Wireless Controller license c9800 for access point to join it

[AliDoskii]

Hello Cisco community,

I am planning to deploy Wireless LAN controller C9800-L-C-K9 to manage my access points.

I have 75 access point i want to deploy them, my access point models are 9120AXI-E.

My question is do i need any license for activate them i heard somewhere that WLC itself don't need any license to work but it need license for access points to be able to join.

Can someone please help me with that?
Thank you

[Flavio Miranda · Accepted solution]

Hi @AliDoskii 

 Here what Cisco days

"

controller itself?

A.  No. Like on older AireOS-based controllers, there is no special license for the Catalyst 9800 controller itself (if no access points are joined to it).

You only need to license the access points that are joined to the controller.

However, it is the controller which communicates with Cisco Smart Licensing, and it is the controller that verifies the licensing of all the joined access points.

Q. Which license do I need for access points that are joined to my Catalyst 9800 WLC?

A.  Every access point joined to a Catalyst 9800 controller consumes one (1) AIR Network license and one (1) AIR DNA license."

Meaning, yes, you do need licensing. All this conversation of You dont need licensing for the WLC is completelly b****

 Why do you need an WLC with no AP?

[AliDoskii]

Thank you so much Flavio.

[marce1000 · Accepted solution]

 - Ref : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/nb-06-cat9800-ser-wirel-faq-ctp-en.html
   >...

                  Q. Do I need any licenses for the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers?

A.  There are no licenses required to boot up a Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller. However, in order to connect any access points to the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller, Cisco DNA licenses are required. Each access point that connects to the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller requires a Cisco DNA license to be entitled to connect.

M.

[AliDoskii]

Thank you so much Marce!

[AliDoskii]

just one more question is there any link to purchase it directly from cisco?

[Rich R]

You generally need to buy from a local Cisco partner or reseller.
You don't mention what country you're in but some large online retailers sell Cisco AP licenses
eg: https://www.insight.com/en_US/shop/product/AIR-DNA-E-1Y/cisco%20systems/AIR-DNA-E-1Y/Cisco-Aironet-DNA-Essentials-Term-License-1-year-1-license/#tab-specifications

Note that as per Flavio's answer you require "(1) AIR Network license and one (1) AIR DNA license" which is what you buy when you purchase the AIR-DNA (it should include both and that is the only way to get the network license).  The network license is perpetual, it doesn't expire, while the DNA license is a term subscription which expires after the purchased term (1 year in the example above)  You only need the DNA license if you intend to use features which require DNA license like Cisco Spaces, Catalyst Centre etc, so if you only want to use the WLC then you can allow the DNA license to expire and retain only the network license.  You will need to change the license boot configuration of the WLC to disable the DNA component.  You also need to decide whether you need Advanced or Essentials.  See https://www.cisco.com/c/m/en_us/products/software/dna-subscription-wireless/en-sw-sub-matrix-wireless.html?oid=porew018984

The main advantage of Network Advanced is that it allows you to install SMUs and APSP on the WLC to patch bugs between maintenance releases, while Essentials does not allow this.