The high-density large campus design has multiple distribution layers connected to a core layer and dense demands in the access layer for wired ports and WLAN devices. The preferred design has capacity for supporting 
over 15,000 wired and wireless users and devices, is highly available for critical business continuity, and has the capabilities to support advanced features such as NetFlow and network virtualization and segmentation. You may select this design for cases where densities may not be as high as supported; however, the requirements dictate needs for critical business continuity or advanced capabilities.
Campus Core
If there are three or more interconnected distributions or requirements for connectivity at a common location, you use a Layer 3 LAN core in order to simplify the connectivity and management. You use one of the two core options in order to meet the core needs in the high-density large campus design. The flagship platforms for these options:
Cisco Nexus 7700 Series—Family members in the Cisco Nexus Series have a variety of density options and can be segmented into virtual device contexts, allowing the same devices to be used for a campus core and a data center core. When there are requirements for core switches to be independently managed with the ability to have virtual PortChannels between the switches, or a need for high-density 10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet, these switches are the preferred option.
Learn More: Find the Best Cisco Data Center Switches for You
Catalyst 6800 Series with Supervisor 6T—Family members in the Catalyst Series accommodate a variety of core densities, covering the features commonly used in a campus core. Optionally, you can merge the devices into a VSS mode, with options for redundant supervisors in each member switch offering a highly available configuration, managed as a single device.
Campus Wired Distribution, Wired Access, and Wireless
In the high-density large campus, you make choices for the wired distribution and access based on the most highly available platforms for the role, the highest density and widest selection of interface options, redundant power and modular control plane, with the most advanced software feature capabilities.
In the high density large campus design, centralized wireless is the preferred option, using APs with 802.11ac Wave 2 and CleanAir capabilities.
Table1. High-density large campus suggested deployment platforms
| Enterprise Class—base
foundation network capabilities |
Advanced—foundation plus additional network capabilities | Mission Critical—Best in class network capabilities | |
| Core switches
|
Cisco Nexus 7700 Series with Supervisor 2E or Cisco Catalyst 6807-XL modular chassis pair with Supervisor 6T
Option for VSS Quad Supervisor stateful switchover configuration |
Cisco Nexus 7700 Series with Supervisor 2E or Cisco Catalyst 6807- XL modular chassis pair with Supervisor 6T
Option for VSS Quad Supervisor stateful switchover configuration |
Cisco Nexus 7700 Series with Supervisor 2E or Cisco Catalyst 6807-XL modular chassis pair with Supervisor 6T
Option for VSS Quad Supervisor stateful switchover configuration |
| Distribution/aggregation switches | Cisco Catalyst 9500-24Q with StackWise Virtual | Cisco Catalyst 9500- 24Q with StackWise Virtual or Cisco Catalyst 6880-X and 6840-X extensible fixed chassis pair VSS configuration | Cisco Catalyst 9500-24Q with StackWise Virtual or Cisco Catalyst 6807-XL modular chassis pair with Supervisor 6T VSS Quad Supervisor stateful switchover configuration |
| Access switches | Cisco 2960-X and 2960-XR Series with stack modules | Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series stackable switches | Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series stackable switches or Cisco Catalyst 9400 Series |
| WLAN controller | Centralized Cisco 8500 Series (AireOS) in HA SSO mode | Centralized Cisco 8500 Series (AireOS) in HA SSO mode | Centralized Cisco 8500 Series (AireOS) in HA SSO mode |
APs |
Cisco 1850 Series |
Cisco 2800 Series |
Cisco 3800 Series |
| Key capabilities-wired | 1 Gigabit Ethernet access, PoE+ | 1/10/40 Gigabit Ethernet services, MACsec, TrustSec MPLS, NetFlow, UPOE | Highest availability 1/10/40/100 Gigabit Ethernet services, MACsec, TrustSec MPLS, NetFlow, UPOE |
| Key capabilities-wireless | 2 Gbps Combined Data, 802.11ac Wave 2, 4×4 MU-MIMO:3SS, 20/40/80MHz, Transmit Beamforming | 5 Gbps Combined Data, 802.11ac Wave 2, 4×4 MU-MIMO:3SS, 20/40/80/160MHz, HDX, CleanAir, ClientLink 4.0 + Transmit Beamforming, VideoStream | 5 Gbps Combined Data, 802.11ac Wave 2, 4×4 MU-MIMO:3SS, 20/40/80/160MHz, mGig+GE, HDX, CleanAir, ClientLink 4.0 + Transmit Beamforming, VideoStream |
