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350-401 Practice Question: The maximum number of WLANs that can be…
What is the maximum number of WLANs that can be configured on a single AP in a Cisco 9800 WLC deployment?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between global WLAN capacity (up to 4096 on the 9800) and per-AP WLAN capacity (16), causing candidates to confuse the two and select 64 (the global maximum) or 32 (a common but incorrect guess).
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
16
In a Cisco 9800 WLC deployment, each AP supports up to 16 WLANs (SSIDs). This is a hard limit enforced by the controller, regardless of the AP model. The 9800 WLC maps WLANs to APs via policy profiles, and the AP can serve a maximum of 16 unique SSIDs simultaneously.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
8
Why it's wrong here
Older 802.11n APs like Cisco Aironet 3600/3700 only allowed 8 WLANs per radio due to software and hardware constraints. Modern APs (e.g., Catalyst 9100, 9130) with IOS XE support up to 16 WLANs per radio, doubling the capacity for guest, voice, IoT, etc., without needing multiple APs. Selecting 8 underestimates current capabilities.
- ✓
16
Why this is correct
On Cisco Catalyst 9100 series APs and similar modern platforms, each radio (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz on Wi-Fi 6E) supports up to 16 WLANs simultaneously. This is a per-radio limit, so an AP with two radios can support 32 distinct SSIDs when split across bands, though each WLAN typically maps to a single SSID. The IOS XE wireless controller allows configuration of 16 WLANs per radio interface.
- ✗
32
Why it's wrong here
While an AP with multiple radios can handle a total of 32 WLANs across all radios (e.g., 16 on 5GHz and 16 on 2.4GHz), the per-radio limit remains 16. The question asks for per-radio capability, so 32 incorrectly assumes the limit doubles for a single radio or confuses the aggregate AP capacity with the per-radio operational limit. No modern AP allows 32 WLANs on one radio due to beacon transmission and resource constraints.
- ✗
64
Why it's wrong here
Even as an aggregate across all radios, 64 WLANs far exceeds any current AP's hardware and software capabilities on IOS XE. The beacon interval, TIM, and per-SSID overhead would consume excessive airtime and memory, degrading performance. Cisco's design limit for a single radio is 16, and even the highest-end APs do not support 64 total per AP; this option fundamentally misreads the platform's maximum.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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