PMK cache roaming clients)
Supported Wireless Standards: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wave 2, Wi‑Fi 6/6E, WMM, 802.11k/r/u/w/h, Hotspot 2.0 Passpoint, WPA3‑SAE Enterprise
Max Detected Rogue APs: 5,000; Max Rogue Wireless Clients: 10,000
Supports Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), Flexible NetFlow and Streaming Telemetry

4. Complete Unified Wireless & Security Feature Suite

1. Centralized Lightweight AP Lifecycle Management

DTLS encrypted CAPWAP tunnel termination for all remote and campus APs; zero-touch AP auto-discovery via DHCP Option 43; bulk AP firmware upgrades, unified RF profiles and global security policy templates. Deployment modes: Central Local Mode, FlexConnect Local Switching for remote branches, SD‑Access Fabric integrated mode, wireless mesh mode. Compatible with OfficeExtend teleworker APs.

2. Cisco CleanAir Intelligent RF Spectrum Management

Continuous real-time 2.4GHz/5GHz RF interference monitoring, dynamic transmit power control, auto-channel assignment, wireless coverage hole detection, rogue AP detection, classification and active wireless containment, persistent historical RF analytics for multi-site wireless planning.

3. Enterprise-Grade Wireless Security Stack

Authentication Standards: IEEE 802.1X EAP‑TLS/PEAP/EAP‑FAST, local internal user database, external RADIUS/TACACS+ AAA integration
Encryption Protocols: WPA2‑PSK/Enterprise, WPA3‑SAE/Enterprise, AES‑CCMP, TKIP
Wireless Threat Mitigation: Built-in advanced aWIPS wireless intrusion prevention, rogue AP containment, wireless client isolation, dynamic per‑SSID VLAN assignment, downloadable per-user ACLs
Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA): Identify threats hidden within encrypted traffic without full packet decryption
TrustSec integration for software-defined segmentation, Cisco ISE BYOD device profiling
Compliance: PCI DSS validated architecture for multi-branch retail wireless POS deployments

4. Identity-Aware Zero Trust Policy Enforcement

Native integration with Active Directory, Cisco ISE and AnyConnect Secure Client to deploy user/group context-based zero-trust access control, supporting dynamic policy assignment based on user credentials, device posture and network location.

5. Mobility, Voice & Video QoS

Wi‑Fi Multimedia (WMM) traffic prioritization, Call Admission Control (CAC) for VoWLAN VoIP handsets, Cisco VideoStream multicast optimization for wireless IPTV, configurable bidirectional per‑client bandwidth policing, fast secure roaming via 802.11r to minimize voice call interruptions.

6. Application Visibility and Control (AVC)

Layer 7 deep application identification powered by NBAR2 for enterprise, SaaS and cloud applications; application‑based traffic filtering, DSCP QoS marking, rate limiting and Flexible NetFlow v9 reporting for traffic governance.

7. Integrated VPN Services

Site‑to‑Site IPsec IKEv1/IKEv2 tunnels with AES‑256 encryption; AnyConnect SSL remote access VPN with split tunneling, customizable clientless web portal and secure mobility for distributed global remote workforce.

8. High Availability & Scalability

Active/Standby Full AP+Client Stateful Switchover (SSO): Synchronizes AP registration, CAPWAP tunnel state, PMK cache and all active client sessions for zero service interruption during failover or maintenance
Multi-controller mobility groups for cross-controller Layer3 roaming and centralized guest anchor tunneling
LAG EtherChannel link aggregation supported on all virtual uplink vNICs
SR‑IOV virtualization supported for improved throughput on compatible hypervisors

9. Traffic Visibility, Logging & Compliance

Real-time monitoring via embedded HTTPS web GUI; secure encrypted syslog, SNMP v3 and Streaming Telemetry export to third-party SIEM platforms. Persistent audit logging meets enterprise PCI DSS, HIPAA and GDPR regulatory requirements.

10. Programmability & Device Management

Local administration: Embedded HTTPS WebUI, IOS‑XE CLI via SSH v2, virtual serial console
Centralized multi-controller orchestration, unified policy distribution and cross-network reporting via Cisco Catalyst Center (DNA Center) or Cisco Prime Infrastructure
Cisco Smart Licensing / Smart Licensing Using Policy (SLP)
Open standard APIs: NETCONF, YANG, RESTCONF for automated zero-touch provisioning and wireless lifecycle management

5. Typical Deployment Scenarios

Virtualized datacenter wireless control plane managing mixed campus and FlexConnect multi-branch lightweight APs
Medium-to-large enterprise multi-site wireless architecture consolidating physical branch WLCs onto virtual infrastructure
Private cloud hosted wireless environments for mid-tier MSSP multi-tenant customers
Legacy AireOS CUWN migration replacing VMWLC-K9 Flex 7510 virtual controllers to modern IOS‑XE Wi‑Fi 6/6E-ready virtual platform
Lab and staging environments for SD‑Access, zero-trust, FlexConnect and wireless mesh mixed topology validation
Virtualized edge deployments running on Cisco ENCS 5000 series NFVIS for remote regional datacenters

6. Short Sales Listing Tagline

Cisco C9800-CL-K9 Virtual Catalyst 9800 IOS-XE Cloud Wireless LAN Controller Software Image, Zero Pre-Installed AP Capacity (Scale Defined by VM Template + Smart Licensing), Supports up to 6000 Lightweight Catalyst/Aironet APs & 64,000 Concurrent Wireless Clients, Supports VMware ESXi, KVM, Hyper-V & NFVIS, Up to 2.5Gbps System Throughput, DNA-Ready Intent-Based Platform, Supports Central Mode / FlexConnect / Wireless Mesh, CleanAir RF Intelligence, NBAR2 AVC, aWIPS & ETA Encrypted Traffic Analytics, Full AP+Client SSO Stateful HA, ISSU Non-Disruptive Software Upgrades, Managed via Local WebUI, IOS-XE CLI or Catalyst Center, Modern Virtual WLC for Private Cloud, Campus and Multi-Branch Virtualized Wireless Deployments

Note: C9800-CL-K9 is the modern IOS-XE virtual wireless controller, direct replacement for legacy AireOS VMWLC-K9. For public cloud AWS/Azure/GCP deployments, refer to the separate Catalyst 9800-CW cloud marketplace variant.


	© 2026 Kino Technology Limited. All Rights Reserved. \| Hong Kong Registered · Shenzhen Operation \| New & Genuine Used Network Equipment Supplier