Solved: Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller AP migration to 5520WLC

dennis.moroney1 · ‎05-19-2016

Hi,

What are the steps to migrate AP's from a Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller to a Cisco 5520 WLC?

Also what are the correct steps to decommission the Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller ?

Guidance much appreciated.

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎05-19-2016

What are the steps to migrate AP's from a Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller to a Cisco 5520 WLC?

As long as you have done the basic configuration of 5520, then go to each AP on 3850 & do the following

1. Change the Primary Controller Name & IP address in "High Availability" section of AP to reflect 5520 management IP & name.

2. Change the AP connected switchport vlan to different vlan (other than wireless management vlan of 3850)

If you have large number of APs, this is what I would do

1. Define a new vlan for AP management

2. Define DHCP option 43 in the vlan to reflect 5520 management IP
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/97066-dhcp-option-43-00.html

3. Change AP connected switchports to this new vlan

Also what are the correct steps to decommission the Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller ?

Simply remove "wireless management interface vlan x" command from your switch. That will disable WLC functionality of your switch.

As clean up you can remove any wireless specific configurations from yours switch.

HTH

Rasika

*** Pls rate all useful responses***

View solution in original post

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎05-19-2016

What are the steps to migrate AP's from a Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller to a Cisco 5520 WLC?

As long as you have done the basic configuration of 5520, then go to each AP on 3850 & do the following

1. Change the Primary Controller Name & IP address in "High Availability" section of AP to reflect 5520 management IP & name.

2. Change the AP connected switchport vlan to different vlan (other than wireless management vlan of 3850)

If you have large number of APs, this is what I would do

1. Define a new vlan for AP management

2. Define DHCP option 43 in the vlan to reflect 5520 management IP
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/97066-dhcp-option-43-00.html

3. Change AP connected switchports to this new vlan

Also what are the correct steps to decommission the Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller ?

Simply remove "wireless management interface vlan x" command from your switch. That will disable WLC functionality of your switch.

As clean up you can remove any wireless specific configurations from yours switch.

HTH

Rasika

*** Pls rate all useful responses***

dennis.moroney1 · ‎05-20-2016

Hi Rasika

Thanks for your reply. As it's a Cisco WS-C3850 Wireless Controller; there is no High Availability tab when you select the individual AP's?

It there another method , you can recommend?

Regards,

Dennis Moroney.

Rasika Nayanajith · ‎05-20-2016

Hi Dennis

I think DHCP option 43 should work if you could set it up.

Does this 5520 & 3850 switch in same layer 2 network ? In otherwords can 5520 management vlan available on this 3850 switch. If so you can simply change those AP connected switchport to same vlan, in that way via broadcast method AP will find WLC easily.

Even if it is on different vlan, you can try this broadcast method

https://mrncciew.com/2013/05/04/wlc-discovery-via-broadcast/

Other option is enable telnet/ssh to these AP while they are registered to 3850 & then go to AP CLI & try below

#capwap ap primary-base <5520_Name> <5520_Mgt_IP>

HTH

Rasika

*** Pls rate all useful responses ***

r.lundrigan · ‎01-05-2017

Rasika,

What is the purpose of creating a separate vlan just for the APs? And would they still function if they are on the Management Vlan?