Cisco switch with wireless support

[abinaya.2.r]

Hi,

I have two number of switches 1x WS-C3850-48P-S and 1 x WS-C3850-24P-S running on stack. I do have two number of 2702 access points that will connect to one of this switch.

With this setup, can I run wireless?

I see from the datasheet that  I can make this run as Mobility controller and Mobility agent. But can I get this done with only two switches which I have and that is running as stack?

If not, can you suggest any other possibility.

[Leo Laohoo]

Yes, you can run wireless. The hard question is: WHY?
Cisco has openly admitted that UADP 1.0, which came with the 3650/3850, was a flop.
If you need a wireless LAN controller, get either a 3504, 5520 or 8540.

[abinaya.2.r]

Thank you. As this is a very small setup for 20-15 users, and they donot want this to be autonomous access points, checking for the possibility of this MC and MA feature.

SO, in my scenario although both the switches are in stack, one switch will act as MC and another switch will act as MA.?

[Scott Fella]

I would go against doing this also. This technology “Converged Access” has not gone well at all and has specific requirements to even get it to work. You will spend more time troubleshooting and responding back to user complaints than anything. Get a 2504 which you can find cheap on eBay or buy it new elsewhere. Your investment moving forward would to go with a 3504 WLC, which you can use years down the road.

[Mark Holm]

As already mentioned by others, running a MC/MA on the switch stack is a possible solution. However, it will limit you to what software versions you can run on the switches. Denali 16.3.x releases are the last to support wireless features. If you go beyond that, all wireless features are gone. I can't recommend going down that route.

If a controller approach isn't viable, consider replacing two of the APs with 2802s, and have them run Mobility Express code. This way you get an integrated controller with built-in failover mechanisms on the APs. It is cheaper than going for a full WLC. Not all of the "full" WLC features are supported, but for a smaller environment, you might be fine. The 2702s still run the same lightweight code - no changes for them.

Be aware that the GUI of the Mobility Express controller offers limited configuration options. You need to go to the CLI to get access to all of the features.

[abinaya.2.r]

Great.. That is  a good update for me.

I am going to order a brand new 3850 switch. Not sure about the version. Any idea whether the new switches will support the wireless feature.

I understand that building wireless in this is not a great design. But would like to know the possible options.

[Mark Holm]

3850 MA/MC functionality is being phased out - the hardware support is there, but the software part is left out on purpose.

[patoberli]

Have a look at the 1850 AP, running it with Mobility Express:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-5/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_5/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_5_chapter_00.html
Important, check if your old APs are on the Subordinate list. That way your 1850 would control all your other APs and you have a centralized management.