C9120AXI-E AP automatically convert into controller mode from AP mode

[Sam Caprio]

Hello Team,

We recently encountered an issue where an access point at a site was automatically switched to Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) mode. As a result, all other access points at the site joined the AP that had been converted to a WLC, instead of connecting to our central WLC in the data center. This happened to an AP that was previously functioning in Access Point (AP) mode before it was unexpectedly converted to WLC mode.

We resolved the issue by reverting the affected access point back to its original AP mode via console access.

Could someone help us identify the root cause of this issue and suggest measures to prevent it from happening again in the future?

Access Point Model: C9120AXI-E

[marce1000]

 - Have a try with this solution , I would presume that is a permanent conversion to CAPWAP/client mode ;
   https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless/how-to-change-ewc-to-capwap-mode/m-p/4612485/highlight/true#M242109

 M.

[Flavio Miranda]

@Sam Caprio 

 At first sight, it does not make any sense. To convert an AP from capwap to EWC you need to transfer the image to the AP with the command

ap-type ewc-ap tftp:

After that, you need to run the wizard in order to configure Management interface. This is a process most people fail when they need to do on their own. 

 Take a look on the log of the AP and make sure no one actually did this intentionally.

Are your able to reach your APs IP address? Can they connect to AP using SSH?

Maybe you should look your network design closely.

[jagan.chowdam]

Determine whether the AP was ordered as a standard AP or an EWC (Embedded Wireless Controller) model. Check the part number listed for the AP.

If the part number includes something like C9120AXI-EWC-X, it indicates the AP was ordered in EWC mode (controller-enabled).

You can use the show version command to confirm if the AP has the EWC image installed. Look for the following details in the output:

AP1#show version
.
...
AP Image type    : EWC-AP IMAGE
AP Configuration : EWC-AP CAPABLE

Review its configuration to determine if it was ever set up to function as an EWC controller. 

[Rich R]

@Sam Caprio this means the AP has the EWC software installed (making it EWC-AP CAPABLE) - either through ordering with EWC SKU or through converting to EWC at some point.

There are a number of different ways to tell the AP to run in CAPWAP mode but this is an unfortunate "feature" of EWC capable APs - under certain conditions the EWC software can re-activate unexpectedly.

The ONLY way to ensure this can NEVER happen again is to completely re-flash the AP from u-boot as per https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9120axi-access-point/217537-repairing-c9120-c9115-access-points-from.html

This installs 8.10.130.0 CAPWAP software on the AP and removes all traces of the EWC software.  From there you can upgrade to 8.10.196.0 CAPWAP software https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286322988/type/286288051/release/15.3.3-JK11 and then to your choice of 9800 CAPWAP software version.