topic Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command in Wireless

Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Cisco1619 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:37:25 GMT

I am trying to configure a 9800 to automatically back up the configurations using SCP when someone issues the write-memory command. I have it successfully backing up to the root folder on the SCP server target, but I can't get it to put it into the subfolder that it needs to go into. It seems simple but it isn't working for me. It is using the file path as the file name. Here is my configurations.

Working configuration - puts in root directory:

9800-1#sh run | sec archive
archive
path scp://username:password@10.1.2.6//$h
write-memory
9800-1#

Configuration does not work properly:

9800-1#sh run | sec archive
archive
path scp://username:password@10.1.2.6://SFTP_Root/wireless/$h
write-memory
9800-1#

Thanks for any assistance.

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Mark Elsen — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:46:55 GMT

- @Cisco1619 You say : ....not working properly...
How is that observed , do you get an error somewhere ?

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Cisco1619 — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:48:38 GMT

We are able to see the files going to the root folder on the server, but I am not able to get the transfer to go into the subfolder.

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Mark Elsen — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:58:34 GMT

- @Cisco1619 I was also observing that each instance , working and not working contain two // in the command
Here is an example to backup the configuration every 24h :
The // is only used once after the sftp string , perhaps try the change together
with your own parameters for the needed command.

! Setup automatic configuration backup to SFTP/SCP/FTP/TFTP server.
! Can execute on "write mem" or in set time intervals, or both.
! If you are using SFTP/SCP, you must allow "transport output ssh" on VTY lines.
! If your WLC has VRFs, you will need "ip ssh/ftp/tftp source-interface X" or it won't work.
archive
    log config
        logging enable
    path sftp://username:password@10.10.11.100/WLC/$h_$t
    write-memory
    time-period 1440

It was found in : https://www.wiresandwi.fi/blog/cisco-wlc-9800-base-initial-configuration-cli

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

pieterh — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:14:58 GMT

two suggestions:
- does the file already exist in the subfolder? the user may not have permission to create new files, ony modify existing files
- you can also set the home-directory of the user to the subfolder? (or create a new user especially for the copy)

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

balaji.bandi — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:55:13 GMT

Could you confirm that the Directory already exists and that you can write to the file? I do not believe I can create the folders.

I generally use the following, and it works :

archive
 path scp://username:password@10.1.2.6/SFTP_Root/wireless/$h
 write-memory

Note: I expected SFTP to work; you only have an issue sending files to SFTP.

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Cisco1619 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:15:11 GMT

Yes, the folder structure is in place, but nothing I do will put the file into the subfolder. The client though is Ok with leaving it in the root folder, so I am not going to have to resolve this. At this point I believe it probably is server permission issue, but I can't prove it. Either way, my client is Ok with what we have, so I will let it be. Thanks for all the assistance!

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

balaji.bandi — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:27:33 GMT

What kind of SFTP Server is it, Linux-based or Windows-based?

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Cisco1619 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:29:05 GMT

It is a Windows based server.

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

Mark Elsen — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:47:54 GMT

- @Cisco1619 You could for instance also check the logs of the (scp)/SSH server and check what happens
if the SSH server receives the file or tries too. Some ssh server brands will let you
run the SSH server in debug mode to get additional details (e.g.)

Re: Issues backing up 9800 WLC using archive command

balaji.bandi — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:49:23 GMT

This indicates that the user-provided account lacks the necessary permissions to create a directory. As you mentioned, could you contact the admin to sort that? This has nothing to do with the WLC controller.