Cisco 5520 vs Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller
The 5520 is an end-of-sale AireOS controller; the Catalyst 9800-40 is its modern IOS XE replacement with higher AP and client scale, double the throughput and Wi-Fi 6/6E support. Migrate large AireOS campuses to the 9800-40.
Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller
High-scale AireOS controller for medium to large campuses with 10G uplinks and Wave 2 support.
- Up to 1,500 access points and 20,000 clients
- Two 10G ports, up to 20 Gbps throughput
- AireOS software with N+1 and SSO HA
- Final AireOS appliance generation; end-of-sale
Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller
Fixed IOS XE controller for midsize to large enterprises with Wi-Fi 6/6E support and seamless updates.
- Up to 2,000 access points and 32,000 clients
- Four 10GE/1GE SFP+/SFP uplinks, up to 40 Gbps throughput
- IOS XE with SD-Access and encrypted traffic analytics
- Hitless rolling AP upgrades and hot patching
Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller vs Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller | Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Max access points | 1,500 | 2,000 |
| Max clients | 20,000 | 32,000 |
| Throughput | Up to 20 Gbps | Up to 40 Gbps |
| Uplink ports | 2x 10G | 4x 10GE/1GE SFP+/SFP |
| 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 5520 Wireless Controller if
Keep the 5520 only as an installed unit under 1,500 APs with no Wi-Fi 6 requirement, as a short bridge before a planned IOS XE migration.
Choose Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller if
Choose the Catalyst 9800-40 when refreshing a 5520, scaling toward 2,000 APs and 32,000 clients, deploying Wi-Fi 6/6E, or needing IOS XE features and hitless upgrades on a supported platform.
Verdict
The Catalyst 9800-40 is the modern replacement for the 5520, with higher AP and client scale, double the throughput, Wi-Fi 6/6E and IOS XE features. Migrate AireOS 5520 campuses to the 9800-40 unless a short-term AireOS dependency requires holding for one more cycle.
Frequently asked questions
What replaced the Cisco 5520 wireless controller?
The Catalyst 9800-40 is the IOS XE successor to the AireOS 5520, with higher scale, double the throughput and Wi-Fi 6/6E support.
How many access points does the Catalyst 9800-40 support?
Up to 2,000 access points and 32,000 clients, compared with 1,500 APs and 20,000 clients on the 5520.
How much throughput does the Catalyst 9800-40 deliver?
Up to 40 Gbps of forwarding throughput across four 10GE/1GE SFP+/SFP uplinks, roughly double the 5520's 20 Gbps.
Does the Catalyst 9800-40 support Wi-Fi 6E?
Yes. The 9800-40 runs IOS XE and supports Wi-Fi 6 and 6E (802.11ax) APs, which the AireOS 5520 cannot.
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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.