Cicsco 9120AXI-E

[Dominique92100]

Hello, we have a Wifi network with 4 Cisco C9120AXI-E access points and 2 C9115 AXI-E access points.

All access points are in EWC mode and well connected to WLAN Wifi.

The firmware version of the controllers is 16.12.4.31 and the boot version is 1.1.2.4.
The ios version is 16.12.4.31.

We have the following problem :

The primary controller (current primary) seems to restart and we lose wifi during the change of primary controller.

A new controller is assigned, and can also reboot after 2 or 3 hours, with a new change of primary controller and a new wifi network cut.

Have you encountered this problem before?
We tested the POE injectors, the network cables, swapped terminals to test the locations, the problem persists.

Thanks in advance.

Dominique

[Dominique92100]

Hello,

To keep you informed, I tried to update this weekend, and obviously I have an error... 

It's so annoying that a common procedure like an update just doesn't work...

''install_add: START Sun Feb  6 09:43:37 UTC 2022

FAILED: install_add : Default profile addition failed due to no response from wireless side''

[Rich R]

Any other messages in logs?

Try from CLI with TFTP server? https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-3/config-guide/ewc_cg_17_3/image_download.html#id_128467

Don't forget the install commit otherwise it will rollback to the previous version.

[Mark Elsen]

                                           Also note

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

  >...

Unlike a 9800 controller, EWC flash memory does not have enough space to store all AP images. All the AP images need to be hosted on an external TFTP or SFTP server. When a second AP tries to join, EWC will point it to the external server. Without the following commands, no other AP will be able to join it:

EWC(config)#wireless profile image-download default
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile)#image-download-mode tftp
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile-tftp)#tftp-image-server 192.168.1.25
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile-tftp)#tftp-image-path /

EWC#write memory

[Dominique92100]

Hello,

In order to keep you informed, I was finally able to finalize the Catalyst 9120 AXI-E access point updates. (last update 17.7.1.11)

I had to do a factory reset of the main controller to be able to update.

After the complete reconfiguration of the controller, I had the problem of the controller rebooting again.

I have no idea how to solve the problem, just wait for another update...

On the other hand, I don't necessarily think it's a controller problem, because the one that's active hasn't rebooted since the update.

It is often (even always) the same access point that restarts.

A faulty access point? disturbed location?

Anyway, thanks for your previous advice.

One more thing :

Impossible to change the client density to Typical. After the ''Apply'' , when I go back to the settings, it's back to Low...

[Scott Fella]

What I would do is try a different code.  This helps eliminate if its a code issue or maybe a bad ap.  You can always make another ap the main controller and then see what happens.  It is one of those things that you need to try different things, eliminate variables and document, so you know what you did and what fixes it.  Using a different ap as the main controller will identify if the issue is with that specific ap or not.  Can also tell you that maybe the issue is with the code and not the ap.

From what I can tell you is that EWC is no longer supported without DNAc after 17.3.x.  That might be your issue.

[Rich R]

> From what I can tell you is that EWC is no longer supported without DNAc after 17.3.x.

I think you're wrong on that @Scott Fella 

EWC on AP specifically does NOT require DNAc.

It can, optionally, be managed by DNAc but then it requires DNA licenses.

It operates license free as long as you're not using it with DNAc.

Unless you can point to something that says otherwise?

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

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-catalyst-access-points/white-paper-c11-743398.html#DeployingtheEWC - Prerequisites for deploying the EWC

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-7/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-7-x.html 

"The deployment can be managed using a mobile application, Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center, Netconf/Restconf, web-based GUI, or CLI."

DNAc is just one of the management options.

[Scott Fella]

@Rich R I know that they will not support non-SDA one EWC on the switches which is most likely will follow on the access points.  We will just have to wait and see 

[Rich R]

EWC on switch is a different matter altogether (and a somewhat confused one because I think they briefly supported non-SDA) but that does not apply to APs today and I don't think it will for the foreseeable future because it contradicts the EWC on AP product proposition.  But SDA is the current direction of travel so wouldn't be surprising if they did that in a future generation, unless something better comes along meanwhile ...

[Dominique92100]

I also saw and read what you say @Rich R.

And fortunately !

I have the impression that there are bugs in the webui, for example not being able to change the location from low to typical.

For the access point dropout, I do new tests next week, but I think the problem follow the access point and not the controller...

[Rich R]

GUI bugs are a fact of life.  If you have a Cisco contract you can open a TAC case and get a bug raised to get them fixed.  So-called cosmetic bugs like that can take a long time to get fixed although sometimes if they're really easy they might get fixed very quickly.  The workaround of course is always to use the CLI.

[Janalima]

Please follow this :

The Catalyst 9120 Access Points are designed for mission-critical deployments with dual 5-GHz and integrated IoT radio. With CleanAir technology powered by Cisco RF ASIC, the C9120 access point goes beyond the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard, providing radio-frequency excellence for high-density environments.