Solved: Adding a CAPWAP AP to a Mobility Express Controller/Group

pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-02-2023

Hi all,

I am trying to add an Aironet 1830 AP to a Controller/Group of AP that are already under ME.

I understand you can have capwap one working with it, without converting it yo ME. The only thing will be not having it being able to be a master or primary.

But could not find ways or instructions on how to get it to join the controller/group?

Any suggestions?

Thank you

pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-03-2023

Just a quick update, after some playing around was able to convert the AP from CAPWAP to ME. Besides the "enable" mode on the CLI, then the AP was still trying to join the WLC making it not possible, once isolated it all went smooth.

At the end of the configuration under CLI, do you have to enter all the infos asked (userid / passwords and various settings...) or can you just bypass by entering enter systematically (I did not think about hitting "enter" at the time, so entered all the info asked.

Thanks again for your help all @Prince.O @Scott Fella @balaji.bandi although my questions might have appeared obvious some times

View solution in original post

balaji.bandi · ‎03-02-2023

AP should join first to the controller and then you can add the AP to Group which you intent to do.

you can use below guide to AP join ME and then Group :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-2/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide/b_Mobility_Express_Deployment_guide_chapter_01010.html

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-6/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_6/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_6_chapter_0111.html

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Prince.O · ‎03-02-2023

Hello,

You can have the specific Ap join the ME controller by configuring the AP via console to point to the controller with command " capwap ap primary-base <WLC NAME > <WLC IP> ".

- It can also find it via broadcast if it's in the same subnet

Note: You will have to make sure that on the ME controller, you have a TFTP server configured which has the AP image or the AP won't be able to fully join as the ME functionality does not keep Ap images and relies on an external server for this.

See instructions on this below:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/access_point/mob_exp/810/user_guide/b_ME_User_Guide_810/getg_started.html#task_ABBA24D183FD45A19E119FED80D09CFA

Scott Fella · ‎03-02-2023

Take a look at the guides that already have been posted. The main thing is to make sure of the image that you have on the new ap you want to introduce to the environment. Console into the ap to validate what image is on the ap. I like this blog about ME:
https://semfionetworks.com/blog/convert-a-cisco-capwap-ap-to-a-mobility-express-ap/

-Scott
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pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-02-2023

Thank you all...

so far I have been trying to make update via the GUI of the AP controller, via the TFTP option (downloading the same image version of the controller) and has update all the AP that where not on that one but it is failing to update the new one CAPWAP just connected. Says in error colum "illegal operation"

When connecting to the console it goes on a loop with following messages:

[*02/27/2023 15:53:54.3952] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(ty pe 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:53:54.4452] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in C APWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343]

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343]

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 5 0, state 10

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.2343] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.3443] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in C APWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.3443]

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.3443] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 15:53:57.3643] Dropping dtls packet since session is not establishe d. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.0728] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.2127]

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.2127] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.2127] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.2127] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:54:02.2327] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_ PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 15:54:09.2006] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in C APWAP state: Discovery(2).

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0000]

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0699]

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0699] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0699] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.0799] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.1799]

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.1799] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.2399] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:54:12.2799] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:55:09.0522] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:56:02.2056] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2243] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2243]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2243] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2243]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2243] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2343] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 50, state 10

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2343] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2343] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.2343] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.3343] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.3443]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.3443] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 15:56:06.3543] Dropping dtls packet since session is not established. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.0628] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.2027]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.2027] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.2027] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.2127] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:56:11.2327] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0000]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0699]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0699] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0699] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.0799] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.1799]

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.1799] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.2299] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:56:20.2699] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:57:51.7213] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2243] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2243]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2243] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2243]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2343] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2343] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 50, state 10

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2343] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2343] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.2343] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.3443] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.3443]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.3443] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 15:58:14.3543] Dropping dtls packet since session is not established. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.0728] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.2227]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.2227] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.2227] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.2327] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:58:19.2627] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0000]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0699]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0699] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0699] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.0799] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.1899]

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.1899] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.2399] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 15:58:29.2799] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 15:58:44.6751] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:59:37.7285] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:59:54.3333] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 15:59:54.3833] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2243] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2243]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2243] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2243]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2343] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2343] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 50, state 10

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2343] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2343] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.2343] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.3343] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.3443]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.3443] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 16:00:23.3543] Dropping dtls packet since session is not established. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.0728] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.2127]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.2127] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.2227] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.2227] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:00:28.2427] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 16:00:33.6111] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Discovery(2).

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0000]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0699]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0699] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0699] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.0799] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.1799]

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.1799] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.2299] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:00:38.2699] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:01:22.5761] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:02:15.1296] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 50, state 10

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.2343] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.3443] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.3443]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.3443] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 16:02:32.3643] Dropping dtls packet since session is not established. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.0628] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.2027]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.2027] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.2127] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.2127] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:02:37.2327] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0000]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0699]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0699] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0799] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.0799] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.1899]

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.1899] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.2499] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:02:46.2899] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:02:53.9575] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:02:54.0075] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:03:14.1412] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:04:08.9841] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] Image download did not start for 120 seconds.

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] Lost connection to the controller, going to restart CAPWAP (reason : image download cannot start)...

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] Invalid event 50 & state 10 combination.

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] SM handler: Failed to process timer message. Event 50, state 10

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] Failed to handle timer message.

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] FSM failure while processing message with id: 1

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.2243] Restarting CAPWAP State Machine.

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.3343] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.3343]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.3343] CAPWAP State: DTLS Teardown

[*02/27/2023 16:04:40.3543] Dropping dtls packet since session is not established. Peer 192.168.100.6-5246, Local 192.168.100.145-5256, conn (nil)

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.0628] do ABORT, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.2027]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.2027] CAPWAP State: Discovery

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.2027] Discovery Request sent to 255.255.255.255, discovery type UNKNOWN(0)

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.2027] Discovery Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:04:45.2227] Unsupported vendor spec payload TLV_VENDOR_SPECIFIC_PAYLOAD(215) for msgtype 2

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0000] can't find the Ip from discoveryRequest array

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0000]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0000] CAPWAP State: DTLS Setup

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0599]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0599] CAPWAP State: Join

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0599] Sending Join request to 192.168.100.6 through port 5256

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.0699] Join Response from 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.1799]

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.1799] CAPWAP State: Image Data

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.2299] do PRECHECK, part1 is active part

[*02/27/2023 16:04:55.2699] Image Data Request sent to 192.168.100.6

[*02/27/2023 16:05:01.9678] Discarding msg CAPWAP_WTP_EVENT_REQUEST(type 9) in CAPWAP state: Image Data(10).

[

Prince.O · ‎03-02-2023

Make sure you have the TFTP server configured and reachable which has the same image running on the ME controller or the Aps won't be able to join. From the logs , looks like it's not able to download the image.
Here is a video explaining the process , its upgrading to an older image but the same concept applies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9GRWbsVAT4

pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-02-2023

And when I enter any command in the console (except some basic ones for version etc), I always get the error message "%invalid input detected at '~' marker" ....

and the marker is generally on the first letter of the command

the command starts after the "mac address of the ap>"

ME version of the controller : 8.10.162.0

ME image version to upload to capwap AP : 8.10.162.0

CAPWAP AP version 8.5.140.0

pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-03-2023

Just a quick update, after some playing around was able to convert the AP from CAPWAP to ME. Besides the "enable" mode on the CLI, then the AP was still trying to join the WLC making it not possible, once isolated it all went smooth.

At the end of the configuration under CLI, do you have to enter all the infos asked (userid / passwords and various settings...) or can you just bypass by entering enter systematically (I did not think about hitting "enter" at the time, so entered all the info asked.

Thanks again for your help all @Prince.O @Scott Fella @balaji.bandi although my questions might have appeared obvious some times

Scott Fella · ‎03-03-2023

You have to enter all the information so that you can complete the setup in the wizard and then that ap can be functional as an ME controller.

-Scott
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pdenableetoavit19698 · ‎03-03-2023

Thanks @Scott Fella , just left that AP as "subordinate" and left the original one as WLC. thanks again.

balaji.bandi · ‎03-04-2023

Glad all is good and thank you for the feedback.

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Scott Fella · ‎03-04-2023

@pdenableetoavit19698 You should mark your own post as the solution so others can go right to the solution.

-Scott
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