ISR4431 in Controller Mode?

[jmcgrady1]

Ive just booted a new ISR4431 router. Its running IOS 17.5.  It tells me it is in "Controller Mode". How do i make it go to plain ordinary router mode?

[Leo Laohoo]

Controller Mode means the router has boot into SD-WAN. 

The router can be "converted" back to Autonomous mode but with "some effort" because, for some strange reason, the process is not documented by Cisco. 

Let us know if you want to back to Autonomous Mode.  If you do, post the complete output to the following commands: 

1. sh version
2. sh boot
3. dir

[akintundeoloyede11]

Hi Pls i am interested pls, see below the requested. i await you pls

[Leo Laohoo]

In enable mode, enter the command "controller disable".

[akintundeoloyede11]

See error message below,command not successful. Issue remain same
[image: image.png]

[Leo Laohoo]

In enable mode, post the complete output to the command "sh romvar". 

[akintundeoloyede11]

Router#sh romvar
ROMMON variables:
PS1 = rommon ! >
THRPUT =
RET_2_RTS =
LICENSE_SUITE =
BOOT =
bootflash:packages.conf,1;bootflash:isr4300-ucmk9.16.10.3a.SPA.bin,1;
MCP_STARTUP_TRACEFLAGS = 00000000:00000000
TFTP_RETRY_COUNT = 20
RET_2_RCALTS =
BSI = 0
RANDOM_NUM = 1010533779

[Leo Laohoo]

DEVICE_MANAGED_MODE = controller

Without this settings, the router is in autonomous.  This settings will dictate if the router is in SD-WAN or not.  

[akintundeoloyede11]

Good morning.

I can't log into the config mode,I have tried all available commands but to
no avail. error keep showing command not supported. What do you advise i do
now pls

[balaji.bandi]

I can't log into the config mode

disable the controller mode you can do as below :

# controller-mode disable

 or am i missing something ?

[akintundeoloyede11]

See error message,command not working.
[image: image.png]

[balaji.bandi]

we can not se the image - it would be nice to post TEXT message

[Leo Laohoo]

What is the exact error message?

[balaji.bandi]

If the image is SD-WAN ( and you like to convert SD-WAN image to IOS-XE big tough i guess - never tried)

you need to go back to IOS-XE

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/sdwan/configuration/sdwan-xe-gs-book/install-upgrade-17-2-later.html

[sheikhashar35]

I have recently faced the same issue with ISR 4221/K9 router while deploying it. 

I have two solutions for this one :

1. Simply use controller-mode disable in privilege mode and the router will get auto rebooted. After rebooting it will allow you to go to config mode and do all sort of configuration.

2. This one is bit tricky . First remove all the dir from you router boot and then add only that router image either through tftp server or a usb stick.

Let me know whether it worked for you or not.