Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers?
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers provides a view of Catalyst 9800 wireless controllers and access points, seamlessly integrated into the Meraki dashboard experience.
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers provides the ability to view Catalyst wireless controller and access point health, performance and and troubleshooting capabilities. Wireless controllers and their associated access points will be automatically tagged with Operating mode: hybrid in the dashboard to distinguish from fully cloud-managed access points. Aside from this difference, Catalyst access points tagged with Operating mode: hybrid appear and function very similarly to cloud-managed access points in the dashboard, including a visual representation of connected ports and traffic information.
Licensing
Which Licenses Are Required to Onboard My Wireless Controller to Dashboard?
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers is included with DNA Essentials or DNA Advantage licenses. You do not need additional Meraki dashboard licenses.
Are There Any Differences Between DNA Essentials and Advantage Licenses?
The DNA Essentials license includes all hybrid operating capabilities for wireless controllers and access points. With the DNA Advantage license, all hybrid operating mode capabilities for wireless controllers and access points + Client Traffic Analytics provided by IOS XE NBAR and NetFlow are included.
Supported Models, Versions, and Features
Which Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controllers Are Supported in Dashboard?
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers supports the following wireless controller models:
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C9800-L-C
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C9800-L-F
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C9800-40
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C9800-80
Which Catalyst Access Points Are Supported in Dashboard?
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers supports the following access point models when joined to a supported C9800 wireless controller:
Wi-Fi 6E Access Points
| Model | Minimum Software Release |
|---|---|
| C9136I | IOS XE 17.12.3 / IOS XE 17.15.3 |
| CW9166I / CW9166D1 | |
| CW9164I | |
| CW9163E | |
| CW9162I |
Wi-Fi 6 Access Points
| Model | Minimum Software Release |
|---|---|
| C9130AXI | IOS XE 17.12.3 / IOS XE 17.15.3 |
| C9124AXI / C9124AXD / C9124AXE | |
| C9120AXI / C9120AXE | |
| C9117AXI | |
| C9115AXI | |
| C9105AXI / C9105AXW |
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) Access Points
| Model | Minimum Software Release |
|---|---|
| AIR-AP4800 | IOS XE 17.12.3 / IOS XE 17.15.3 |
| AIR-AP3802I / AIR-AP3802E | |
| AIR-AP2802I / AIR-AP2802E | |
| AIR-AP1562I / AIR-AP1562D / AIR-AP1562E |
What If I Have an Unsupported Access Point on My Wireless Controller?
Access points not supported on dashboard can remain joined to your Catalyst 9800 WLC with no impact. You cannot claim or add unsupported access points to your dashboard.
Why Is My Wireless Controller Access Point Count Different Than My Dashboard Access Point Count?
The wireless controller summary page has live data to show the current access points and clients active on the wireless controller. For access points, this will provide a live metric of access points joined to the wireless controller regardless if they are supported and onboarded to your dashboard.
Which IOS XE Versions Are Supported?
Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers is supported on the following IOS XE releases:
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17.12.3 / 17.12.4
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17.15.1 and Later
See Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers Requirements for more details.
Can I connect Wireless Controllers to Meraki Dashboard and Catalyst Center?
No, we do not currently support connecting a Catalyst 9800 wireless controller to both the dashboard and Catalyst Center.
Dashboard Options
How Should I Design My Dashboard Organization for Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers?
The Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers design guide provides a detailed design guide for how to layout and design your dashboard Organization to support Catalyst wireless controllers and access points, including our best-practice recommendations.
How Do I Enable Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers?
To enable Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers, first connect the Catalyst 9800 wireless controller to dashboard. Once the Meraki tunnel has connected to dashboard, claim the wireless controller and add it to a network.
Will Dashboard Provision Any Configurations to My Wireless Controller When I Onboard It to Dashboard?
In order to support Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers, dashboard must provision some configurations to enable hybrid operating mode after you have added it to dashboard. Refer to our Cloud-Managed Hybrid Operating Mode for Catalyst Wireless LAN Controllers Dashboard Provisioned Configurations knowledge base article to see the configurations that dashboard will provision to the wireless controller.
Can I Also Monitor My Catalyst Switches With Dashboard?
Yes, you can also monitor supported Catalyst 9000 series switches in dashboard. For more information, see Cloud monitoring overview and FAQ for switches.