WLC 9800-40 Wireless Controller or AIR-CT5520-K9

[maninder.negi@intl.verizon.com]

Dear ALl,

 I need to make a business decision whether to purchase WLC 9800-40 Wireless Controller or AIR-CT5520-K9.

Can anyone shed some light what are pros and cons of selecting any of the above model.

[Leo Laohoo]

---

maninder.negi@intl.verizon.com wrote:

 I need to make a business decision whether to purchase WLC 9800-40 Wireless Controller or AIR-CT5520-K9.

---

Cisco will be announcing the EoS for the 5520/8540 soon.

Go with the 9800 to get more life out of it. 

[balajiviswanathmohan]

Hi Maninder,

Below should give you an idea.

5520 WLC specifications:
1500 access points
20,000 clients
20-Gbps throughput
1500 AP groups
1500 Flexconnect groups
100 Flex APs/FCG
4096 VLANs
512 Interface Groups
40000 PMK Cache
512 WLANs
25000 RFIDs
3000 APs/RRM Group
320000 AVC Flows

C9800-40-K9 WLC specifications:
2000 APs
32000 Clients
40 Gbps Throughput
2000 Ploicy Tags
2000 Site Tags
100 Flex APs/Site
4096 VLANs
100 VLAN Groups
64000 PMK Cache
4096 WLANs
32000 RFIDs
4000 APs/RRM Group
400000 AVC Flows

As you might have known, Cisco has chosen IOS-XE software as the way forward for wireless controllers & access points. They will  provide technical support for existing AireOS customers over next few years. However, You will start seeing IOS-XE WLC platforms get all new features and AireOS start lacking of those new features. So my suggestion is to go for the 9800 WLCs.