WLC 2504 Firmware update alternatives.

[Alucidnation]

Currently, we only have OSX and its proving difficult to source a tftp server that we can use reliably and easily.

Is there another way to upgrade the controller firmware or is tftp/ftp the only way?

Thanks

[Marvin Rhoads · Accepted solution]

Those are the only ways.

In the Windows world, I find that the tftpd32 and Filezilla products (both free) work just fine.

[Alucidnation]

Ok understood.

Looks like a need to source a cheap windows laptop then!

[Marvin Rhoads]

My colleagues with Macs just run the built in OS X ftp server. I don't have a Mac but it seems to work fine for them.

You could also run Windows in Parallels or VMware workstation on your Mac and use the Windows-based ftp servers from there.

[Alucidnation]

Good point, i forgot about that!

Just looking at the commands, it gives an HTTP option to download to the controller.

IS that just a case of locating the file on the computer and downloading stright to the controller from there?

Looking at the manual, thats all it says to do, apart from rebooting for it to take effect....

Step 5 If you selected HTTP from the Transfer Mode drop-down list, do the following:

           a. Click Choose File and browse to the .aes file on the local computer to send to WLC.

Step 6 Click the Download button.

[Alucidnation]

Can anyone answer this for me?

Obviously, I wont use this method if it will mess things up.

[Marvin Rhoads]

Where do you see the http option?

My WLC 2504 (with AirOS 8.0) does not show that. See screenshot below (open in new tab to zoom).

[Alucidnation]

Same place as you have there, but there is a fourth option (8.1.102.0).

Ive just tried to use it and it says to me "Failure Storing to Flash (0)".

It uploads ok, and starts to extract files but then stops and gives me the above info.

See attached!

[Alucidnation]

Just looking through the logs, it gives the reason failure as 'file type mismatch'.

Not sure why as i downloaded it from here:

https://software.cisco.com/download/release.html?mdfid=283848165&softwareid=280926587&release=7.0.252.0&relind=AVAILABLE&rellifecycle=ED&reltype=latest

[Alucidnation]

Well, after a quick call to support, i spoke to a very helpful engineer who went through all the different firmwares etc and i explained to him what i was trying to do.

He said, he wasn't even aware of this method either so, i started another HTTP download to show him the issues and for whatever reasons this time it worked!

So if anyone else else OSX only and wants to upgrade the firmware without TFTP/FTP etc, then this seems to be a way of doing it.

Now updated to 8.1.131.0 without a hitch.

:)

[Marvin Rhoads]

Odd - it looks like they must have added that menu pick as of 8.1.

In looking at the release notes for both 8.1 (and even the latest 8.2), they still say you must use tftp, ftp or sftp for the code download function.

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/release/notes/crn82.html#pgfId-1318425

I'm not sure why it's in the GUI.

[Alucidnation]

Yes, i did spot that when i went through them, however, i assumed it just wasn't added for whatever reason.

As i say, the file downloaded to the controller ok, but as it was extracting, it failed and the log showed 'File type mis-match', but, it was the correct file from the downloads page!