EWC Cat9100 - How to add subordinate AP?

[khempkins]

Hi,

I've set up IOS XE Embedded Wireless Controller on a couple of 9120's. So far so good. Now I want to add a 2802 as subordinate AP.

HOW?

How do I get the correct image for the 2802 on to the AP? Do i upload something to the EWC or do i need to console in to the 2802 and do some debug/tftp-stuff?

From logs on the EWC:

2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): Initiate Image Download SM : Failed to set ap model image
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to set ap model for img dwnld
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to build Image Data
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Issue with building Image Data Request
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to build the Image Data Request Buffer. Aborting...
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [ewlc-infra-evq] [11007]: (ERR): 700f.6a50.1520 AP_IMG_DWLD_FAIL : Image download failure : No failure
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to set ap model for img dwnld
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to build Image Data
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Issue with building Image Data Request
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 Unable to build the Image Data Request Buffer. Aborting...
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [ewlc-infra-evq] [11007]: (ERR): 700f.6a50.1520 AP_IMG_DWLD_FAIL : Image download failure : No failure
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): MAC: 700f.6a50.1520 imgdwnld abort: ap_model_image_node lookup failed //ap_images/ap3g3
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [ewlc-infra-evq] [11007]: (ERR): 700f.6a50.1520 AP_IMG_DWLD_FAIL : Image download failure : No failure
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): could not receive the context pointer corresponding to the handle
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [image-dwnld-mgr] [11007]: (ERR): Initiate Image Download SM : Aborted
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [capwapac-smgr-srvr] [11007]: (ERR): Session-IP: 192.168.20.104[5248] Mac: 700f.6a50.1520 Image download Request callback raise failed
2020/02/13 07:14:35.293 {wncd_x_R0-0}{1}: [capwapac-smgr-sess-fsm] [11007]: (ERR): Session-IP: 192.168.20.104[5248] Mac: 700f.6a50.1520 Unmapped previous state in transition S_IMAGE_REQ_PROCESSED to S_END

So the AP finds the controller but cannot find an image. I guess it's looking for at file called "ap3g3" ?

I have downloaded the mobility express sw for the 2802 and inside the zip i can find a file called ap3g3. I guess this is what I'm looking for? Now where to put it?

[Scott Fella]

Download the latest capwap, not mobility express image. The CAPWAP image must be upgraded to at least IOS-XE 16.12.1s (or AireOS 8.10.105.0) prior to proceeding. That is the requirements for wave 2 access points to join an EWC.

[khempkins]

So what you are saying is that I have to upgrade the AP manually/tftp and it will automatically associate to the WLC? No need to install an ap-image on the WLC it self?

This doesn't sound like a very scalable solution? What if I have a 100 AP's? Isn't there a way to load an image on to the WLC and have it automatically upgrade the AP (like the classic way of doing things) ?

[Scott Fella]

So you have to look at the requirements before you choose a solution. Others whom move from AireOS, would upgrade to 8.10 and then move the AP’s over. So if you have a 3504/5520/8540, you can prep the AP’s with the image. If you don’t, then you have to stage each one.

[khempkins]

Thanks, I get what you are trying to say. Point taken.

But - I'm trying to understand the basic concept. In traditional WLC, the AP always get software downloaded from the WLC. Yes, it can happen that some AP's have a "wrong/old" version/cert error so it cannot to initial association to WLC, but after that the AP will always download image from WLC. Meaning, if I set up a new WLC or do an upgrade, it will automatically hold images for all supported AP's.

Is this true also for EWC/Cat9800 WLC?

What about the traditional WLC Express - How do you maintain AP images for different AP's on a controller running on a WLC?

The log from my EWC states (if I read it correctly), that it is trying to download something from the EWC-WLC. What is it trying to download, and where is it expecting to find it?

(IE. What happens If i buy a new, let's say 9115 AP and connects it to the network? The WLC would need to upgrade the new AP to - right?).

Cheers

Kenneth

How does thos 

[Scott Fella]

When you purchase access points that work with what you have now without any restrictions, then the ap join, download, reboot is the normal process. In EWC, any 91x0 will join normal, as long as you are running code that is supported on the ap model you will be using. This is the same as AireOS. An example might be, the 9130’s might require a later version of code that what you are running now before it joins. Or in the future when the 9140’s come out, the will be another software available that you will need in order for those AP’s to join. The difference between AireOS and IOS-XE is that all you need to do is upload an APDP image to the controller. That is an AP Device Pack.
With wave 2 AP’s and the requirement for AireOS 8.10 for example is that 8.10 had the image and the bits to prep that ap to join an IOS-XE controller since that code supported mobility between the two. Always look at the WLC matrix and release notes, because that should provide enough information about compatibility and requirements.