topic Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs in Wireless

9800-WLC with 9115 APs

namowp2 — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 13:57:26 GMT

We are setting up a new office with 1000 employees and plan to deploy 30 APs. We are considering using the Cisco 9800-L WLC with 9115 model APs for this deployment.

I believe newer AP models can be managed via the Meraki cloud. Is that correct? If so, we might not need an on-prem WLC, which could also help us avoid potential EOL concerns in future

Are they good choice? Any suggestions

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

liviu.gheorghe — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:04:39 GMT

Meraki access points, like the MR44 for example, are managed by the Meraki cloud.

Access points like 9115 are managed by the WLC 9800 which can come as an appliance or a VM that runs on Vmware.

HTH

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

Flavio Miranda — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:09:03 GMT

@namowp2

They are supported for Monitoring but you will still need 9800 WLC. Cisco wouldn´t make that easy for you!

https://documentation.meraki.com/Cloud_Monitoring_for_Catalyst/Getting_Started/Cloud_Monitoring_for_Catalyst_Wireless_FAQ

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

Karsten Iwen — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 14:11:36 GMT

If Meraki is a good choice *for you* needs to be discussed. At least I used Meraki for most of my customers in the past time. In reality, your options are endless. You could:

Directly go cloud managed with Meraki APs or Wi-Fi 6e or Wi-Fi 7 models (9162/64/66/76/78)
Use Catalyst mode with 9800-L and any C91xx AP now, and use the Meraki Dashboard for Monitoring.
Use Catalyst mode with 9800-CL (0$ item) and CW91xx AP now and add it later to the Meraki Dashboard for monitoring (the 9800-CL is not yet supported on the Meraki Dashboard). Alternatively, you can throw away the 9800-CL later and convert the AP to Meraki Management Mode.

Most important: Only the CW91xx AP models give you the full flexibility to be used either with a 9800-Controller or the Meraki dashboard.

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

Rich R — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 15:07:17 GMT

As the others have pointed out 9115 do not support native Meraki management so you still need a WLC for those.

The other thing that caught my attention is: 1000 users and 30 APs - that's an average of about 33 users per AP. These days most users have at least 2 devices so that could mean up to 66 clients per AP which is very likely going to be too many depending on what the clients are doing.

Get a professional site survey done with detailed requirements specified and take a look at the Meraki guide
https://documentation.meraki.com/Architectures_and_Best_Practices/Cisco_Meraki_Best_Practice_Design/Best_Practice_Design_-_MR_Wireless/High_Density_Wi-Fi_Deployments

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

eglinsky2012 — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:16:29 GMT

I would advise against the 9115 and every other Wi-Fi 6 model since they will likely soon have end of life announced. You will still get a few years of software updates after that announcement, but you’ll get longer life out of the 916x models and even longer out of the 917x models.

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

MHM Cisco World — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:20:16 GMT

https://documentation.meraki.com/Cloud_Monitoring_for_Catalyst/Getting_Started/Cloud_Monitoring_for_Catalyst_Wireless_Design_Guide

You need 9800-L or -40 or -80

You can not directly control AP with cloud

MHM

Re: 9800-WLC with 9115 APs

Scott Fella — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 17:28:56 GMT

Reading through this, have you already done a design and budget analysis already? I think you have enough info from the others, but you need to figure out if you want to go cloud with Meraki or an on-prem 9800 controller. Either way, you also need to look at the future cost for support/licensing so that you don't get shocked in anyway. EOL concerns to me, means you should look at the latest model access point if you don't plan on replacing them for a very long time.

Also, you really need to do a site-survey, because you probably need to have more ap's than what you think you should have. This would also up the cost for cabling and your switch port budget. Keep in mind that you might also need to look at the switch and if you need higher PoE support and or mGig again to be future proof.

It seems like you will be supporting this, so choosing between Meraki and the 9800, will depend on what you are comfortable with and meeting all your requirements for 802.1x, PSK, guest, automation, ease of troubleshooting, etc. Either one can work, but its up to you and the team that will be responsible for this service.