Ask Me Anything: WiFi 7 on Catalyst 9800

[Brooke Hammer]

Ask Me Anything Event

Welcome to the Cisco Community Ask Me Anything conversation. Submit your questions from  Monday,  August 4, 2025 through Friday, August 15, 2025. Our colleagues Saikat Nandy and Parithosh Vema will be waiting to assist you and resolve any questions that have not been clarified, or answer any new questions that you may have. We are waiting for you! 

More about this event:

As Wi-Fi 7 emerges as the next evolution in wireless technology, it's crucial to understand how this protocol integrates with Cisco's infrastructure. This AMA session is designed to explore how Wi-Fi 7 works in conjunction with the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless LAN controllers and the CW917x Series Access Points.

What is it?

• Supported software versions and feature compatibility

• Configuration best practices

• Deployment considerations

• Performance and scalability aspects with Wi-Fi 7 on Catalyst 9800

Get Expert Advice!

Whether you're planning a future deployment or already working with Wi-Fi 7, this is your opportunity to get direct insights, clarify concerns, and understand the practical implications of integrating Wi-Fi 7 into your enterprise network.

Official Resources:

Global AP use: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/technical-reference/global-use-ap-dg.html

Migrate to WiFi 7 and 6ghz: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/223061-migrate-to-wi-fi-7-and-6ghz.html

WiFi 7 APs at a glance: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/wireless-wi-fi-7-access-points-aag.html

WiFi 7 configurations on Catalyst 9800: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/17-15/config-guide/b_wl_17_15_cg/m_wi-fi-7_operations.html

Note: Please post your post as a comment below no later than August 14, 2025.

Post your question below by clicking "Reply"

(Answers will be processed depending on the availability of the experts)
Don't forget to thank the expert by giving it a helpful vote!

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Our experts

Saikat Nandy Technical Consulting Engineer

Parithosh Vema  Technical Consulting Engineer

For more information, visit the Cisco Catalyst Center discussion forums . If you have questions or are experiencing technical problems with any of the Cisco products, post your question, request information or use the Cisco Community before opening a case with the TAC.

[Saikat Nandy]

@AceJ Thanks for the question. Even if you plan for salt n pepper, we recommend not to mix and match. Lets say if you have multiple floors, try to keep the AP model or type (Wifi6/6E/7) consistent so that you don't need to think 'too much'. Here is a very good document and it has a specific section based on your question - https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/223061-migrate-to-wi-fi-7-and-6ghz.html. Hope this helps.

[srguraja]

Hello,

Wi-Fi 7 introduces a new feature called puncturing. How effectively does this feature operate? When interference occurs on a channel, how rapidly can the client shift to another usable portion of the same channel?

[Saikat Nandy]

@srguraja thanks for the question.
Few important points related to Puncturing aka Preamble Puncturing - 
1. Consider this feature as a mechanism to optimize the spectrum re-use.
2. This concept is only valid for 5 & 6Ghz band.
3. This will be only applicable if your channel width is 80Mhz or higher.
To effectively answer the question of yours, lets take an example - you are using channel bonding of 80Mhz and lets say one of the AP has got 4 UNI-II Ext channels - 100, 104, 108 and 112. Till the time none of these channels/frequency range is affected by interference or may be radar, the AP will continue to use the entire 80Mhz width spectrum space. Now lets say 104 got affected by noise or radar. So far what is happening without puncturing - since channel 104 is affected, the entire space from 104-112 (60Mhz) is getting un-usable, leaving only channel 100 (20Mhz) to operate - which is degrading the wifi experience.
However now with puncturing in place, only channel 104 (20Mhz) will be unusable - which will leave rest of the 3 channels 100, 108 and 112 (60Mhz) to continue the operation. This will return improve the overall wireless experience. So long story short, preamble puncturing will only carve out the specific portion of the spectrum space that is affected. There is no shift in channel or spectrum that is going to happen. Hope this helps.

[srguraja]

Thanks Saikat 

[Parithosh Vema]

Hello @srguraja,

To add on @Saikat Nandy's response the way at which the feature operates in 802.11be is immediate and instantaneous as well, here's a spectrum video which shows it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1jvXMjHHJI & https://youtu.be/JBvG9yMa4WQ?si=-M-lmdxilbqFk9HT&t=2772 

[srguraja]

Thanks Parithosh 

[sona0108]

How to make the Wifi7AP up in CAPWAP mode when we don't have Meraki dashboard and any Supported/Active WLC in network to which AP can discover either via DNS/DHCP method?

[Mark Elsen]

 - @sona0108   If you talk about  converting  a Wi-Fi7 AP between Catalyst and Meraki mode checkout  : 
                                 https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/97066-dhcp-option-43-00.html#toc-hId--122687465

   M.

[Saikat Nandy]

@sona0108 you can refer this - https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/technical-reference/global-use-ap-dg.html. It has the answer to your question - Local Status Page.