Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller
Brand: Cisco | Category: Network Equipment
SKU: CSC-AIR-CT5520-K9 | Part #: AIR-CT5520-K9 | MPN: AIR-CT5520-K9
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About the Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller
The Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 wireless LAN controller delivers enterprise-grade QoS, traffic shaping, and application-aware routing capabilities essential for mission-critical wireless deployments. Built on the Cisco 5500 Series platform, this 1U rack-mountable appliance centralizes control over large-scale wireless networks with industry-leading performance and redundancy, making it the ideal choice for network engineers and IT infrastructure teams managing complex multi-site environments.
This controller supports up to 1,500 access points and 20,000 concurrent clients, providing the scalability required by large enterprises. The AIR-CT5520-K9 features four 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ uplink ports for high-speed network connectivity, complemented by dedicated out-of-band management and redundancy ports. Cisco AireOS operating system enables flexible deployment modes including Local, FlexConnect, Monitor, Sniffer, Rogue Detector, and SE-Connect configurations. Advanced security is built in with WPA3, WPA2, 802.1X, RADIUS, TACACS+, and Management Frame Protection (MFP) standards. The controller supports up to 4,096 WLANs across 512 per AP group, with mobility group capabilities spanning up to 24 controllers. Stateful Switchover redundancy and N+1 controller failover ensure business continuity, while dual hot-swappable power supplies (100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz) eliminate single points of failure. Spectrum Intelligence powered by Cisco CleanAir optimizes wireless performance, and integrated Cisco AVC with NBAR2 provides real-time application visibility and control. Seamless integration with Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco DNA Center, and NetFlow export streamlines operational management and analytics.
Key Specifications
- Maximum Access Points Supported: 1,500
- Maximum Concurrent Clients: 20,000
- Network Uplink Ports: 4 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (SFP+)
- WLAN Support: Up to 4,096 WLANs (512 per AP group)
- High Availability: Stateful Switchover (SSO), N+1 controller redundancy
- Security Standards: WPA3, WPA2, 802.1X, RADIUS, TACACS+, MFP
To explore the AIR-CT5520-K9 for your organization, contact Omnixon Global for a detailed RFQ.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Cisco |
| Category | Network Equipment |
| SKU | CSC-AIR-CT5520-K9 |
| Part Number | AIR-CT5520-K9 |
| Condition | New |
| Form Factor | Rack-Mount |
| Interface | 10GbE |
| Manufacturer Part Number | AIR-CT5520-K9 |
| Product Series | Cisco 5500 Series Wireless LAN Controllers |
| Maximum Access Points Supported | 1,500 |
| Maximum Concurrent Clients | 20,000 |
| Form Factor | 1U rack-mountable appliance |
| Network Uplink Ports | 4 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (SFP+) |
| Service Port | 1 x 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (out-of-band management) |
| Redundancy Port | 1 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet (SSO peer interconnect) |
| High Availability | Stateful Switchover (SSO), N+1 controller redundancy |
| Power Supplies | Dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies included |
| Input Voltage | 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Operating System | Cisco AireOS |
| Supported AP Modes | Local (CAPWAP centralized), FlexConnect, Monitor, Sniffer, Rogue Detector, SE-Connect |
| Security Standards | WPA3, WPA2, 802.1X, RADIUS, TACACS+, AES-CCMP, TKIP, MFP (Management Frame Protection) |
| SSID Support | Up to 4,096 WLANs (512 per AP group) |
| Mobility Groups | Up to 24 controllers per mobility group |
| Spectrum Intelligence | Cisco CleanAir (requires CleanAir-capable APs) |
| Application Visibility | Cisco AVC (Application Visibility and Control) with NBAR2, NetFlow export |
| Management Integration | Cisco Prime Infrastructure, Cisco DNA Center, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RESTAPI |
| Rack Mounting | Rack-mount kit included; standard 19-inch rack compatible |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Regulatory Compliance | FCC, CE, UL |
Frequently Asked Questions about Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller
What does the Cisco Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller do?
The Cisco Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller is enterprise networking hardware for data-center, campus, and branch deployments. Common roles include core/distribution switching, server uplinks, top-of-rack fabric, and edge connectivity in mixed Cisco/Juniper/Arista environments.
Is the Cisco Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller compatible with my infrastructure?
The Cisco Cisco WLC 5520 AIR-CT5520-K9 Cisco wireless LAN controller interoperates with standard switching protocols (LACP, MLAG/VPC, 802.1Q, OSPF/BGP). For specific cross-vendor scenarios — Cisco-to-Arista MLAG peering, fabric integration with Cumulus/SONiC, or migration from legacy Catalyst — our network engineers map a compatibility plan as part of the RFQ.