Cisco 9120 AP config lost after CAPWAP join failure

[sesese]

Hi, I configured two Cisco lightweight APs (AP1 and AP2) in a lab using different switches. AP1 was set up using a switch with basic/default configuration, and AP2 was set up using a switch with more complete configuration (VLAN, DHCP, etc). Both APs were manually configured with capwap ap controller ip address <WLC_IP>, but no WLC join occurred at the time due to lack of connectivity. Later, both APs were installed in the field on identical production switches that have confirmed WLC connectivity. AP2 joined the WLC successfully, but AP1 failed to join and appeared to be in factory default state. My question is: could the difference in the switch used during initial setup affect AP behavior later, even though both never joined the WLC at that time? Also, have you seen similar behavior where an AP that hasn’t joined a controller before boots up as if it were factory reset? Is this expected if a WLC join fails?

[marce1000]

         - To verify the state of the AP , post the complete boot process

  M.

[Rich R]

@sesese 
> could the difference in the switch used during initial setup affect AP behavior later, even though both never joined the WLC at that time? No

> Also, have you seen similar behavior where an AP that hasn’t joined a controller before boots up as if it were factory reset? Is this expected if a WLC join fails?
APs have a number of recovery mechanisms for trying to find a controller by any means possible which might look like a factory reset.  There are numerous reasons why the AP might not join.

You should have DHCP with option 43 configured for WLC discovery.

Like @marce1000 says - collect the entire AP console log from power on, save it in a text file (.txt) and attach the file here for us to look at.
- What model of WLC are you using?
- What version of software is the WLC running?
- What is the model and hardware revision of the AP? (show inventory) and manufacturing date shown on the AP label?
- What software is currently installed on the AP? (show ver)