Huawei AirEngine 9701-L Access Controller – 512 APs, 12 Gbps

The Huawei AirEngine 9701-L Access Controller is a compact, high‑performance WLAN AC designed for small‑to‑medium enterprises. It manages up to 512 APs and 4,096 users, integrating wired and wireless access with a built‑in GE switch and 10 Gbps uplinks.

Ideal for campus, office, and hotspot environments, it delivers scalable, secure, and intelligent network control in a single 1‑RU chassis.

Product Overview

Specifications

Feature	AirEngine 9701-L
Managed APs	Up to 512 APs
Max Concurrent Users	4,096 users
Forwarding Capacity	12 Gbps
Ethernet Ports	10 × 1 GE + 2 × 10 GE SFP+
Wireless Protocols Supported	802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be
Forwarding Modes	Direct or Tunnel Forwarding
AC Active/Standby	1+1 HSB (Hot Standby)
Power Supply	AC/DC Adapter
Surge Protection	6 kV Common‑Mode on Service Port
Dimensions (H×W×D)	43.6 mm × 210 mm × 250 mm
Weight	1.9 kg
Operating Temperature	0 °C to +45 °C

AirEngine 9701-L vs. Competitors

Feature	Huawei 9701-L	Cisco Catalyst 9800-L	Aruba 9000 (9012)
Max APs	512	250	32
Max Users	4,096	5,000	2,048
Forwarding Cap.	12 Gbps	5 Gbps	6 Gbps (firewall)
Ethernet Ports	10 × GE + 2 × 10 GE	2 × 10 GE + 4 × 2.5 GE	12 × GE (6 PoE+)

Advantages

Higher Capacity: Manages 512 APs vs. Cisco’s 250 and Aruba’s 32, supporting larger small‑to‑mid‑sized deployments.
Greater Throughput: 12 Gbps forwarding ensures minimal bottlenecks, outperforming Cisco’s 5 Gbps and Aruba’s 6 Gbps.
Integrated Switching: Built‑in 10 GE ports plus 2 × 10 GE SFP+ provide seamless wired‑wireless convergence.

Disadvantages

Premium Positioning: Higher cost may deter very small deployments compared to entry‑level Aruba gateways.
Limited AP Expansion: Maximum 512 APs may not suffice for very large campuses requiring thousands of APs.
No Virtual Option: Unlike Aruba’s virtual mobility controller, the 9701‑L is hardware‑only.

Why Choose Huawei AirEngine 9701 Series?

Scalable Performance: Up to 512 APs and 4,096 users in a compact unit for growing enterprises.
High Throughput: 12 Gbps forwarding supports bandwidth‑intensive applications without compromise.
Advanced O&M: Integrates with Huawei eSight and CloudCampus, offering rich visibility and AI‑driven diagnostics.

Technical Support and After‑Sales Service

Support Type	Network‑Switch.com	Huawei Official	Other Third‑Party Resellers
Product Warranty	3 years	3 years	Varies
Technical Support	24/7 phone, email, chat	Business hours only	Limited
Firmware Updates	Regular	Regular	Irregular
On‑Site Support	Available upon request	Available upon request	Not available
Config Assistance	Free	Free	Not provided
Remote Troubleshoot	24/7	Business hours	Limited
Response Time	Instant for critical issues	Standard	Delayed

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What’s the maximum forwarding capacity?
The AirEngine 9701-L supports up to 12 Gbps of forwarding throughput, handling large traffic loads with ease.

Q2: How many APs can it manage?
It can centrally manage up to 512 access points, ideal for small‑to‑medium enterprise networks.

Q3: Which wireless protocols are supported?
Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, ensuring compatibility with Huawei’s latest APs.

Q4: What forwarding modes are available?
Offers direct forwarding and tunnel forwarding, giving flexibility in traffic management.

Q5: How is high availability handled?
Supports 1+1 hot standby (HSB), ensuring continuous service in case of controller failure.

Q6: What are the power options?
Powered via an AC/DC adapter with surge protection on Ethernet ports.

Q7: How is it configured and monitored?
Features a built‑in web GUI and integrates with Huawei eSight and CloudCampus for centralized O&M.

Q8: What’s the warranty period?
Comes with a 3‑year warranty, backed by Huawei’s global support network.

Conclusion

The Huawei AirEngine 9701-L Access Controller delivers robust performance, scalability, and advanced features for small‑to‑medium enterprise WLANs.

Its superior capacity, multi‑gig uplinks, and AI‑driven O&M tools make it the ideal choice for organizations seeking reliable, future‑ready wireless network management.

For purchasing and detailed consultation, visit network-switch.com.

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