topic Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI? in Wireless

Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

athan1234 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:25:54 GMT

Hello, I need to replace the current 3504 controller with another one. I’m having issues doing the backup through the GUI because the controller reloads each time.
Is it possible to do it through the CLI?
For example: run show running-config, copy the configuration, and then on the new controller access through the console and copy-paste this show running-config output like you would do on a switch

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

Mark Elsen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:34:18 GMT

- @athan1234 1. Type "config paging disable" in privileged mode to set your terminal to display without any breaks.
2. Type "show run-config" to display the config.

If you are using an operator terminal based on PuTTY with a log file configured. You will then have a copy of the
'running configuration' as it would be on a switch

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

Mark Elsen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:38:28 GMT

- @athan1234 This document contains the procedure to make an 'official binary backup' with the CLI :
https://mrncciew.com/2013/01/25/backup-restore-wlc-configs/

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

athan1234 — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:04:08 GMT

This document is only for TFTP, not CLI.

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

Mark Elsen — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:18:18 GMT

- @athan1234 TFTP is only the data transfer protocol used . The whole procedure is based on CLI commands

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

Rasika Nayanajith — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 09:24:04 GMT

Hi
Yes, if you have CLI access you can very easily backup your 3504 configuration to a TFTP server and restore to a new controller.

Refer to the post below for a detailed explanation of the process. Ignore the 'Service Port' setting mentioned in that post, as it does not apply to the 3504 WLC.
https://mrncciew.com/2013/01/25/backup-restore-wlc-configs/

HTH
Rasika
*** Pls rate all useful responses ***

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

athan1234 — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:28:55 GMT

Hi, thanks for the replies.

I have the controller with me now. The problem was that the controller kept rebooting every time, and we couldn’t make a backup via FTP. The strange thing is that when I tried to access it through the console remotely, one day I managed to get in and saw that the setup seemed to be erased. When I tried to boot, the message said: “Would you like to initiate setup?”

I don’t understand how the configuration was erased. Is there any file inside the controller’s flash memory that I can recover? I only have a show run. Do I need to configure the new controller from scratch? Any ideas?

Re: Unable to Backup 3504 WLC Configuration—Can It Be Done via CLI?

Mark Elsen — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:40:40 GMT

- @athan1234 You will need to configure this controller from scratch again ,