Format WLC-5508 Flash and IOS recovery guide

[2colin-cant]

Dear Support Cummunity,

i have a WLC-5508 where by i am unable to join any kind of AIR-LAP1x00 Access-Points.

They can't join in the local management ip of the controller within same L2 or via routed network thereby using the APs CLi by

"lwapp ap controller ip addr xx.xx.xx.xx".

I upgraded from: 6.0.188.0 to

AIR-CT5500-K9-6-0-199-0.aes

AIR-CT5500-K9-7-0-98-0.aes

thereby catching the same logs every time.

The main error message from the WLCs log i catched first  is:

"maximum number of downloads (0) exceeded"

----------

*sntpReceiveTask: Jul 16 07:40:58.827: %LOG-3-Q_IND: capwap_ac_sm.c:1683 Ignoring discovery request from AP 00:26:99:86:c9:b9 - maximum number of downloads (0) exceeded
*spamApTask1: Jul 16 07:40:58.343: %CAPWAP-3-DISC_MAX_DOWNLOAD: capwap_ac_sm.c:1683 Ignoring discovery request from AP 00:26:99:86:c9:b9 - maximum number of downloads (0) exceeded
*sntpReceiveTask: Jul 16 07:40:48.822: %LOG-3-Q_IND: capwap_ac_sm.c:1683 Ignoring discovery request from AP 00:26:99:86:c9:b9 - maximum number of downloads (0) exceeded
*spamApTask1: Jul 16 07:40:48.342: %CAPWAP-3-DISC_MAX_DOWNLOAD: capwap_ac_sm.c:1683 Ignoring discovery request from AP 00:26:99:86:c9:b9 - maximum number of downloads (0) exceeded

----------

Later on i found some more logging infos:

*Aug 16 04:12:07.188: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'cliWebInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:07.188: %CNFGR-3-INV_COMP_ID: cnfgr.c:2080 Invalid Component Id : Unrecognized (81) in cfgConfiguratorInit.
*Aug 16 04:12:07.139: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'rfidInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:07.126: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'dhcpParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:07.113: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'bcastInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:07.047: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'rrmInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.906: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'apfInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.801: %MM-3-MEMBER_ADD_FAILED: mm_dir.c:860 Could not add Mobility Member. Reason: IP already assigned, Member-Count:1,MAC: 00:00:00:00:00:00, IP: 0.0.0.0
*Aug 16 04:12:06.599: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'mmInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.589: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'aaaapiInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.587: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'pemInitParms.cfg'

*Aug 16 04:12:06.474: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'dot1xInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.446: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'capwapInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.301: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'spamInitParms.cfg'
*Aug 16 04:12:06.298: %LICENSE-1-REQUEST_FAILED: license_syslog_notify:564 License request for feature base-ap-count 1.0 failed in this device, UDI=AIR-CT5508-K9:FCW1341L530
*Aug 16 04:12:05.221: %SSHPM-3-FREAD_FAILED: sshpmlscscep.c:1268 Error reading file /mnt/application/lscca_pem.crt
*Aug 16 04:11:46.121: %SYSTEM-3-FILE_READ_FAIL: nvstore.c:422 Failed to read configuration file 'sshpmInitParms.cfg'

as for me it looks like my filesystem is kind of corrupted since several files can not be read.

now at power up one can choose 5 in order to format flash/disk. unfortuanitly i have not found some documentation about formatting flash procedures.

please guide me to the appropriate documentation.

============================================================

Boot Loader Menu

============================================================

1. Run primary image (7.0.98.0) - Active

2. Run backup image (6.0.199.0)

3. Change active boot image

4. Clear configuration

5. Format FLASH Drive

6. Manually update images

------------------------------------------------------------

Enter selection: 5

Launching...

....................................................................

WARNING!  Choose this option may render the device warranty invalid

and/or make the device unusable.

....................................................................

what are my next steps going to be from here in order to format/restore?

thank you

colin

[dancampb · Accepted solution]

This isn't a flash issue.  It is common to see those missing cfg files when the controller boots.  There are differnt bugs file to have them removed.

From the logs you have posted it looks like you may have a licensing issue.  Have you installed and activated the licenses on the controller for the AP's?

[2colin-cant]

(Cisco Controller) >show sys

Incorrect usage.  Use the '?' or key to list commands.

(Cisco Controller) >show sysinfo

Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc.
Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller
Product Version.................................. 7.0.98.0
Bootloader Version............................... 1.0.1
Field Recovery Image Version..................... N/A
Firmware Version................................. FPGA 1.3, Env 1.6, USB console 1.27
Build Type....................................... DATA + WPS

System Name...................................... WLC
System Location..................................
System Contact...................................
System ObjectID.................................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.9.1.1069
IP Address....................................... 192.168.11.16
Last Reset....................................... Software reset
System Up Time................................... 0 days 0 hrs 4 mins 41 secs
System Timezone Location......................... (GMT +1:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Vienna
Current Boot License Level....................... base
Current Boot License Type........................ Permanent
Next Boot License Level.......................... base
Next Boot License Type........................... Permanent

Configured Country............................... CH  - Switzerland

--More-- or (q)uit
Operating Environment............................ Commercial (0 to 40 C)
Internal Temp Alarm Limits....................... 0 to 65 C
Internal Temperature............................. +39 C
External Temperature............................. +25 C
Fan Status....................................... OK

State of 802.11b Network......................... Enabled
State of 802.11a Network......................... Enabled
Number of WLANs.................................. 1
Number of Active Clients......................... 0

Burned-in MAC Address............................ 00:24:97:CE:E0:40
Power Supply 1................................... Present, OK
Power Supply 2................................... Absent

Maximum number of APs supported.................. 0  ç ???

why is it that it tells me i've got 0 APs supported on a permanent base license witch ships per default?

i tried to install a evaluation License but without success..

[dancampb · Accepted solution]

The base license you highlighted is the feature license.  From the screenshot you attached there isn't any AP count licenses installed.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps6302/ps8322/ps10315/data_sheet_c78-521631.html

[2colin-cant]

ok, the final solution to the hole story was:

i had this 5508 of a customer witch turned out to be a RMA Case previously and it looks like the licenses have not been swapped from the faulty device to the new device!

The solution was to go to cisco.com/go/license and go through the RMA process and finaly installing the new received license.

sorry for the miss-leading subject name..

but anyways, what or where would i find the documentation on how to handle it, if i where to format the flash/disk?

what are the next couple of steps/process guide? could you post us the link?

thank you so mutch for youre help provided so far!

colin

[dancampb]

There isn't a guide or the images needed to format the flash and recover the image posted.  If this would ever be needed you would need to contact TAC.  The controller holds two images so needing to format the flash is extremely rare.