Cisco 3504 vs Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller
The 3504 is an end-of-sale AireOS controller; the Catalyst 9800-L is its modern IOS XE replacement with higher AP and client scale, 10G/mGig uplinks and Wi-Fi 6/6E support. Migrate AireOS sites to the 9800-L for a supported future.
Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller
Compact AireOS controller for small to midsize sites with 10G uplinks and 802.11ac Wave 2 support.
- Up to 150 access points and 3,000 clients
- Two 10G SFP+ uplinks, 4 Gbps throughput
- AireOS software with N+1 and SSO HA
- Final AireOS appliance generation; end-of-sale
Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller
Fixed IOS XE controller for small to midsize enterprises with Wi-Fi 6/6E support and seamless software updates.
- Up to 250 APs (500 with Performance license)
- Up to 5,000 clients (10,000 with Performance license)
- Two 10G/mGig fiber uplinks (9800-L-F), 5 Gbps (10 Gbps licensed)
- IOS XE with SD-Access, encrypted traffic analytics and hot patching
Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller vs Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller | Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Max access points | 150 | 250 (500 w/ Performance license) |
| Max clients | 3,000 | 5,000 (10,000 w/ Performance license) |
| Throughput | 4 Gbps | 5 Gbps (10 Gbps licensed) |
| Uplink ports | 2x 10G SFP+ | 2x 10G/mGig fiber (9800-L-F) |
| Software | AireOS | IOS XE |
| Wi-Fi standard support | Up to 802.11ac Wave 2 | Wi-Fi 6 / 6E (802.11ax) |
| High availability | N+1 and SSO | N+1, SSO with hot/cold patching |
| Software update model | Reload-based upgrades | Hitless rolling AP upgrades / patching |
| Security analytics | Limited | Encrypted Traffic Analytics, Trustworthy boot |
| Lifecycle status | End-of-sale (AireOS) | Current shipping product |
Choose Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller if
Keep the 3504 only if you have an established AireOS environment under 150 APs, no Wi-Fi 6 requirement, and need a short bridge before a planned IOS XE migration.
Choose Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller if
Choose the Catalyst 9800-L when refreshing a 3504, deploying Wi-Fi 6/6E, or wanting IOS XE features such as SD-Access, hot patching and encrypted traffic analytics on a supported platform.
Verdict
The Catalyst 9800-L is the modern replacement for the 3504, offering higher AP and client scale, Wi-Fi 6/6E, IOS XE features and hitless software updates. Migrate AireOS 3504 sites to the 9800-L unless a short-term AireOS dependency requires holding for one more cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What replaced the Cisco 3504 wireless controller?
The Catalyst 9800-L is the IOS XE successor to the AireOS 3504, with higher scale and Wi-Fi 6/6E support.
How many access points does the Catalyst 9800-L support?
Up to 250 APs and 5,000 clients by default, scaling to 500 APs and 10,000 clients with the Performance license.
What is the difference between 9800-L-F and 9800-L-C?
The 9800-L-F uses fiber 10G/mGig uplink ports while the 9800-L-C uses copper 10G/mGig uplinks; capacity and software are otherwise identical.
Does the Catalyst 9800-L support Wi-Fi 6E access points?
Yes. The 9800-L runs IOS XE and supports Wi-Fi 6 and 6E (802.11ax) APs, which the AireOS 3504 cannot.
More Wireless LAN Controller comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.