controller failover for different controllers

[ejlbarcelon]

Hi,

I have 3 existing controller with different model, capacity, version and configurations. I have purchased new controller that supports 100 APs.

Let's say WLC_A has a capacity of 25 APs and caters 20 APs, WLC_B has a capacity of 12 APs and caters 12APs, WLC_C has a capcity of 50 and caters 30APs. the NEW WLC, WLC_NEW has a capacity of 100 and will only have 18 APs registered to it.

What will be the requirement for me to have WLC_A, WLC_B, WLC_C failover to WLC_NEW, given that all OLD WLCs have different version and configurations? We are trying to make this as HA as possible.

[Scott Fella]

What you should of done was get a redundant WLC for each site. That would make things much easier for you. Failing over to a WLC located at a different location will require your devices to obtain a dhcp address from that site. There is no way you can have users keep their ip address if the AP joins a different WLC in a different location as in your situation.

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[ejlbarcelon]

Hi Scott,

So there is no way to get this done even if i use H-REAP and even if the WLCs are in one single domain?

[Scott Fella]

Well since you have the same SSID name but different security methods at each location, you will not be able to make it work how you want to. To keep your current setup, you need a wlc as a backup at each location. If you keep your SSID and security method the same, H-REAP would work, because you map the SSID to a local vlan.

Take a look at the H-REAP guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10315/products_tech_note09186a0080736123.shtml

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[ejlbarcelon]

hi Scott,

If for example i got to synchronize all site's SSID to a same name and same security. Can H-REAP work using each sites local VLANs? im having a little difficulty in understanding the local switching stated on H-REAP. does that mean that i will still be able to use the local VLAN interface on each site_A even if my LAPs join on site_NEW?

[Scott Fella]

We're you able to get things to work correctly?

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[nikhilcherian]

Client will get the IP address based on the WLAN interface,

Thanks

NikhiL

[Scott Fella]

H-REAP allows you to map your SSID to a local vlan. When you gave h-reap local switching enabled on your WLAN SSID and your ap is in h-reap mode, you have the option on the ap under the h-reap tab to define the native vlan for that ap and them the vlan mapping for each SSID you have enabled h-reap local switching for. It doesn't matter what wlc the ap has joined, but you need to make sure that each wlc that is either the secondary, tertiary or might possible join are setup the same way.

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[ejlbarcelon]

Hi Scott,

I have tried to configure H-REAP. but the problem is i cannot get an IP from my local DHCP server. i have tried several combinations of enabling H-REAP, but as soon as i enable "H-REAP local Switching" on WLAN>Advanced, clients loose their IP addresses and even if i release/renew or even turn my WiFi off and on i still cannot get IP address from my DHCP.

[nikhilcherian]

Did you do VLAN mapping in the HREAP page of AP

[ejlbarcelon]

Yes i have done that. But once i have enable the "H-REAP local switching" the client suddenly lost its IP.

[nikhilcherian]

Have you enabled trunking on the switch-port in which  AP is connected

[ejlbarcelon]

Hi Nikhil,

Already put the switch on trunk and i had no vlan restriction. I have set it up on a LAB environment so my switch is also the DHCP. i have maken sure that it is reachable on the other side of the network behind my WAN.

[Scott Fella]

Do you have an ip helper on your wireless interface and can you make sure the dhcp scope is active?

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[ejlbarcelon]

Yes i have an ip helper on my switch VLAN interface also a DHCP address on the wireless interface. How do you put ip helper address on the WLAN interface? is it the DHCP field on the WLAN interface config page?

[Scott Fella]

There is no ip helper on the WLAN interface. You have the ip helper on the L3 interface and you also have the dhcp specified on the WLC interface so you are okay then.

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