The CCNA exam requires a working understanding of wireless network architecture without a hands-on Wi-Fi lab requirement. The Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controller + lightweight access point design that defines modern Cisco wireless is too large for the CML Free 5-node cap. This lab is concept-only - a written walkthrough of the architecture, the roles, and the protocols. When you are ready to do hands-on with real APs, you need real hardware or CML Personal.
What you will learn
- The three modern Wi-Fi architectures: autonomous AP, lightweight AP + WLC, cloud-managed
- The role of the Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) in a lightweight-AP design
- CAPWAP - the tunneling protocol that carries traffic between AP and WLC
- The split-MAC architecture: where 802.11 functions live (AP vs WLC)
- The components of a typical Cisco wireless deployment (WLC, APs, switches, RADIUS)
What this lab does NOT cover
- Hands-on configuration of a WLC (out of scope for CML Free)
- RF design, channel planning, signal strength tuning
- WLAN security beyond the next lab (sec-10) which covers WPA2 vs WPA3 conceptually
Topology
Concept-only. No .yaml. The architecture diagram below describes a typical enterprise deployment.
The three modern Wi-Fi architectures
Autonomous AP
Where intelligence lives
Each AP has its full feature set; standalone
Typical scale1-5 APs (home, SOHO)
2026 status
Mostly legacy. Replaced by cloud-managed or lightweight
Lightweight AP + WLC
Where intelligence lives
AP handles RF only; WLC handles everything else
Typical scale
10-10,000+ APs (enterprise, campus)
2026 status
Standard for enterprise. Cisco Catalyst 9800 is the platform.
Cloud-managed
Where intelligence lives
AP handles RF + local switching; cloud controller handles config + visibility
Typical scale10-10,000+ APs
2026 status
Common - Meraki, Cisco Spaces, Aruba Central
