CW917x PoE problems ?

[Thomas Obbekaer Thomsen]

So ... after now having deployed some / a few / lets say a couple of hundred ... CW9176 and CW9172 APs there seems to be "something(tm)" going on with PoE for these devices.
But no-one seems to talk about it ? - Or am I just the unlucky one ? 🙂

I have learned that there is a specific issue with CW9172 and certain MS120 switches (I dont know if Im allowed to discus publicly, there are known BugIDs on this - go look if you have access).

I have also fallen into the trap of thinking it was the AP (CW9172) because of PoE issues with the MS150 (resolved through software it seems, not the mentioned -MP PoE++ problems from the release notes, but "something else" with PoE on that switch model).

But what is going on with the CW9176I's that I have deployed.
Usually they just power on fine, connects, works, no worries and everyone is happy.

But once in a while, they seem to power on (led on) and starts to go through their boot and discovery process, but then, just as the first few packets are exchanged with the dashboard (we can see this on packet captures) , it reboots, seemingly loosing power, and starts over.
Moving the AP directly to the switch (aka. to make sure its not cabeling and even switchport) does not seem to resolve the problem.
From cases created, there is nothing to see on the "Meraki end of things", and RMA was suggested from support.
This was happening "often" / "only" (cittaion needed), on Catalyst 9300 switches.
"For fun" i took the failing APs to my lab, connected them to another switch (MS130-12X) and they booted and connected just fine.

Have anyone else seen this ? Can I have my sanity checked here ? 🙂
(And of course I should have done some PoE debugging, I know this now in retrospect, but still .... 🙂 )

Thanks.

[Rasmus Hoffmann Birkelund]

I guess it's not just me then.

I have actually been having the exact same issue, and was discussing this with a few at the beginning of the week.

I have a CW9166 in Meraki persona, and a CW9176 in Catalyst persona, both connected to a MS120. According to the datasheet, both should be able to announce 4x4:4 with PoE+, however my 9176 is only announcing 2x2:2 on 5 and 6GHz. The 9176 is joined to a 9800 which has a power profile that should instruct the AP to do 4x4:4.

Everything seems to be in order, yet WiFi Explorer confirms that the 9176 is only announcing 2x2:2.

9176 in Catalyst mode.

 

9166 in Meraki Mode

[Thomas Obbekaer Thomsen]

9176 seems to do the "right thing" in Meraki mode, when I look at my local ones.
I get 4SS on 5 and 6Ghz, and the expected 2 on 2,4Ghz with the PoE+ PoE i deliver.
And I dont think I have seen the Cisco classic bug where it only runs 1Gbit on PoE+, my local ones run 2,5Gbit (as expected) on PoE+
(Currently running latest MR Beta on these).

[aneduzhk]

@Thomas Obbekaer Thomsen please open a support case because we need to clearly distinguish between known PoE issues with CW9172 and dashboard connectivity issues for other models you mentioned. There could be potentially a few know cloud connectivity issues you are hitting and Support should be able to identify the symptoms.

[Thomas Obbekaer Thomsen]

I will now open a case for the customer with the CW9172 + MS120 problem.

Because I dont know what the solution is, except new switch hardware ?