Need to understand the default and active images in show boot

[andags]

I have a 5508 WLC which is in HA. The current show boot gives below output

(anhv4-01sr-wlc-02) >show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 8.3.143.0
Backup Boot Image................................ 8.5.161.0 (default) (active)

My questions are:

1.WHat happens when i copy a new image of say 8.10.130? By theory WLC can have only 2 images. So which one of the above 2 image will be overwritten?

2. Since this is HA, and I dont have access to secondary controller, how to ensure that other box also has the same images in primary and backup?

3. In the above scenario how to perform the upgrade without breaking the HA?

Thanks for your inputs in advance!

[balaji.bandi]

even though you copy until you setup the Primary and backup config. if not the new image will not be effective :

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/4400-series-wireless-lan-controllers/107530-backup-image-wlc.html

[andags]

Hi Balaji,

Thanks for looking into this. But my query is, 

as per my understanding at any point of time a WLC can have only 2 images. When a new image is copied the current primary becomes backup and the new image becomes primary. Now in the output below, 8.5.161 which is the backup image is active. So if I copy a new image, will 8.5.161 be removed?

(anhv4-01sr-wlc-02) >show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 8.3.143.0
Backup Boot Image................................ 8.5.161.0 (default) (active)

[Leo Laohoo]

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@andags wrote:

1.WHat happens when i copy a new image of say 8.10.130?

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Not going to work because 5508 can only support up to 8.5.X.X.  2504/5508/WiSM2 will not support 8.6.X.X and higher.  

[andags]

Hi Leo,

Sorry that was just a example I took. But my actual query is

as per my understanding at any point of time a WLC can have only 2 images. When a new image is copied the current primary becomes backup and the new image becomes primary. Now in the output below, 8.5.161 which is the backup image is active. So if I copy a new image, will 8.5.161 be removed?

(anhv4-01sr-wlc-02) >show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 8.3.143.0
Backup Boot Image................................ 8.5.161.0 (default) (active)

[Leo Laohoo]

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@andags wrote:

So if I copy a new image, will 8.5.161 be removed?

---

Yes.  It will. 

[andags]

I need to retain 8.5.161. Is there any command to swap the primary and backup images. Is there are any option to make 8.5.161 my primary image and 8.3.143 the backup image?

[Leo Laohoo]

config boot primary

Save the config

Reload the WLC. 

Upload the new firmware.

[Scott Fella]

You can always upload the image(s) again. The new image would become the primary and the existing primary would move to secondary. You can upload any image without rebooting and purge out the old.