9105axw-b EWC Conversion

[PatrickMorgan]

TL/DR:
9105axw-b

Problem 1 – How do I make space?

Problem 2 – Am I copying the file correctly?

I received a Catalyst 9105axw-b intending to use the 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller.   After reading several documents and watching the 9100 series videos, I was confident that I could convert the device.  Most of the documentation is aimed towards the other 9100 series devices and have directions with unacceptable commands, like config t.

I am having a difficult time getting the access point to allow me to tftp the IOS bin file.  Below is part of the show version output:

cisco C9105AXW-B ARMv7 Processor rev 5 (v7l) with 950528/456128K bytes of memory.

Processor board ID FGL2442L8DD

AP Running Image     : 8.10.130.0

Primary Boot Image   : 8.10.130.0

Backup Boot Image    : 8.10.130.0

Primary Boot Image Hash:

Backup  Boot Image Hash:

4 Multigigabit Ethernet interfaces

2 802.11 Radios

Radio Driver version : Broadcom BCA: 17.18 RC2.0

Radio FW version : 24203.103.r40354 0

NSS FW version : NA

Base ethernet MAC Address           

Part Number                          : 0-000000-00

PCA Assembly Number                  : 074-123371-01

PCA Revision Number                  : 01

PCB Serial Number                    :

Top Assembly Part Number             : 074-123371-01

Top Assembly Serial Number           :

Top Revision Number                  : A0

Product/Model Number                 : C9105AXW-B

I have attempted several methods.  copy source dest doesn’t work in this IOS.-

1. ap-type mobility-express tftp://192.168.1.245/9105/ap1g8 tftp://192.168.1.245/9105/C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin
   
   This outputs a long string of blank lines with sporadic hyphen characters followed by invalid input detected.

1. ap-type mobility-express tftp://192.168.1.245/9105/C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin
   Output:
   39.9%
   curl: (23) Error
   transfer command failed (Error 23)
   
   
2. archive download-sw /no-reload tftp://192.168.1.245/9105/C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin
   Output:
   39.9%
   curl: (23) Error
   transfer command failed (Error 23)
   Image transfer failed
   
   
3. Attempted u-boot xmodem with baud of 38400 ---- took too long

I am making an assumption that the device is running out of space.  I cannot seem to find the commands to delete, as it is handcuffed to what can be deleted and I am having trouble viewing the files.  Clearly my /tmp is 100% full (fixes with reload).  But I would like to have enough space to download and use the image.

show filesystems

Filesystem                Size      Used Available Use% Mounted on

devtmpfs                462.4M      4.0K    462.4M   0% /dev

/sysroot                                464.1M    129.8M    334.3M  28% /

tmpfs                     1.0M     44.0K    980.0K   4% /dev/shm

tmpfs                   464.1M         0    464.1M   0% /run

tmpfs                   464.1M         0    464.1M   0% /sys/fs/cgroup

/dev/ubivol/part1       171.3M     54.5M    116.7M  32% /part1

/dev/ubivol/part2       258.9M     56.1M    202.8M  22% /part2

none                    100.0M    100.0M     48.0K 100% /tmp

none                     10.0M         0     10.0M   0% /firmwarelog

none                      1.0M     44.0K    980.0K   4% /dev/shm

Any assistance would be welcome.

[marce1000]

 - Take a look at this thread , which is similar , I also advice to use FTP for the transfer :

          https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/embedded-controller-problems-on-9120-ap/m-p/4266618#M224784

 M.

[PatrickMorgan]

I had attempted to use FTP as well and receive the following:

ap-type mobility ftp://cisco:cisco@192.168.1.115/9105/C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin

Output:

Error: ftp to be implemented in image_download.sh.
Upgrading ...
upgrade.sh: Script called with args:[NO_UPGRADE]
do NO_UPGRADE, part2 is active part
upgrade.sh: Script called with args:[-c CHECK_ME]
do CHECK_ME, part2 is active part
upgrade.sh: Start doing upgrade arg1=CHECK_ME arg2=,from_cli arg3= ...
upgrade.sh: Using image /tmp/cli_part.tar on ax-bcm32 ...
upgrade.sh: Error: image /tmp/cli_part.tar not found.
upgrade.sh: Cleanup for do_upgrade...
upgrade.sh: /tmp/upgrade_in_progress cleaned
upgrade.sh: Cleanup tmp files ...
Failed to upgrade flash..


I attempted to follow some of the advice in the article
 https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/embedded-controller-problems-on-9120-ap/m-p/4266618#M224784
Still not accepting it.

[marce1000]

   - Wouldn't you need this command instead (?) : 

              ap-type EWC-AP  tftp://192.168.1.245/9105/C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin

 M.

[PatrickMorgan]

This is not an acceptable command for the loaded IOS.  The command tree has only has 3 sub commands for ap-type. Guides for other 9100 series say to use mobility-express for certain IOSes. This command tree has only has 3 sub commands for ap-type. 

-capwap

-cloud

-mobility-express

[marce1000]

                                              I think your particular ap-model does not support EWC : 

         https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-catalyst-access-points/white-paper-c11-743398.html

                                         Check  : Table 1.           Access points that support the EWC

Access points supported as primary

Supported model numbers

Scale

Cisco Catalyst 9115AXI Access Point

C9115AXI-EWC-X

50 access points, 1000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9115AXE Access Point

C9115AXE-EWC-X

50 access points, 1000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9117AXI Access Point

C9117AXI-EWC-X

50 access points, 1000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9120AXI Access Point

C9120AXI-EWC-X

100 access points, 2000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9120AXE Access Point

C9120AXE-EWC-X

100 access points, 2000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9120AXP Access Point

C9120AXP-EWC-X

100 access points, 2000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9130AXI Access Point

C9130AXI-EWC-X

100 access points, 2000 clients

Cisco Catalyst 9130AXE Access Point

C9130AXE-EWC-X

100 access points, 2000 clients

 M.

[PatrickMorgan]

Marce1000,

The current Bengaluru release notes include 9105ax access points to the EWC supported list.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-4/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-4-x.html#id_129367

Table 5.

Maximum APs and Clients Supported

Primary AP Model                     Maximum APs Supported             Maximum Clients Supported

Cisco Catalyst 9105 AWI               50                                                  1000

Cisco Catalyst 9115 Series            50                                                  1000

Cisco Catalyst 9117 Series            50                                                  1000

Cisco Catalyst 9120 Series            100                                                2000

Cisco Catalyst 9130 Series            100                                                2000

[SammyB]

I'm having the same issue.  It is correct that the EWC for the 9105AXW is supported in 17.3.1 & 17.4 IOS XE (client only) the proof is not only in the release notes for 17.3.1 and 17.4 (see below) but that the EWC software image download site has an image for the 9105AXW specifically (ap1g8).   So now, can anyone, maybe someone in TAC show us how to take a Catalyst 9105AXW running 8.10 and migrating to 17.4 IOS XE ???

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/nb-o6-embded-wrls-cont-ds-cte-en.html

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-4/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-4-x.html#Cisco_Concept.dita_4e686689-db5f-464b-8157-92abcfd40028

https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286324896/type/286323077/release/17.4.1

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html

[Scott Fella]

From what I have read and from one of your documents you provided, the wall mount 9105 is only supported as a subordinate ap. Look at the right column toward to bottom. Your ap is listed there as Cisco Catalyst 9105AXW

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-4/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-4-x.html#Cisco_Concept.dita_4e686689-db5f-464b-8157-92abcfd40028

[SammyB]

Hi Scott, yes that's right, which is why in my original post I stated "(client only)" but for the 9105AXW to join an EWC environment (i.e be managed by an EWC, lets say a 9120AX), the 9105 must be running an EWC IOS XE image(ap1g8), as a client otherwise it's considered a CAPWAP AP and must be "Converted" via the link below.  Any idea how to do this?

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-on-catalyst-access-points/215303-embedded-wireless-controller-conversion.html

Network Topology

Embedded Wireless Controller images are provided in the form of a zip file. The zip file contains:

• EWC .bin image (example: C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin)
• AP image for all APs that can join EWC (example: ap1g4, ap1g7)
• Readme.txt file that specifies which image corresponds to which AP model (ap1g8 is for the 9105axw)

[Scott Fella]

Typically then your new ap which is the 9105 has a newer code. So you have to upgrade the 9120 to a code that supports the 9105. As long as the ap is capwap, the ap should join an AireOS or EWC controller.
You can look at this as this is how I have uploaded different images when testing.

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-catalyst-access-points/presentation-c97-743421.pdf

[SammyB]

Scott, 

This is the exact instructions that me and the original poster followed, however, the instructions are mistaken:

AP# ap-type ewc-ap tftp://<tftp- server-ip>/<ap1gx(AP image)> tftp://tftp-server-ip>/<C9800-AP-iosxe-wlc.bin>

However, the command in red above "ap-type ewc-ap..." does not exist in the 8.10 image as it states in the link you shared and in the instructions!  THIS IS SURELY A BUG, but one that stops any AP's (running 8.10) from being converted to join a EWC environments.

AP1#ap-type ?
    capwap Switch to CAPWAP AP type
    cloud Switch to cloud AP type
    mobility-express Switch to Mobility Express AP type

AP1# sh ver

cisco C9105AXW-B ARMv7 Processor rev 5 (v7l) with 950528/443740K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID FGL2442L89L
AP Running Image : 8.10.130.0
Primary Boot Image : 8.10.130.0
Backup Boot Image : 0.0.0.0

[Scott Fella]

Your try mobility-express

[Scott Fella]

The command ap-type mobility-express is used if the AP is running 8.9 or later.

[marce1000]

 - No it's not a bug , the particular option will be shown as available, on the models that support 'EWC mode' ; if you don't see it, it means that the AP can not do it.

  M.