Cisco 3850 Directly Connected APs Only

The 3850 switches are part of the converged access solution by using the embedded controller to terminate CAPWAP tunnels on the switch itself. One note which perhaps is obvious to someone else but wasn't to me is that the AP must be directly connected to the 3850 switch, you cannot have another switch in the way.

I queried this with Cisco and they said it was a software decision not a hardware limitation, so maybe it could change but at this point in time that doesn't look likely. 

While I'm on the subject of 3850s, a new release of code is out which brings the features more in line with the 3750X. Still not exactly there but better:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst3850/software/release/3se/release_notes/OL_30562_01.html

References:

Cisco Unified Access Technology Overview: Converged Access Whitepaper

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps12686/white_paper_c11-726107.html