AP going to ME mode

[vban]

Hello,

When I connect an AP (9162) to the switch, it fails to connect to the Wireless LAN controller(9800L); instead, it goes into ME mode and acts as its own WLC. To join WLC, I'm assigning the IP Address manually to join WLC. 

How to resolve this?

Thanks.

[MHM Cisco World]

Did you try factory reset?

MHM

[Enes Simnica]

hello @vban This usually happens when the AP can't discover the Wireless LAN Controller during boot-up. Make sure Option 43 is correctly configured on your DHCP server to point the AP to the WLC's IP address. Also, confirm that the AP has network connectivity and can reach the WLC (no VLAN mismatches, ACLs, or DNS issues).

And u can manually assign an IP works because it bypasses the discovery step, but once Option 43 is properly set, the AP should automatically join the WLC without going into ME mode. check this link and hope it helps: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/97066-dhcp-option-43-00.html

-Enes

[Mark Elsen]

  - @vban   The syndrome is normal , to fallback to this mode when it can't find the controller with a static ip address assigned to the AP.    Use DHCP instead with DHCP option 43 to let the AP find the controller,

  M.

[Rich R]

@vban  ME (which is based on AireOS only applies to the Wave 2 APs (1800/2800/3800 etc) so not applicable to any 91xx model APs.
EWC was the equivalent solution, based on IOS-XE 9800 series WLC for the WiFi 6 91xx APs only.

9162 WiFi 6E AP does not support EWC at all, so it's impossible for a 9162 AP to be running ME or EWC - the software simply does not exist.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-15/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-15-x.html#Cisco_Concept.dita_4e686689-db5f-464b-8157-92abcfd40028

Output from 9120 EWC:
C9120AXI-WLC#sh ap image file summary
AP Image Active List
Install File Name: base_image.bin
-------------------------------
AP Image Type Capwap Version Size (KB) Supported APs
-------------------------------
ap3g3 17.15.3.28 Unknown AP3802E, AP3802I, AP3802P, AP4800, AP2802E, AP2802I, AP2802H, AP3800, AP1562E, AP1562I, AP1562D, AP1562PS, APVIRTUAL, IW-6300H-DC, IW-6300H-AC, IW-6300H-DCW, ESW-6300
ap1g4 17.15.3.28 Unknown NA
ap1g5 17.15.3.28 Unknown 1542D, AP1542I, P-WIFI-AC2
ap1g6 17.15.3.28 Unknown AP2900I, C9117AXI
ap1g7 17.15.3.28 Unknown AP1900I, C9115AXI, AP1900E, C9115AXE, C9120AXE, C9120AXP, C9120AXI
ap1g6a 17.15.3.28 Unknown C9130AXI, C9130AXE, C9124AXI, C9124AXD, C9124AXE, C9136AXI, C9136I, IW9167EH, CW9164I, CW9166I, CW9166D1, IW9167IH
ap1g8 17.15.3.28 Unknown C9105AXI, C9105AXW, WP-WIFI6, ISR-AP1101AX
The 9162 runs ap1g6b image and you'll note that ap1g6b is not mentioned at all in the EWC image list - confirming what the release notes and EWC data sheet and FAQ say - 9162 is not supported.

Factory default reset the 9162 AP and use DHCP with option 43 to enable WLC discovery.  Make sure you have connectivity from the AP to the WLC without any ACLs or firewalls blocking the CAPWAP discovery and connection  (UDP 5246/5247).

What does "show ver" on the 9162 show and what version of code is the WLC running?