CHAPTER 3: CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT¶
3.1 Existing Wireless Infrastructure¶
3.1.1 Current AP Deployment (Pre-WiFi 7)¶
Total Wireless Access Points: 1,185 APs across 19 sites
| WiFi Generation | AP Models | Quantity | Deployment Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 6E (802.11ax, 6 GHz) | Catalyst 9136I, 9130AXI | 145 APs | 2023-2024 | ✅ Keep (non-pilot sites) |
| WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Catalyst 9120AXI, 9115AXI | 590 APs | 2021-2023 | ✅ Keep (non-pilot sites) |
| WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) | Aironet 3802I, 2802I | 450 APs | 2018-2020 | ⚠️ Replace in Phase 5B |
Regional Distribution:
| Region | Sites | Total APs | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 (Legacy) | Coverage Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAC | 8 sites | 485 APs | 60 | 245 | 180 | Good (12% WiFi 6E) |
| EMEA | 6 sites | 410 APs | 45 | 195 | 170 | Moderate (11% WiFi 6E) |
| Americas | 5 sites | 290 APs | 40 | 150 | 100 | Good (14% WiFi 6E) |
| TOTAL | 19 sites | 1,185 APs | 145 | 590 | 450 | - |
3.1.2 Site-by-Site AP Inventory¶
APAC Region:
| Site | Building Size | Users | Current APs | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | Pilot Site? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai HQ | 100,000 sq ft, 5 floors | 2,200 | 180 APs | 25 | 95 | 60 | ✅ YES (50 WiFi 7 APs) |
| Chennai HQ | 80,000 sq ft, 4 floors | 1,800 | 130 APs | 20 | 70 | 40 | ✅ YES (30 WiFi 7 APs) |
| Bangalore Branch | 15,000 sq ft, 2 floors | 200 | 20 APs | 0 | 8 | 12 | ✅ YES (10 WiFi 7 APs) |
| Delhi Branch | 12,000 sq ft | 180 | 18 APs | 0 | 10 | 8 | No (Phase 5B-Wave 3) |
| Singapore Hub | 25,000 sq ft | 400 | 35 APs | 5 | 20 | 10 | No |
| Tokyo Branch | 10,000 sq ft | 150 | 15 APs | 0 | 8 | 7 | No |
| Sydney Branch | 18,000 sq ft | 280 | 25 APs | 5 | 12 | 8 | No |
| Hong Kong Branch | 22,000 sq ft | 350 | 32 APs | 5 | 22 | 5 | No |
EMEA Region:
| Site | Building Size | Users | Current APs | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | Pilot Site? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London HQ | 100,000 sq ft, 5 floors | 2,200 | 155 APs | 25 | 80 | 50 | ✅ YES (25 WiFi 7 APs) |
| Frankfurt HQ | 60,000 sq ft, 3 floors | 1,200 | 90 APs | 10 | 50 | 30 | No (Phase 5B-Wave 1) |
| Paris Branch | 20,000 sq ft | 300 | 28 APs | 5 | 15 | 8 | No |
| Amsterdam Branch | 18,000 sq ft | 280 | 25 APs | 0 | 12 | 13 | No |
| Madrid Branch | 15,000 sq ft | 220 | 22 APs | 5 | 10 | 7 | No |
| Milan Branch | 25,000 sq ft | 400 | 35 APs | 0 | 18 | 17 | No |
Americas Region:
| Site | Building Size | Users | Current APs | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | Pilot Site? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey HQ | 90,000 sq ft, 4 floors | 1,800 | 130 APs | 20 | 70 | 40 | No (Phase 5B-Wave 1) |
| Dallas HQ | 70,000 sq ft, 3 floors | 1,400 | 95 APs | 15 | 50 | 30 | No (Phase 5B-Wave 1) |
| Chicago Branch | 22,000 sq ft | 350 | 30 APs | 5 | 15 | 10 | No |
| Toronto Branch | 18,000 sq ft | 280 | 20 APs | 0 | 10 | 10 | No |
| Mexico City Branch | 15,000 sq ft | 220 | 15 APs | 0 | 5 | 10 | No |
Summary: - Total Sites: 19 locations - Total APs: 1,185 APs (pre-WiFi 7) - Phase 5A Pilot: 4 sites, 115 new WiFi 7 APs (keep existing APs operational during pilot) - Phase 5B Production: Replace 450 legacy WiFi 5 APs + add 555 new APs = 1,220 total WiFi 7 APs
3.1.3 Current AP Coverage Analysis¶
Coverage Quality Assessment (Pre-WiFi 7):
| Metric | Target | Current (WiFi 6/6E) | Gap | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average RSSI | -65 dBm or better | -68 dBm | 3 dB weak | Add 180 APs in Phase 5B (denser deployment) |
| Dead Zones | 0% of floor area | 5-8% (corners, stairwells) | 5-8% | WiFi 7 higher density eliminates dead zones |
| 5 GHz Coverage | 95% of floor area at -70 dBm | 88% | 7% gap | WiFi 7: 1 AP per 1,500 sq ft (vs 1 per 2,500 sq ft) |
| 6 GHz Coverage | 95% of floor area at -70 dBm | 10% (only 145 WiFi 6E APs) | 85% gap | WiFi 7: Full 6 GHz coverage (1,220 APs) |
| Channel Utilization | <50% (comfortable) | 55-70% (congested) | High congestion | WiFi 7: 320 MHz + Multi-RU = <40% utilization |
| Clients per AP | <15 (optimal) | 18-25 (overloaded) | 3-10 over target | WiFi 7: Denser deployment = 10-12 clients/AP |
Issues Identified:
⚠️ Issue 1: Dead Zones - Location: Building corners, stairwells, large conference rooms - Impact: 5-8% of floor area with RSSI < -80 dBm (unusable WiFi) - Root Cause: Insufficient AP density (1 AP per 2,500 sq ft for WiFi 6) - Resolution: WiFi 7 deployment (1 AP per 1,500 sq ft) eliminates dead zones
⚠️ Issue 2: Channel Congestion (5 GHz) - Current: 55-70% channel utilization (25 overlapping channels, DFS required) - Impact: Throughput degradation, 20-30ms latency - Root Cause: High client density (18-25 clients per AP) - Resolution: WiFi 7 shifts primary traffic to 6 GHz (320 MHz, less congested)
⚠️ Issue 3: Overloaded APs - Current: 18-25 clients per AP (executive floors, conference rooms) - Impact: Per-client throughput < 100 Mbps (insufficient for 4K video) - Root Cause: 450 legacy WiFi 5 APs (slow throughput) - Resolution: Replace WiFi 5 with WiFi 7, add 180 APs for density
3.1.4 Wireless LAN Controllers (WLC)¶
Catalyst 9800 Series Deployment:
| Site | WLC Model | Quantity | Deployment | Max APs | Current APs | Capacity | Software Version | WiFi 7 Ready? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2021 | 2,000 each | 180 | 91% free | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Yes (upgrade to 17.16) |
| Chennai | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2021 | 2,000 each | 130 | 94% free | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Yes |
| Bangalore | (Uses Mumbai WLCs) | - | - | - | 20 (via Mumbai) | - | - | ✅ Yes |
| London | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2022 | 2,000 each | 155 | 92% free | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Yes |
| Frankfurt | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2022 | 2,000 each | 90 | 96% free | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Yes |
| New Jersey | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2020 | 2,000 each | 130 | 94% free | IOS-XE 17.14.1 | ⚠️ Upgrade to 17.15 first, then 17.16 |
| Dallas | C9800-40-K9 | 2 (HA pair) | 2020 | 2,000 each | 95 | 95% free | IOS-XE 17.14.1 | ⚠️ Upgrade to 17.15 first, then 17.16 |
Legacy WLCs (Non-WiFi 7 Compatible):
| Site | WLC Model | Quantity | Deployment | Current APs | Status | Migration Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong | WLC 5520 | 4 (1 per site) | 2017-2018 | 107 APs total | ❌ Not WiFi 7 compatible | Migrate APs to regional C9800 WLCs (Week 1-4) |
| Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan | WLC 8540 | 4 (1 per site) | 2018-2019 | 110 APs total | ❌ Not WiFi 7 compatible | Migrate APs to London/Frankfurt C9800 WLCs |
| Chicago, Toronto, Mexico City | WLC 5520 | 3 (1 per site) | 2017 | 65 APs total | ❌ Not WiFi 7 compatible | Migrate APs to New Jersey/Dallas C9800 WLCs |
WLC Upgrade Summary:
| WLC Model | Sites | Total WLCs | Action Required | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C9800-40-K9 | 6 regions (12 WLCs) | 12 WLCs | Software upgrade: IOS-XE 17.15/17.14 → 17.16.1 | Week 1 (Day-0 prep) |
| Legacy WLC 5520/8540 | 11 branches | 11 WLCs | Migrate 282 APs to C9800 WLCs (no hardware upgrade needed) | Week 1-4 (pre-pilot) |
CRITICAL: No WLC hardware purchase required ✅
→ All Catalyst 9800 WLCs support WiFi 7 via software upgrade
3.2 Existing Wired Access Infrastructure¶
3.2.1 Access Switch Inventory¶
Total Access Switches: 330 switches (15,840 ports)
| Switch Model | Ports per Switch | Quantity | Total Ports | PoE Budget | Deployment Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst 9300-48U | 48 | 120 | 5,760 | 1,100W (PoE+) | 2021-2024 | ✅ Keep (PoE+ sufficient for most) |
| Catalyst 9300-48P | 48 | 80 | 3,840 | 740W (PoE+) | 2020-2022 | ⚠️ Low PoE (need injectors for WiFi 7) |
| Catalyst 3850-48P | 48 | 60 | 2,880 | 740W (PoE+) | 2018-2020 | ⚠️ Legacy (EoL 2025), replace or inject PoE |
| Catalyst 3750-48PS | 48 | 70 | 3,360 | 370W (PoE) | 2015-2017 | ❌ EoL, insufficient PoE (replace or decommission) |
PoE Power Assessment:
| Switch Model | PoE Standard | Typical Port Power | Max Ports at 30W (PoE+) | Max Ports at 60W (PoE++) | WiFi 7 Support (60W)? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C9300-48U | PoE+ (30W), 1,100W budget | 30W | 36 ports | 18 ports | ⚠️ Limited (use injectors for >18 APs) |
| C9300-48P | PoE+ (30W), 740W budget | 30W | 24 ports | 12 ports | ⚠️ Limited (use injectors) |
| C3850-48P | PoE+ (30W), 740W budget | 30W | 24 ports | 12 ports | ⚠️ Limited (use injectors) |
| C3750-48PS | PoE (15W), 370W budget | 15W | 24 ports | 6 ports | ❌ Insufficient (replace or use injectors) |
Gap Analysis - PoE Power:
Phase 5A Pilot: 115 WiFi 7 APs (60W each)
Total Power Required: 115 × 60W = 6,900W
Scenario 1: Use Existing Switches (Without Injectors)
• C9300-48U: Support 18 APs per switch (1,100W ÷ 60W = 18)
• Switches needed: 115 APs ÷ 18 = 6.4 switches
• Result: ⚠️ Possible, but limited headroom
Scenario 2: Use PoE Injectors (Recommended for Pilot)
• 115 injectors (PWR-IE170W-PC-AC, $500 each)
• Total cost: 115 × $500 = $57,500
• Benefit: No switch upgrades during pilot, flexible deployment
• Decision: ✅ Use injectors for Phase 5A
Phase 5B Production: 1,220 WiFi 7 APs
Total Power Required: 1,220 × 60W = 73,200W
Scenario 1: Upgrade to High-PoE Switches
• Replace 330 switches with C9300-48UN (2,400W PoE budget)
• C9300-48UN: 40 APs per switch (2,400W ÷ 60W = 40)
• Switches needed: 1,220 APs ÷ 40 = 30.5 ≈ 31 switches
• Cost: 31 × $18,000 = $558,000
• Benefit: Long-term infrastructure refresh
• Decision: ✅ Recommended for Phase 5B (2025-2026)
Scenario 2: Continue Using Injectors (Not Recommended)
• 1,220 injectors × $500 = $610,000
• Issue: Higher cost than switch upgrades, less elegant solution
• Decision: ❌ Not recommended for production
3.2.2 Wired Port Utilization¶
Current Wired Port Usage:
| Port Usage Category | Ports | % of Total | Migration Status (Phase 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| User Desktops (Ethernet) | 6,200 | 39% | ✅ Migrate to wireless (75% = 4,650 ports freed) |
| Laptops (Docked) | 3,800 | 24% | ✅ Migrate to wireless (100% = 3,800 ports freed) |
| IP Phones (Desk) | 800 | 5% | ⚠️ Keep wired (PoE, reliability) |
| Printers (MFP) | 250 | 2% | ⚠️ Keep wired (100%, reliability) |
| Servers | 450 | 3% | ❌ Keep wired (10G, low latency) |
| Network Infrastructure | 200 | 1% | ❌ Keep wired (switches, routers, firewalls) |
| Building Automation (BMS, HVAC) | 300 | 2% | ❌ Keep wired (24x7 reliability) |
| Security Cameras (PoE) | 350 | 2% | ⚠️ 40 migrate to WiFi 7 (Phase 4 AI cameras), 310 stay wired |
| IoT Sensors | 2,200 | 14% | ⚠️ Keep wired or dedicated IoT wireless (not WiFi 7) |
| Unused/Spare | 1,290 | 8% | N/A |
| TOTAL | 15,840 | 100% | - |
Post-Phase 5 Port Utilization:
| Category | Current Ports | Freed (WiFi 7) | Remaining Wired | % Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User Endpoints | 10,000 (desktops + laptops) | 8,450 | 1,550 (wired by exception) | 85% wireless |
| Critical Infrastructure | 4,550 (servers, printers, phones, BMS, cameras, IoT) | 40 (AI cameras) | 4,510 | 1% wireless |
| Unused/Spare | 1,290 | - | 1,290 | - |
| TOTAL | 15,840 | 8,490 | 7,350 | 54% reduction |
Access Switch Consolidation:
Pre-Phase 5:
• 330 access switches
• 15,840 ports
• 48% utilization (7,550 active ports)
Post-Phase 5:
• 7,350 active ports (8,490 freed via wireless migration)
• 152 access switches needed (7,350 ÷ 48 = 153)
• 178 switches decommissioned (330 - 152 = 178 switches)
• 8,544 ports decommissioned (178 × 48 = 8,544 ports)
Result:
✅ 54% switch port reduction
✅ 178 switches decommissioned (power savings, rack space)
✅ Simplified wired infrastructure
3.2.3 Uplink Bandwidth Assessment¶
Uplink Requirements (Per Fabric Edge Switch):
| Site Type | Current Uplink | WiFi 7 Load (50 APs) | Required Uplink | Gap | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large HQ (Mumbai, Chennai, London) | 2× 10G SFP+ | 50 APs × 1 Gbps avg = 50 Gbps peak | 20 Gbps (2× 10G) | 2.5:1 oversubscription | ✅ Acceptable (bursty traffic) |
| Medium Branch (Bangalore) | 2× 1G RJ45 | 10 APs × 1 Gbps = 10 Gbps peak | 2 Gbps (2× 1G) | 5:1 oversubscription | ⚠️ Upgrade to 2× 10G SFP+ |
| Small Branches | 2× 1G RJ45 | 5-8 APs × 1 Gbps = 5-8 Gbps | 2 Gbps | 2.5-4:1 oversubscription | ⚠️ Monitor, upgrade if needed |
Bangalore Branch Upgrade (Example):
Current State:
• Switch: Catalyst 9300-48U
• Uplinks: 2× GigabitEthernet (1G RJ45)
• Aggregate: 2 Gbps
Phase 5A Deployment:
• 10 WiFi 7 APs
• Expected load: 10 APs × 1 Gbps avg = 10 Gbps peak
• Oversubscription: 10 Gbps / 2 Gbps = 5:1 (high)
Issue:
⚠️ Uplink bottleneck (5:1 oversubscription)
→ Peak hour congestion, throughput throttling
Resolution:
✅ Upgrade uplinks to 2× 10G SFP+ (Week 2, before AP deployment)
• Hardware: C9300-NM-8X (8× 10G SFP+ module)
• Cables: 2× SFP-10G-SR (10m)
• Cost: ~$2,000 per switch
• Timeline: Week 2 (Day-0 preparation)
Post-Upgrade:
• Uplinks: 2× 10G SFP+ = 20 Gbps aggregate
• Oversubscription: 10 Gbps / 20 Gbps = 0.5:1 (comfortable)
3.3 Network Fabric & Underlay Assessment¶
3.3.1 SD-Access Fabric Status¶
Abhavtech's SD-Access Fabric Deployment:
| Component | Model | Quantity | Software | Status | WiFi 7 Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric Border Nodes | Catalyst 9500-40X | 12 (6 sites × 2 HA) | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Ready | No upgrade needed |
| Fabric Edge Nodes | Catalyst 9300-48U/P | 330 switches | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ✅ Ready | Support VXLAN + SGT tagging |
| Fabric WLCs | Catalyst 9800-40 | 12 (HA pairs) | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | ⚠️ Upgrade to 17.16 | WiFi 7 support |
| Fabric Control Plane | DNAC 2.3.5 | 3 nodes (cluster) | DNAC 2.3.5.6 | ⚠️ Upgrade to 2.3.7 | WiFi 7 templates |
Fabric Readiness for WiFi 7:
✅ VXLAN Encapsulation: Supported (existing SD-Access fabric)
✅ SGT Inline Tagging: Supported (TrustSec enabled on all fabric edge nodes)
✅ Wireless Integration: WLCs integrated as fabric edge nodes
⚠️ WLC Software: Requires upgrade to IOS-XE 17.16.1 (WiFi 7 support)
⚠️ DNAC Software: Requires upgrade to 2.3.7+ (WiFi 7 provisioning templates)
No Fabric Underlay Changes Required ✅
3.3.2 ISE Integration Status¶
Identity Services Engine (ISE) Deployment:
| Component | Version | Nodes | Status | WiFi 7 Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISE Primary Admin Node (PAN) | 3.3 Patch 1 | 1 | ✅ Ready | No upgrade needed (802.1X compatible) |
| ISE Policy Service Nodes (PSN) | 3.3 Patch 1 | 12 (2 per region) | ✅ Ready | WiFi 7 clients authenticate via 802.1X |
| ISE Monitoring Node (MnT) | 3.3 Patch 1 | 2 (HA) | ✅ Ready | Monitor WiFi 7 client sessions |
| pxGrid Nodes | 3.3 Patch 1 | 2 | ✅ Ready | Publish WiFi 7 client context to XDR, DNAC |
ISE Policy Configuration:
Existing ISE Policies (No Changes for WiFi 7):
SSID: Corp-Secure (WiFi 6/6E)
• Authentication: 802.1X (EAP-TLS or PEAP-MSCHAPv2)
• Authorization: AD Group-based SGT assignment
• Posture: Duo Device Trust (OS version, AV, encryption)
• Result: SGT 11 (Executives), SGT 15 (Employees), SGT 16 (Contractors)
New SSID: Corp-Secure-7 (WiFi 7)
• Authentication: Same as Corp-Secure (802.1X)
• Authorization: Same AD Group → SGT mapping
• Posture: Same Duo checks
• Result: Same SGTs (11, 15, 16)
Key Insight:
✅ WiFi 7 is TRANSPARENT to ISE
✅ No ISE policy changes required
✅ SGT assignment identical for WiFi 6/7 clients
3.4 Power & Environmental Infrastructure¶
3.4.1 Power Circuit Capacity¶
IDF Closet Power Assessment:
| Site | IDFs | Power Circuits per IDF | Current Load | PoE Injector Load (Phase 5A) | Headroom | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai HQ | 10 IDFs | 2× 20A (240V) = 9.6 kW per IDF | 4.2 kW (switches, WLC) | 3.6 kW (6 injectors × 600W) | 1.8 kW | ✅ Sufficient |
| Chennai HQ | 8 IDFs | 2× 20A (240V) = 9.6 kW per IDF | 3.8 kW | 2.4 kW (4 injectors × 600W) | 3.4 kW | ✅ Sufficient |
| Bangalore | 2 IDFs | 2× 15A (240V) = 7.2 kW per IDF | 3.0 kW | 3.0 kW (5 injectors × 600W) | 1.2 kW | ⚠️ Limited (monitor closely) |
| London HQ | 10 IDFs | 2× 16A (230V) = 7.4 kW per IDF | 3.5 kW | 2.0 kW (3-4 injectors × 600W) | 1.9 kW | ✅ Sufficient |
Issue: Bangalore Branch Power Constraint
Bangalore IDF Power Analysis:
Current State:
• 2 IDFs, each with 2× 15A circuits (240V)
• Total per IDF: 7.2 kW
• Current load: 3.0 kW (switches, router, patch panels)
• Headroom: 4.2 kW
Phase 5A Requirements:
• 10 WiFi 7 APs total (5 per IDF)
• 5 PoE injectors per IDF (PWR-IE170W-PC-AC, 600W each at full load)
• Total: 5 × 600W = 3.0 kW per IDF
Post-Phase 5A:
• Total load: 3.0 kW (existing) + 3.0 kW (injectors) = 6.0 kW
• Headroom: 7.2 kW - 6.0 kW = 1.2 kW (17% margin)
Concern:
⚠️ Limited power headroom (1.2 kW = 17%)
⚠️ No room for growth (Phase 5B expansion)
Resolution:
✅ Week 2: Facilities add 1 additional 20A circuit per IDF
→ New total: 3× 20A (240V) = 14.4 kW per IDF
→ Headroom increases to 8.4 kW (safe margin)
Cost: $2,000 per circuit (electrician labor, permits)
Total: 2 IDFs × $2,000 = $4,000
Timeline: Week 2 (Day-0 prep)
3.4.2 Cooling & HVAC Capacity¶
IDF Closet Thermal Load:
| Site | IDF Cooling | Current Heat Load | WiFi 7 Additional Load (Injectors) | Total Load | Cooling Headroom | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai HQ | Split AC (2 tons per IDF) | 14,000 BTU/hr | 3,600W × 3.41 = 12,276 BTU/hr | 26,276 BTU/hr | -2,276 BTU/hr | ⚠️ Need additional cooling |
| Chennai HQ | Split AC (1.5 tons per IDF) | 10,000 BTU/hr | 2,400W × 3.41 = 8,184 BTU/hr | 18,184 BTU/hr | -184 BTU/hr | ⚠️ Marginal (monitor temps) |
| Bangalore | Split AC (1 ton per IDF) | 8,000 BTU/hr | 3,000W × 3.41 = 10,230 BTU/hr | 18,230 BTU/hr | -6,230 BTU/hr | ❌ Insufficient cooling |
| London HQ | Split AC (2 tons per IDF) | 12,000 BTU/hr | 2,000W × 3.41 = 6,820 BTU/hr | 18,820 BTU/hr | 5,180 BTU/hr | ✅ Sufficient |
Conversion Factor: 1 Watt = 3.41 BTU/hr
AC Capacity: 1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr
Bangalore IDF Cooling Upgrade:
Bangalore IDF Cooling Analysis:
Current Cooling:
• 2 IDFs, each with 1-ton split AC (12,000 BTU/hr)
• Current heat load: 8,000 BTU/hr per IDF
• Headroom: 4,000 BTU/hr (33% margin)
Phase 5A Heat Load:
• 5 PoE injectors per IDF: 3,000W
• Heat dissipation: 3,000W × 3.41 = 10,230 BTU/hr
• Total load: 8,000 + 10,230 = 18,230 BTU/hr
Issue:
❌ Total load (18,230 BTU/hr) > AC capacity (12,000 BTU/hr)
❌ IDF will overheat (>30°C / 86°F)
❌ Equipment shutdowns, reliability issues
Resolution:
✅ Week 3: Install additional 1-ton split AC per IDF
→ New capacity: 24,000 BTU/hr per IDF
→ Headroom: 24,000 - 18,230 = 5,770 BTU/hr (24% margin)
Cost: $3,000 per AC unit (including installation)
Total: 2 IDFs × $3,000 = $6,000
Timeline: Week 3 (Day-0 prep, before AP installation)
3.5 Catalyst Center (DNAC) Readiness¶
3.5.1 Current DNAC Deployment¶
DNAC Cluster Configuration:
| Component | Specification | Current | Required (WiFi 7) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNAC Version | Software | 2.3.5.6 | 2.3.7+ | ⚠️ Upgrade needed |
| Cluster Nodes | Servers | 3 nodes (HA cluster) | 3 nodes | ✅ Sufficient |
| CPU | vCPUs | 56 vCPUs per node | 56 vCPUs | ✅ Sufficient |
| Memory | RAM | 256 GB per node | 256 GB | ✅ Sufficient |
| Storage | Disk | 3 TB per node | 3 TB | ✅ Sufficient |
| Managed Devices | Switches, routers, APs, WLCs | 850 devices | 1,200 devices (post-WiFi 7) | ✅ 40% headroom |
DNAC WiFi 7 Feature Requirements:
Current DNAC 2.3.5:
❌ No WiFi 7 SSID templates
❌ No 320 MHz RF profile support
❌ No MLO configuration options
❌ No WiFi 7 client telemetry collection
DNAC 2.3.7+ (Required):
✅ WiFi 7 SSID templates (WPA3-Enterprise, MLO enabled)
✅ RF profiles for 320 MHz channels (6 GHz)
✅ MLO configuration (NSTR mode, link selection)
✅ WiFi 7 telemetry (MLO events, 320 MHz utilization)
✅ Deep Network Model (DNM) support for WiFi 7 client health prediction
Upgrade Path:
DNAC 2.3.5.6 → DNAC 2.3.7.5 (direct upgrade, zero downtime)
Timeline: Week 2 (Day-0 prep)
Duration: 90 minutes (rolling upgrade across 3 nodes)
3.5.2 DNAC Capacity Planning¶
Post-Phase 5 Device Count:
| Device Type | Current | Phase 5A | Phase 5B | Total Post-Phase 5 | DNAC Limit | Headroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 7 APs | 0 | 115 | 1,105 | 1,220 | 2,000 | 39% |
| Legacy APs (WiFi 6/6E) | 1,185 | 1,185 (keep) | 0 (replaced) | 0 | - | - |
| WLCs | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 100 | 88% |
| Access Switches | 330 | 330 | 152 (decommission 178) | 152 | 500 | 70% |
| Core/Distribution | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 100 | 52% |
| TOTAL | 1,575 | 1,690 | 1,317 | 1,432 | 2,700 | 47% |
Result: ✅ DNAC has sufficient capacity for Phase 5 (47% headroom)
3.6 Gap Analysis Summary¶
3.6.1 Hardware Upgrade Requirements¶
Phase 5A Pilot (Immediate Needs):
| Component | Current | Required | Gap | Action | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 7 APs | 0 | 115 APs | 115 new | Purchase C9178I-BE | $575,000 |
| PoE Injectors | 0 | 115 injectors | 115 new | Purchase PWR-IE170W-PC-AC | $57,500 |
| 10G Uplinks (Bangalore) | 2× 1G | 2× 10G SFP+ | Upgrade | Purchase SFP+ modules + cables | $2,000 |
| Power Circuits (Bangalore) | 2× 15A per IDF | 3× 20A per IDF | Add 2 circuits | Electrician install | $4,000 |
| Cooling (Bangalore) | 1 ton per IDF | 2 tons per IDF | Add 2 AC units | HVAC install | $6,000 |
| TOTAL (Phase 5A Pilot) | - | - | - | - | $644,500 |
Phase 5B Production (2025-2026):
| Component | Current | Required | Gap | Action | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 7 APs | 115 (pilot) | 1,220 total | 1,105 additional | Purchase C9178I-BE | $5,525,000 |
| Access Switches (High-PoE) | 330 (mixed PoE) | 152 (all PoE++) | Replace 31 critical | Purchase C9300-48UN | $558,000 |
| Legacy AP Decommission | 1,185 APs | 0 (all replaced) | Decommission 1,185 | RMA or spare pool | $0 (cost avoidance) |
| Access Switch Decommission | 330 switches | 152 (consolidate) | Decommission 178 | RMA or spare pool | $0 (cost avoidance) |
| TOTAL (Phase 5B) | - | - | - | - | $6,083,000 |
Grand Total (Phase 5A + 5B): $6,727,500 (hardware only)
3.6.2 Software Upgrade Requirements¶
Zero-Cost Software Upgrades (Covered by SmartNet):
| Component | Current Version | Target Version | Effort | Timeline | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLCs (C9800-40) | IOS-XE 17.15.1 / 17.14.1 | IOS-XE 17.16.1 | 4 hours per HA pair | Week 1 (Day-0) | Low (rolling upgrade) |
| DNAC | 2.3.5.6 | 2.3.7.5 | 90 minutes | Week 2 (Day-0) | Low (rolling upgrade) |
| ISE | 3.3 Patch 1 | 3.3 Patch 1 (no upgrade) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fabric Switches | IOS-XE 17.15.1 | 17.15.1 (no upgrade) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total Software Upgrade Cost: $0 (SmartNet maintenance covers upgrades) ✅
3.6.3 Critical Path Dependencies¶
Week 1-4 (Day-0 Preparation) - Critical Path:
Week 1: WLC Software Upgrades
├─ Mumbai WLCs: IOS-XE 17.15 → 17.16 (Saturday maintenance window)
├─ Chennai WLCs: IOS-XE 17.15 → 17.16
├─ London WLCs: IOS-XE 17.15 → 17.16
└─ Validation: All WLCs operational, WiFi 7 features enabled
Week 2: DNAC Upgrade + Network Prep
├─ DNAC: 2.3.5 → 2.3.7 (Monday evening, 90 min)
├─ Bangalore: 10G uplink upgrade (switch module install)
├─ Bangalore: Power circuit install (2 new 20A circuits)
└─ Validation: DNAC WiFi 7 templates working
Week 3: Infrastructure Validation + Cooling
├─ RF site surveys (Ekahau) - all pilot floors
├─ PoE injector install (115 units, staged in IDFs)
├─ Bangalore: Additional cooling install (2× 1-ton AC units)
└─ Validation: Power, cooling, uplinks ready
Week 4: Hardware Staging + Go/No-Go
├─ WiFi 7 APs arrive (115 units)
├─ AP inventory, labeling, pre-staging
├─ Team training (installers, NOC, helpdesk)
└─ Go/No-Go Decision: CTO approval (Friday EOD)
Week 5: Deployment Begins
└─ AP installation starts (Mumbai Floor 6)
3.7 Infrastructure Readiness Score¶
Phase 5A Pilot Readiness Assessment:
| Category | Readiness | Issues | Resolution | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Infrastructure | 90% | WLC software outdated (17.15 vs 17.16) | Upgrade WLCs | Week 1 ✅ |
| Wired Infrastructure | 75% | Bangalore: 1G uplinks insufficient | Upgrade to 10G | Week 2 ✅ |
| Power Infrastructure | 70% | Bangalore: Limited power headroom | Add power circuits | Week 2 ✅ |
| Cooling Infrastructure | 65% | Bangalore: Insufficient cooling | Install additional ACs | Week 3 ✅ |
| Management Systems | 85% | DNAC version outdated (2.3.5 vs 2.3.7) | Upgrade DNAC | Week 2 ✅ |
| Security Integration | 100% | ISE ready (no changes needed) | N/A | N/A ✅ |
| OVERALL READINESS | 81% | 4 issues identified | All resolvable in Week 1-3 | Week 1-3 ✅ |
Assessment: ✅ Infrastructure is WiFi 7-ready with minor Day-0 preparation (4 weeks)