topic Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP in Wireless

Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Wietse Hensen — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:56:52 GMT

I'm designing a new wireless setup for our company.

We have some 3600 AP. There will be added some 2800 or 3800 AP's.

The setup will contain 2 x wlc 3504 units in HA SSO.

I have been searching for support of which AP we could use.

This document https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-7/High_Availability_DG.html, describes the support of 1800-2800-3800 AP. Will this mean the 3600 AP can't be used in combination with the 3504 or that only the SSO will not take please?

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Mikey Boy — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 13:44:29 GMT

Hi, I believe the HA SSO will work from the AP perspective but client SSO will not. However, with the 3600 you are limited to version 8.5.135 as shown here https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/release/notes/crn85mr3.html#not_supported_key_AP_features_85 which would be a bigger deal for me, I have had issues with 8.5.135 and had to upgrade into 8.7.

For the majority of deployments I have seen the client SSO is not a deal breaker as it is largely seamless to most end users. Voice would notice it however.

If you want to upgrade to a newer release (they already have 8.7 available) you will lose backwards compatibility with the 3600 series access point and they will not be able to join.

In an ideal world I would say try to go with all 2800 or 3800 as it will make your life easier?

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Scott Fella — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 13:51:11 GMT

Just to add... keep this handy as it’s the matrix of what’s supported in what code version.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html

Since you will be designing this setup and you have 3602’s, the code you will need to run is v8.5.131.0. Until you can replace all your 3602’s, you will not be able to go to a higher code train like v8.7. AP support is dictated by WLC code which also defines what controller model can support the code.

SSO or N+1 is a preference to be honest. Either one would work in any environment.

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Leo Laohoo — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 23:25:20 GMT

Depends on your price point.
I'd recommend 2800 as a start. If you're client has money to spend then go with 4800.

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Wietse Hensen — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 12:44:18 GMT

We have now 1+N, is that case (2504 HA setup) the configs wouldn't synchronize. Try to solve that problem with the 3504 controllers. Thanks for you attention, i have overlook the point of the supported AP in the lateste firmware.

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Wietse Hensen — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 12:45:15 GMT

If we have to change all of the AP, the 4800 is to expensive.

What is the difference 2800 and the 3800? Can't get a clear view of the difference so far.

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Scott Fella — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 12:55:03 GMT

Typically the higher the model number the more features available in hardware. Take a look at this link as it compares the various models.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-3/b_cisco_aironet_series_2800_3800_access_point_deployment_guide/b_cisco_aironet_series_2800_3800_access_point_deployment_guide_chapter_01.html

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Wietse Hensen — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 08:11:48 GMT

Thnx! Will look into it.

Re: Design: WLC 3504 HA + AP

Freerk Terpstra — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:30:42 GMT

It highly depends on the defined requirements, but be aware that having just one HA-SSO pair still gives downtime in case of a software upgrade. Another scenario to think about is a bug within the software which melts those two controllers together to be able act as one. Due to this we combine the HA-SSO and "traditional" N+1 configurations.

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