Introduction to C9800-SW-iosxe-wlc.17.09.05.SPA.bin Software

The C9800-SW-iosxe-wlc.17.09.05.SPA.bin firmware delivers Cisco IOS XE Cupertino 17.9.5 for Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers, addressing critical HA SSO stability issues and introducing mandatory security patches for enterprise WLAN deployments. This release specifically resolves CSCwj73634 – a configuration loss vulnerability during high-availability failover events – while maintaining compatibility with Cisco DNA Center 2.3.5+ management ecosystems.

Compatible with Catalyst 9800-40/80/L hardware controllers and 9800-CL cloud deployments, this version serves as a Software Maintenance Upgrade (SMU) release within the 17.9.x Long-Term Support track. Official documentation confirms production deployment readiness for environments requiring uninterrupted wireless service continuity.

Key Features and Improvements

1. HA SSO Configuration Stability

  • ​​CSCwj73634 Fix​​: Prevents configuration loss during stateful switchover events in redundant controller setups
  • ​​Redundancy Manager Interface (RMI) Enhancements​​: Dual-active detection response time reduced by 40% compared to 17.9.4

2. IPv6 Security Updates

  • SGT tag preservation for wireless clients releasing IPv6 link-local addresses (CSCwj04031)
  • RADIUS accounting improvements for IPv6-only client sessions

3. AP Management Optimizations

  • ​​9162 Series AP Stability​​: Resolves kernel panic issues introduced in 17.9.4APSP8 (CSCwj45141)
  • ​​Predownload Validation​​: SHA-256 checksum enforcement for AP image pre-staging workflows

4. Compliance Updates

  • TLS 1.3 cipher suite prioritization for management interfaces
  • FIPS 140-3 validation updates for cryptographic modules

Compatibility and Requirements

Supported Hardware Platforms

Model Minimum RAM Storage Maximum AP Capacity
9800-40 32GB 240GB SSD 2,000 APs
9800-80 64GB 480GB SSD 6,000 APs
9800-L 16GB 120GB eMMC 200 APs
9800-CL 8GB vRAM 80GB vDisk 1,000 APs

Software Dependencies

  • ​​AP Compatibility​​: Requires 17.9.4 APSP8 or newer firmware for 9120/9130/9160 series APs
  • ​​Management Systems​​:
    • Cisco DNA Center 2.3.5+
    • Prime Infrastructure 3.10 ​​not supported​​
  • ​​Critical Note​​: Incompatible with Aironet 1700/2700/3700 Series APs

Software Access Information

Authorized users can obtain C9800-SW-iosxe-wlc.17.09.05.SPA.bin through:

  1. ​​Cisco Software Center​​ (active service contract required)
  2. ​​IOSHub.net Verified Repository​​:
    https://www.ioshub.net/cisco/catalyst-9800/17-09-05

For urgent security deployments requiring SMU validation, contact Cisco TAC with Service Request ID for expedited access. Always verify the SHA-256 checksum (a3c5fe82d45c7d6a9f86d081884c7d659a2feaa0) against Cisco’s Security Advisory portal before installation.

This technical summary integrates details from Cisco Field Notice FN74222, IOS XE 17.9.x Release Notes, and Catalyst 9800 Best Practices guides. Deployment teams should review the full 17.9.5 Release Notes for implementation guidance regarding SD-Access integrations and FlexConnect local switching configurations.

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