Wireless controller 5520 migrate to 9800 in SDA

[gladson14]

Hi  Team,

We have 5520 WLC in DNAC and wanted to migrate to 9800 , can anyone suggest the recommended way.

Traditional migration approach i am familiar , not sure how to plan when existing Fabric WLC in DNA

[marce1000]

 - You may find this discussion informational : https://www.reddit.com/r/Cisco/comments/17a546c/cisco_dna_migrate_fabric_wlc_5520_to_catalyst_9800/

 M.

[Torbjørn]

I just performed the operation described by LordEdam in that reddit thread. It was very easy and went without a hitch.

This is what he posted:

"When you provisioned the 5520, you assigned it to the physical site/building it’s located in then did “manage primary ap locations” and selected your site (or maybe this was done automatically if you have a single site)

So for the new controller, provision it the same way but click on the “managed primary ap locations” and remove every tick box, then click on “manage secondary ap locations” and tick everything.

Continue with the rest of the provisioning as you did with the 5520, this should setup the controller in N+1 HA mode as the secondary controller with all the same settings. You can then change them over when you’re ready to migrate by re-provisioning and changing the tick boxes for primary / secondary"

[balaji.bandi]

There is no straight forward answer for this.

1. before Migration check the AP are compatible with Cat 9800 and Fabric

2. i would build Cat 9800 with SDA 

below guide help you :

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/cloud-systems-management/network-automation-and-management/dna-center/deploy-guide/cisco-dna-center-sd-access-wl-dg.pdf

3. personally if you are not familiar with sd-access - I suggest to contact partner to help you for the first time, so you can understand better - there are many things need to configure. like DNAC / ISE / WLC  so on (i am thinking you using ISE fo authentication for Wireless and guest access ?)

4. profiles and tags and best practice 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/guide-c07-743627.html

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/213911-understand-catalyst-9800-wireless-contro.html

Install inline with exiting WLC and test with Cat 9800 and then Migrate area wise to new WLC is best approach (do not leave same area both AP - which give more problematic, when the client roam between old WLC and new WLC)