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3650 & 3850 Wireless Controller

ejdrijin1
Level 1
Level 1

Hi,

 

I was reading that the 3650 and 3850 switches are capable to serve as a Wireless Controller. My questions are:

 

1. Will the Wireless Controller be the full functional one or will it be limited? (Something similar to the Mobility Express)

 

2. I have Cisco Aironet 2802 Access points, will they need to be connected to the Wireless Controller Switch? Or can they be connected to any switch? If my 3650 switch is set as the WLC and all my APs are connected to a 2960 switch, will it still work?

 

Thanks.

3 Replies 3

Deepak Kumar
VIP Alumni
VIP Alumni

Hi,

Q: 1. Will the Wireless Controller be the full functional one or will it be limited? (Something similar to the Mobility Express)

 

Ans: Yes, there is some limitation because it is not a fully wireless controller. It is advised to read the data sheet and product information about more details. 

 

Q: 2. I have Cisco Aironet 2802 Access points, will they need to be connected to the Wireless Controller Switch? Or can they be connected to any switch? If my 3650 switch is set as the WLC and all my APs are connected to a 2960 switch, will it still work?

 

Ans: Yes it will work. But first check the AP compatibility details with IOS.

 

Regards,

Deepak Kumar

Regards,
Deepak Kumar,
Don't forget to vote and accept the solution if this comment will help you!

Leo Laohoo
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame

@ejdrijin1 wrote:

I was reading that the 3650 and 3850 switches are capable to serve as a Wireless Controller.


Depends on the firmware used.  The WLC function (aka Converged Access) is supported up to IOS-XE version 16.3.X.  CA function is not supported after 16.3.X.


@ejdrijin1 wrote:

Will the Wireless Controller be the full functional one or will it be limited? (Something similar to the Mobility Express)


Depends on the firmware.  CA wasn't able to achieve "software parity" with AirOS and, at time, was very buggy. 


@ejdrijin1 wrote:

I have Cisco Aironet 2802 Access points, will they need to be connected to the Wireless Controller Switch? Or can they be connected to any switch?


Depends on the firmware.  If the 3650/3850 is running 16.3.X and earlier, then the switch can be configured for CA and the AP can join the switch.  


@ejdrijin1 wrote:

If my 3650 switch is set as the WLC and all my APs are connected to a 2960 switch, will it still work?


Yes.

hi,

 

i have the same scenario where 3850 act as WLC and AP connect to 2960 switch. 

the AP cannot join the WLC now. 

I had enable the license and configure on my 3850 

 

wireless mobility controller
wireless management interface Vlan10
wlan SSIDA 1 SSIDA
client vlan 10
no security wpa
no security wpa akm dot1x
no security wpa wpa2
no security wpa wpa2 ciphers aes
no shutdown
ap group default-group
end

 

AP is connect at VLAN 10 at 2960. 

switchport access vlan 10

 switchport mode access

 spanning-tree portfast

 

in between 3850 and 2960 is a trunk port. 

 

anything else should i configured to make the AP join the WLC?

 

the AP had get the IP address at the DHCP server.

status from AP as follow :

 

[01/19/2019 00:52:53.6200] wired0 emac 2: link up
[01/19/2019 00:52:53.6700] wired0: link up
[01/19/2019 00:52:53.7200] wired0: started
[*01/19/2019 00:52:53.7728] aptrace_register_sysproc_fn: duplicate registeration for 'wired'
[*01/19/2019 00:52:57.7741] Waiting for uplink IPv4/IPv6 configuration
[*01/19/2019 00:53:02.7750] Waiting for uplink IPv4/IPv6 configuration
[*01/19/2019 00:53:07.7759] Waiting for uplink IPv4/IPv6 configuration
[*01/19/2019 00:53:08.7760] Resetting wired0, if[01/19/2019 00:53:08.8000] wired0: stopped
config down up

 

 

 

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