branch deployments using flex connect on 9800

[AustinJ96TX]

I have to deploy APs to branches using flexconnect. Do i need to preconfigure the APs on my local controller then ship them out or can i just load in the MAC along with the tags i want on the AP ship it out and then itll grab everything it needs? everything else onsite is setup already like ports, DHCP, and whatever else it needs to reach back

[marce1000]

           - You don't need to preconfigure the APs first , 

 M.

[Haydn Andrews]

DHCP Option 43 at the site, if running DNAC you could also do PNP
I generally get the AP MAC address provided by the installer to map to the AP name and then push the config via the WLC when they come online.

If downtime is a concern or APs being installed into difficult to get to areas sometimes ill pre-stage before shipping to speed the process up.

[Rich R]

I personally don't recommend configuring each AP statically on the WLC - your config will get very big and unwieldy!

Use a well thought out naming scheme for your APs and then use regex filters to assign the tags when they join the WLC then all you need to do is set the AP name and the tags are automatic:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/config-guide/newconfigmodel/b_catalyst-9800-configuration-model/m_creating-an-ap-filter.html
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/technical-reference/c9800-best-practices.html#Assigningtags
And always use "show ap tag summ" to confirm the tag source is as expected.  If the AP didn't automatically re-join with correct tags after renaming you might sometimes have to do a capwap reset on the AP: ap name <apname> reset capwap