Informational : Wi-Fi 7 APs now available

[marce1000]

  - FYI : https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/MR_Overview_and_Specifications/CW9178_Datasheet
            https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/MR_Overview_and_Specifications/CW9176I_%2F%2F_CW9176D1_Datasheet

  M.

[M02@rt37 · Accepted solution]

Thanks a lot @marce1000 

[marce1000]

 M02@rt37   No problem, looks like coming right out of the oven (smile); no info's yet in 
                       https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html
                       concerning required software version for the 9800's ; guess the compatibility matrix will be
                       updated soon , 

 M.

[Rich R]

Minimum required 9800 version will be 17.15.2 due out shortly.

[Leo Laohoo]

---

@marce1000 wrote:
concerning required software version for the 9800's

---

17.15.2 (and newer)

[eglinsky2012]

I'm glad they cleaned up the naming scheme at the very least, haha. From 9136 being higher-performance than the 9166 to the 9178 being higher-performance than the 9176.

[Leo Laohoo]

Sshhhhhhh ... Don't jinx it!

[Leo Laohoo]

Cisco Wireless 9178 Series Access Points Data Sheet

Cisco Wireless 9176 Series Access Points Data Sheet

NOTE:  Like the 4800, 9130, 9136, 9166, the 9178 has ZigBee radio but it will never be enabled.  No idea as to logic behind putting ZigBee in the first place (increase unit cost).  

[Rich R]

And take note of the new unified licensing model
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/networking/software/networking-subscription-ds.html

Note the link in the AP data sheets currently still points to the old DNA licensing data sheet but the new APs can only be ordered with the new unified licenses.

[eglinsky2012]

@Rich R- I hadn't heard about a "new"/"unified" licensing model. How does this differ from the DNA licensing? Is there a summary of what's changed somewhere?

[Rich R]

@eglinsky2012 check out the link above which provides most of the info.

It's a unified Meraki/Catalyst license so 1 license for the AP regardless of whether it's cloud (Meraki) or controller (Catalyst) based.  It's functionally similar - you still buy the term license to get the network license.  They're running a lot of Webinars for partners and sales people at the moment but there should be some public material too and I think when Melbourne Cisco Live material comes out there should be something in there too.

Also see:
https://community.meraki.com/t5/Wireless/Unifying-Cisco-Hardware-and-Licensing-with-Wi-Fi-7/m-p/254681

https://investor.cisco.com/news/news-details/2024/Cisco-Introduces-Intelligent-Secure-and-Assured-Wi-Fi-7-to-Transform-Employee-and-Customer-Experiences/default.aspx

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

https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/3602485/cisco-simplifies-licensing-with-new-wi-fi-7-access-points.html

The AP's have some extra logic at boot time and can use option 43 to decide whether to join a WLC or join Meraki dashboard.

[Leo Laohoo]

@Rich R

Attended Melbourne Live and all speakers just say, "Hey y'all, we've got a new AP!  Check it out in the World of Solution".  

Mark Rebetzke, the SE manning the booth where demo unit has more info but he was unable to provide slides.  

@All

Like the 9136, the 9178 has two dual PoE ports.  However, and like the 9136, both ports will work if the uplink switch ports are static VLAN assignments.  The 2nd port will not work if connected to a Dot1X port (CSCwf32194/CSCwh10672).  Apparently, a European-based customer has been impacted by this and has strongly lobbied for this bug to be fixed and the fix will be introduced in 17.17.1.

[Rich R]

Ok thanks for the update @Leo Laohoo then I guess it's just those links I provided above @eglinsky2012 

I've already reported an inconsistency/inaccuracy in how the ordering tools display the info (it has the right things if you drill down but displays wrong count at top level - always "1" license!).  The estimates/BOM are going to get very long now because they seem to be tying licenses to AP serial numbers ("Linked Hardware") while displaying them in a separate row instead of with the AP(s).  I also found it's very easy to de-link the whole lot by accident and then you have start the entire order workflow all over again from scratch!