topic Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem in Wireless

Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 13:38:53 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to get a AIR-AP1542I-E-K9 working with a Catalyst 9800-L controller. I have no previous experience with a wireless controller, only having worked with Cisco routers and switches before.

I cannot get the ap to even pop up on the GUI dashboard of the controller or provision it

They can ping each other, the ap has the correct default Primary Controller name and IP address of the controller. The ap sends CAPWAP discovery requests to the right IP but doesn't seem to get anything back.

I have set device authentication, ap policy and attribute list name to what I think is right. Added the MAC address and SN to the controller.

I haven't done anything with licenses if that might be it? I am very clearly missing something and searching online produces very unclear results as I don't know what I should be searching for.

I'm happy to provide more info on the situation. Any direction on what I should try would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Mark Elsen — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 14:17:17 GMT

- Always useful to have a checkup of the 9800-configuration first , use (CLI) show tech wireless ; have the output processed by https://cway.cisco.com/tools/WirelessAnalyzer/

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

David Ritter — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:18:19 GMT

have you enabled the WMI> Wireless Management Interface? it be the same IP as the machine but it enables the machine to do it's job.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Rich R — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:34:27 GMT

As @David Ritter said above is the most common mistake because people did not follow the deployment guide instructions.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:39:59 GMT

There are videos out there also to show how to setup the 9800-L. You should look at them and like the others mentioned, follow the guides. It's step by step, my first time I touched the 9800, it only took me 15 minutes to get it up and running. I will still go back and review these videos and blogs every once in a while also.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 14:50:47 GMT

I did have that misconfigured so I've changed it to the right interface. I've put that interface on the same subnet as the 2 access points. Once again they can ping each other but won't connect or appear on the GUI of the Wireless Controller.

The interface I changed was GigabitEthernet0 as that can only be the WMI. It wouldn't allow me to put that on the same subnet as another port I have up on the Controller(That port is connected to a switch which I'm using to communicate with laptops and the APs).

Seems like it was a step in the right direction but I still have something wrong. I checked the deployment guide and watched some videos briefly but from what I can see, all the videos start with the AP being visible on the GUI of the Controller and I didn't see how the deployment guide would help me. I can't see the AP at all on my Controller so the videos don't help.

I really appreciate the help.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Rich R — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:21:50 GMT

Edited - I mistakenly posted links to 9800-CL guides instead of 9800-L mentioned although David saying he actually has 9800-40! Always be specific about what hardware and software versions you are working with folks.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Mark Elsen — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:48:03 GMT

-------Still very advisable-----

- Always useful to have a checkup of the 9800-configuration first , use (CLI) show tech wireless ; have the output processed by https://cway.cisco.com/tools/WirelessAnalyzer/

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:54:05 GMT

There is a lot to look at to be honest. It can be as simple as you did not define the country code and don't have a valid trustpoint certificate.

Take a look here:

Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Configuration Best Practices - Cisco

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

David Ritter — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:11:50 GMT

Well, I have 9800-40's, but looking at the 9800-L hardware install guide, My guess G0 is the Service Port and does not support the functions of the WMI, even when assigned.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/9800-L/installation-guide/b-wlc-ig-9800-L.html

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:25:58 GMT

This might be a stupid question, but you do have other ap's joined to that controller? This isn't a new setup/install? That is also an outdoor AP, so you need to add the ethernet mac address to the controller.

Configure Mesh on Catalyst 9800 Wireless LAN Controllers - Cisco

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

David Ritter — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:49:35 GMT

ooh.. Tks Scott, I overlooked the 'outdoor' aspect of this issue, and I have one to pickup from the warehouse and configure today.. I guess I won't forget to enter the MAC.. We only have one 1532 deployed out of 900 plus normal devices..

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:58:03 GMT

That’s our problem…. We are so use to things… I would of just plugged in the ap and then after a few hours figured out my mistake:)

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:01:32 GMT

I wasn't able to do exactly that, closest thing I had was tech-support I think and it ran constant commands for a solid 5-10 minutes. Am I meant to copy all of that because it was massive?

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:02:57 GMT

I can't seem to configure the country code on my ap. I've found ways involving "config ap location" but that isn't an option on my access point.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:05:29 GMT

Country code is defined on the controller. You buy a specific model ap for a country that you will be installing the ap at.

Your ap is "AIR-AP1542I-E-K9" The "E" is the country code for that AP.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:05:18 GMT

No other AP's joined. This is a new setup/install. I've got the mac address of the access point added to the controller for authentication. Not sure about a specific ethernet mac address though.

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:13:06 GMT

Ok, I thought you might have to set it on the AP as well. I've already got the country code set up on the controller.

Do you know if there's any way to check what country my ap is made for?

Thanks

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

Scott Fella — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:15:46 GMT

Here is what you need to successfully join that ap to your controller.

NTP
Country Code matches the AP model
Wireless Management interface defined.
Place AP on the same subnet as the controller wireless management interface (makes the join easy and you can move it later)

Re: Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller AP Join Problem

alex0001 — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:29:19 GMT

Alright, thanks. I'll work through that list and double check everything. I really appreciate the quick responses.