Cisco C9800-L-F-K9 Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controller, Fiber Uplink

A compact wireless LAN controller from the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series, running Cisco IOS XE. This is the fiber-uplink model: its two 10G ports are SFP+ slots, alongside four 2.5G/1G Multigigabit RJ-45 ports. The copper twin is the C9800-L-C-K9.

Choose this model when the controller connects to a distribution or core switch over fiber, or when the uplinks need to run beyond copper distances. Cisco's supported list for its SFP+ ports covers 10G optics such as the SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-SR-S, SFP-10G-LR, SFP-10G-LR-S and SFP-10G-LRM, 10G copper twinax cables from 1 m to 10 m, and 1G optics including the GLC-SX-MMD, GLC-ZX-SMD, GLC-BX-D/U and GLC-TE.

Capacity matches the copper model: 250 access points, 5,000 clients and 5 Gbps as shipped, rising to 500 access points, 10,000 clients and 10 Gbps with the LIC-C9800L-PERF licence. Two units can run as a Stateful Switchover (SSO) pair over the dedicated RJ-45 redundancy port.

It is a half-width 1RU unit at 8.5 x 9.06 x 1.58 in and 4.01 lb (1.82 kg); the C9800L-RMNT bracket mounts it in a 19-inch rack. Power comes from the external C9800-AC-110W adapter, and Cisco gives maximum draw as 84.5 W with two 2.5 W SFPs and a 4.5 W USB load.

Cisco's 9800 end-of-life listing showed hardware notices for the 9800-40 and 9800-80 but not the 9800-L when checked in October 2026.

To confirm fit, check the optics planned for the SFP+ ports against Cisco's list and whether the performance licence is already applied.

More from this family: Cisco Wireless.

Related parts: C9800-L-C-K9.