Changing AP network addressing

[iholdings]

Greetings,

We are in the process of completly changing one of our networks to a new subnet.

As such, the APs at that location are currently configured with static IPs and gateways.

What is the best method (GUI, CLI) to be able to change IPs to the new subnet - without having to be hoisted up to do each manually?  Will any changes made with either method be saved and in effect once the new subnet comes online? (routers, switches, etc....)

Thanks

[Scott Fella · Accepted solution]

I would add a dhcp scope on the current subnet and then change the configuration from static to dhcp.  This was when you move to a new subnet, you can then create a new dhcp scope and allow the ap's to obtain an address from that scope.  Now if you know your ip address assignments for the new network, if possible, you should start the scope high or low depending what address you will assign the ap's.  Exclude the address that the aps will have, this way you can assign each ap a static without having any duplicate address issues while making these changes.  Now the WLC will still have the same ip address or not?  If not, then you might have to make sure you have option 43 or DNS to help the aps find the wlc.  You can also use the ip forward-protocol udp and ip helper to help the ap's join the wlc with a new address.

[iholdings]

Thanks Scott for your very detailed suggestions.

These APs are stand-alone (there's no WLC).  We have a total of 9 to changed.  We are planning on making these network changes before the other equipment (router, switches) and do not need them to stay up while we transition to the new subnet.

I'm thinking now of simply accessing each AP via the web GUI - leave them set to static - and assigne the new static IP in the new subnet and hit Apply.  We'll lose connectivity since we would still be on the old subnet - but once things are fully up on the new - access should be restored.

Is my thinking right here?

[Scott Fella]

Yes, you can do that to.  Just make sure you set the native vlan/vlan on the switch correctly also.  However, that will work.

[fbarboza]

If you are just working with one ssid or vlan on the access points then you can do as you mention, change the ip address of the ap and then change the port to be on the new vlan on the switch port, but if you are working with vlans on the access points then you need to also change the native vlan from the current one to the new one since the access points if the unit has an ip address for vlan x then the native vlan needs to be the same vlan x

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