WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary

tanner.zaitt — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:44:07 GMT

Hi all,

When it is necessary to upgrade the bootloader?
I upgraded the iOS image of the WLC controller with HA enabled feature last Saturday.
One WLC is with MNG role, the second WLC is with Active role and the last WLC waits in Standby mode.
I upgraded the controller from version 8.10.121.0 to 8.10.130.0.
With pre-downloading the AP images before the reboot mng wlc and all peers.

Now the current state is:
Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc.
Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller
Product Version.................................. 8.10.130.0
RTOS Version..................................... 8.10.130.0
Bootloader Version............................... 8.3.15.177
Emergency Image Version.......................... 8.3.141.0

What is the best practice about the bootloader?
When is the right time to upgrade it in a production environment and how it is possible with minimal downtime?
Only for the upgrade of the IOS image I was waiting near to 3 hours and 20 minutes only for pre-downloading of AP's images....because the controllers for example are in Europe but the access points are in USA, and then I continued with rebooting all WLC controllers with reboot both self and peers options and I was waiting only 20 minutes to finalize the upgrade and I was waiting again only 20 minutes to see access points in joined and registered state in the controllers.
Please share with me your opinion and experience with bootloader upgrades, when, and how you do it?
And really when it is necessary?

Thank you in advance.
Best regards!

Re: WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary

Leo Laohoo — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 21:18:44 GMT

8.10.X.X is the "last call" for the 5520/8540/3502. EoS/EoL announcement is imminent.

I do not believe a bootloader necessary.

Re: WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary

tanner.zaitt — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:13:18 GMT

Thank you.

topic Re: WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary in Wireless

WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary

Re: WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary

Re: WLC controller 5520 bootloader upgrade when it is necessary