topic Re: EWC Deployment in Wireless

EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:34:48 GMT

Does anyone know the best practice for EWC deployment. Currently having EWC 10x C9120AXI-K. Not very sure for the design whether should go for 10x C9120AXI-K all as EWC or make it 2x C9120AXI-K EWC(HA) and convert 8 C9120AXI-K to lightweight AP. Any advise?

Re: EWC Deployment

balaji.bandi — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:54:30 GMT

If you looking HA, you can deploy 2 AP as HA environment and rest will join controller is good option i casee.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-catalyst-access-points/white-paper-c11-743398.html

Re: EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:57:00 GMT

Is there any issue if all 10 APs running as EWC?

Re: EWC Deployment

balaji.bandi — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:16:39 GMT

why do you want to do that ?

Re: EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 21:35:08 GMT

The 10 APs came with EWC or is it better to run 2 APs as EWC and the rest convert it as lightweight AP?

Re: EWC Deployment

Mark Elsen — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 08:24:23 GMT

>... or is it better to run 2 APs as EWC and the rest convert it as lightweight AP

Yes, if you want to use 2 EWC, use HA-mode and or check this document : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-7/config-guide/ewc_cg_17_7/m_ewc_high_availability.pdf , if not use one EWC only

Re: EWC Deployment

Rich R — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:56:29 GMT

I don't know what the official best practice recommended option is but agree with @balaji.bandi
Having them all running EWC probably just increases the complexity of the solution so keep it simple and make sure your 2 EWC APs are in the best/most secure locations least likely to encounter problems then no concern about APs in more risky locations potentially becoming controllers.

Re: EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:31:44 GMT

Hi thanks, can two ewc use different model?

Re: EWC Deployment

balaji.bandi — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:39:48 GMT

i would suggest having the same model for redundancy.

Re: EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:45 GMT

I see ok thanks. Lets say all APs are set, EWC HA and the capwap aps. If one of the EWC down, still require to check the firmware/code to run?

Re: EWC Deployment

balaji.bandi — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:09:19 GMT

if all working as expected, if the EWC primary failes, AP will move to Secondary,

Make sure EWC both AP run same code and same models. ( i would refer the document which was posted my first post for reference how you can build HA using EWC)/

Re: EWC Deployment

Rich R — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:49:02 GMT

Same model is not mandatory but I'd suggest is best practice.
Refer to election process in https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-catalyst-access-points/white-paper-c11-743398.html#EWCHAactiveandstandby

Re: EWC Deployment

balaji.bandi — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:07:46 GMT

@Rich R - as per my testing if not same model N+1 deployment, we see odd issues around it took from failover take 3min.

Can you also clarify, how about if we use different codes and not supported features ?

Re: EWC Deployment

Rich R — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:43:24 GMT

Good to know @balaji.bandi - not tried it myself.
Obviously code versions must match and if features aren't supported they just won't work or if they do (by luck) then you can't rely that they'll keep working.

Re: EWC Deployment

ShahrulEzwvn — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:08:45 GMT

Thanks all. Will test the failover and post the result when get the chance. Cheers.