Cisco Catalyst CW9800 Supported APs

[ex-engineer]

Does the new CW9800 WLC support the AIR-AP3802I-B-K9 AP? The c9800 did. I really hate having to navigate Cisco's tedious model numbers and nomenclature, but I guess I have no choice. 

Can someone kindly help?

Thank you

[Flavio Miranda · Accepted solution]

@ex-engineer 

 They will. Since they suport up to IOS version 17.16.1

IOS XE Release	Access Point Image Version Number	Access Point Release	Supported Access Points
Cisco IOS XE 17.16.1	17.16.0.88	17.16.1	Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6E APs: 9136 (I), 9162 (I), 9164 (I), 9166 (I/D1) Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 APs: 9105AX (I/W), 9115AX (I/E), 9117AX (I), 9120AX (I/E/P), 9130AX (I/E) Cisco Aironet APs: 1815 (I/W/M/T), 1830 (I),1840 (I), 1852 (I/E), 1800i, 2800 (I/E), 3800 (I/E/P), 4800 (I)

[Scott Fella · Accepted solution]

Keep this handy... its nice to have when you plan on upgrading, buying new AP's, etc. @Flavio Miranda already posted the info you need.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html#cisco-catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controller-matrix

[Rich R · Accepted solution]

And just to clarify - further to what Flavio and Scott have said - it's the software version which determines the AP compatibility not the specific WLC model.

[marce1000]

 - @Rich R  wrote : >... it's the software version which determines the AP compatibility not the specific WLC model.
                                    Perhaps there is a slight difference here in the sense that the CW9800 series are only supported starting
                                    from 17.14.x (because they are new) and can for instance not support the older COS AP's such as the
                                    2700 series (e.g.)

 M.

[Rich R]

True - but that is all in the Compatibility Matrix <smile>

[ex-engineer]

Thanks, gents! So, I do see the latest version of IOS XE that the new CW9800 supports, 

Cisco IOS XE 17.16.1

But what guarantee does one have that future IOS XE versions that the CW 9800 will support will also include the Aironet 3800 APs? You know what I mean? In other words, how confident can we be that the CW 9800 WLCs will incorporate support for the 3800 platform APs in future IOS releases? 

[marce1000]

  - I presume that this will be 'synced' with the EOL/EOS  destined for the 3800 AP ; if you have one use 
     https://cway.cisco.com/sncheck/  and after support in IOS-XE will be dropped gradually 

  M.

[ex-engineer]

Thanks, but Im sorry. I have no idea what you mean.  

The question is around which mainline IOS XE release will the 3800 be dropped ?

[Flavio Miranda · Accepted solution]

@ex-engineer 

We can not guarantee anything but considering how things change fast on cisco  hardware and considering this AP exist for a long time, I would not expect it to work too much longer. The new catalyst Access Points is the ones that might be around for longe time.

[Rich R · Accepted solution]

3800 APs are already end of sale:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/aironet-3800-series-access-points/aironet-3800-series-access-points-eol.html

You'll see the individual date milestones in the notice.  Most important to your question:

End of SW Maintenance Releases Date: HW	The last date that Cisco Engineering may release any final software maintenance releases or bug fixes. After this date, Cisco Engineering will no longer develop, repair, maintain, or test the product software.	May 1, 2024
End of Vulnerability/Security Support: HW	The last date that Cisco Engineering may release a planned maintenance release or scheduled software remedy for a security vulnerability issue.	October 31, 2027

So any IOS release from now on may discontinue support for 3800 because it has already passed the End of Software Maintenance date.  In reality Cisco often go beyond that but you cannot rely on it.  I expect they will be there till at least 17.18.x but as there are already 3 new generations of APs after that (WIFi 6 C91xx, WiFi 6E CW916xx and WiFi 7 CW917x) they're not likely to be supported for much longer.  In any event you can expect that any IOS released after 31 October 2027 (which is also the Last Date of Support) will not support them.