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Cisco 8540 controller supporting 1,000 APs delivers exceptional wireless stability and throughput.
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9
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8540 WL CONTROLLER SUP FOR 1000 APS RACK KIT
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Name:
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9
- Description:
- 8540 WL CONTROLLER SUP FOR 1000 APS RACK KIT
- Rating:
Added to cart 28 times recently
- Availability:
In stock - Ready to Ship
- Brand:
- Cisco
- GTIN:
- 46655509130
- Condition:
- Warranty:
- 3
- List Price:
$255,000.00
- Price:
$159,027.0037.6% off
Quantity:
1
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AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 Overview
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 is a high-performance wireless access point engineered for enterprise environments, offering robust connectivity on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands while adhering to Wi-Fi 5 standards. It delivers data rates up to 1Gbps and utilizes advanced MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies to ensure efficient, high-density client communications.
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 is designed with versatile installation in mind, supporting both ceiling and wall mount configurations for streamlined indoor deployments in large offices and similar settings. With integrated RJ-45 connectivity and PoE power supply, this access point meets rigorous FCC, CE, and RoHS compliance standards, ensuring secure and reliable operation.
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 price is $159,027.00, a 37.6% saving from the Cisco list price of $255,000.00. AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 is in stock and available for next-day dispatch. (terms applied)
Request bulk order quote for AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 for additional pricing. Browse the full Cisco Wlan Controller series or explore all Cisco products.
AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 Specifications
- Product Type
- Wireless Access Point
- Wireless Type
- Access Point
- Wi-Fi Standard
- Wi-Fi 5
- Frequency Bands
- 2.4GHz / 5GHz
- Data Rate
- 1Gbps
- Max Range
- 100 meters
- Coverage Area
- N/A
- Connector Type
- RJ-45
- Antenna Type
- Omnidirectional
- Antenna Gain
- 3dBi
- MIMO Technology
- MU-MIMO
- Beamforming
- Yes
- Mounting Options
- Ceiling Mount / Wall Mount
- Power Supply
- PoE
- Mesh Networking
- No
- Ethernet Port
- 1x Gigabit
- Max Number of Devices Supported
- N/A
- Protocols Supported
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Management Features
- On-Premises / SNMP
- Security Features
- WPA2 / WPA3 / 802.1X
- Compliance
- FCC / CE / RoHS
- Processor
- N/A
- Memory
- N/A
- Outdoor Use
- No
- Product Name
- AIR-CT8540-1K-K9
- Height
- N/A
- Width
- N/A
- Depth
- N/A
- Weight
- N/A
Quality Certifications
To get the detailed certification, please go to the Compliance Center.
Product Comparison Table 
| AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 |  AIR-WLC4402-12-K9 |  C1-AIR-CT5520-K9 |  WS-SVC-WISM2-3-K9 |  AIR-CT2504-25-K9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antenna Gain | 3dBi | N/A | 5dBi | 5dBi | N/A |
| Antenna Type | Omnidirectional | N/A | Omnidirectional | Omnidirectional | N/A |
| Beamforming | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Compliance | FCC / CE / RoHS | FCC, CE, RoHS | FCC / CE / RoHS | FCC / CE / RoHS | FCC, CE, RoHS |
| Connector Type | RJ-45 | RJ-45 | RJ-45 | RJ-45 | RJ-45 |
| Coverage Area | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Data Rate | 1Gbps | N/A | 1Gbps | 2.5Gbps | N/A |
| Depth | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 inches | N/A |
| Ethernet Port | 1x Gigabit | 2x Gigabit | 1x Gigabit | 1x Gigabit | 1x Gigabit |
| Frequency Bands | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | N/A | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | N/A |
| Height | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 inches | N/A |
| MIMO Technology | MU-MIMO | N/A | MU-MIMO | MU-MIMO | N/A |
| Management Features | On-Premises / SNMP | On-Premises, CLI, Web GUI, SNMP | Cloud Management / On-Premises | Cloud Management / On-Premises / SNMP | On-Premises, SNMP |
| Max Number of Devices Supported | N/A | 12 Access Points | N/A | 200 | 1000 |
| Max Range | 100 meters | N/A | N/A | 100 meters | N/A |
| Memory | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2GB | N/A |
| Mesh Networking | No | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Mounting Options | Ceiling Mount / Wall Mount | Rack Mount | Ceiling Mount / Wall Mount | Ceiling Mount / Wall Mount | Rack Mount |
| Outdoor Use | No | No | No | No | No |
| Power Supply | PoE | AC Adapter | PoE | PoE | AC Adapter |
| Processor | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.2GHz Quad-Core | N/A |
| Product Name | AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 | AIR-WLC4402-12-K9 | C1-AIR-CT5520-K9 | WS-SVC-WISM2-3-K9 Wireless Access Point | Cisco Aironet 2504 Wireless LAN Controller |
| Product Type | Wireless Access Point | Wireless LAN Controller | Wireless Product | Wireless Access Point | Wireless LAN Controller |
| Protocols Supported | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, TCP/IP | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | 802.11a/b/g/n (via managed APs) / Ethernet |
| Security Features | WPA2 / WPA3 / 802.1X | 802.1X, WPA2, VPN | WPA2 / WPA3 / 802.1X | WPA2 / WPA3 / 802.1X | WPA2, WPA3, 802.1X, VPN |
| Weight | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.2 lbs | N/A |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 5 | N/A | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | N/A |
| Width | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8 inches | N/A |
| Wireless Type | Access Point | N/A | Access Point | Access Point | N/A |
| Wi‑Fi Standard |
Reviews & Ratings
K
Kevin Marshall
4
Reliable high-capacity wireless controller with excellent performance under heavy traffic.
L
Liam Edwards
5
Stable enterprise-grade controller supporting 1K APs effortlessly.
M
Marcus Bennett
4
Excellent centralized management for large wireless deployments.
N
Nathan Cole
5
Strong performance and seamless AP integration across campus.
O
Oliver Hayes
5
Professional solution for managing 1,000 APs with consistent uptime.
P
Patrick Foster
5
High-density wireless environments run smoothly with this 8540 controller.
Questions & Answers
What is the Cisco AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 wireless LAN controller rack kit?
The AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 is a 2RU, rack-mountable Cisco Wireless LAN Controller kit preconfigured to manage up to 1,000 access points, including mounting hardware and redundant power supplies.
How many access points can the 8540 controller support?
The Cisco 8540 controller supports up to 1,000 CAPWAP access points per chassis under full licensing.
What throughput performance does the AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 deliver?
The 8540 controller delivers up to 40 Gbps of CAPWAP throughput for secure, high-density wireless environments.
Which software release does the 8540 controller run?
The controller runs Cisco AireOS 8.x and above, providing advanced wireless services, hospitality features, and integration with Cisco DNA Center.
What are the physical dimensions and rack requirements?
The unit is 2RU high, 17.5 inches deep, fits a standard 19-inch rack, and requires 25 lbs of rack load capacity.
Does the 8540 controller support high availability?
Yes. It offers active/standby stateful switchover with session failover, ensuring continuous operation during maintenance or a hardware failure.
What redundancy features are included in the rack kit?
The kit includes dual hot-swappable power supplies and field-replaceable fans for N+1 hardware redundancy.
How does the controller handle Power over Ethernet for access points?
The 8540 controller relies on external IEEE 802.3af/at PoE switches to power connected access points; it does not supply PoE directly.
What security features are supported by the AIR-CT8540-1K-K9?
Built-in features include 802.1X authentication, WPA3 encryption, rogue AP detection, wireless IPS, and flexible guest access.
How does the 8540 controller integrate with Cisco DNA Center?
It integrates via REST APIs and Cisco Prime Infrastructure, enabling automation, assurance, and policy-based management through DNA Center.
What licensing model applies to the 8540 controller?
Licenses are tiered—Base, Advantage, and Premier—and sold per-AP or per-device, unlocking features like advanced analytics and application visibility.
Can I manage third-party access points with this controller?
No. The AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 only supports Cisco CAPWAP-compliant access points.
Which management protocols does the 8540 controller support?
Supported protocols include SNMP v2/v3, NETCONF, CLI, RESTful APIs, and a web-based GUI via Cisco Prime Infrastructure.
What warranty and support options are available?
Cisco offers a limited lifetime warranty on the controller chassis plus one year of 8×5 Cisco TAC support, with extended SMARTnet service options.
What are the environmental operating conditions?
Operating temperature: 0 °C to 40 °C (32 °F to 104 °F); humidity: 5% to 90% non-condensing; altitude: up to 5,000 ft.
How do I install the AIR-CT8540-1K-K9 rack kit?
Mount the controller in a 19-inch rack using provided brackets, connect redundant power cables, link management and data ports, then perform initial CLI or GUI configuration.