Short support time of Cisco WLC for Access points

[mario.jost]

We wanted to upgrade our WLC Software, but some of our hardware AP's are not supported anymore. We do have several 2600er models.

Firmware 8.5.140.0 Released June, 2018 -> supports 2600 models

Firmware 8.6.101.0 Released December 2017 -> does not support 2600 models

So we checked the production date on all our 2600 APs. The most recent one was produced in July 2015 (serial FCW1930NKZW). So today, this AP is 3 years and 8 months old. Looking at the time, when firmware 8.6.101.0 was released, this AP was only 2 years and 4 months old. So this is a very short support time for a business oriented model. I was expecting something like 5 years from the production stop. Keep in mind that the AP wasn't delivered directly after production. It was sitting in a warehouse and maybe multiple distributors before we got our hands on. How is the general rules of thumb in the support time for AP models from Cisco?

[Haydn Andrews · Accepted solution]

As a rule of thumb normally from release to last day of software support is normally 5 years. But this can change dependent on the device.

The 2602 was announced EOL on 30 June 2016, with end of software support being December 2017

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/aironet-2600-series/eos-eol-notice-c51-737512.html

The 2602 was released AUG 2012 so that's 4 years from release to EOL being announced and 5 years before software support was dropped.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/wireless/aironet-2600i-access-point/model.html

Which is rather typical of hardware being 5 years from released to end of software.

Looks like 8.6 was released December 14, 2017 which is after the 2602 was announced EOL and same month that last day of software support was given

For further reference 8.6 is not a recommended release TAC recommends 8.5 or 8.7/8.8

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/wireless-lan-controller-software/200046-tac-recommended-aireos.html

[mario.jost]

Thanks for the roundup. The thing is, we still bought 2602 APs long after 2802 APs were out. We had an older firmware to keep the 1142 models running. With this firmware, the newer models weren't supported. So now, we replaced all 1142 APs. But the version 8.5 keeps us now from buying 2902 AP's when they come out. So we still have to buy 2802 APs. Until a day, we replace all 2602 APs and can upgrade to a newer version, to then maybe be blocked from upgrading because the newest firmware does not support the 2802 APs anymore. So this sadly is a story that repeats itself over and over...

[patoberli]

Just stay with the 2802 for the next 3-4 years. Then, in one big replacement, replace all the old APs, maybe with a new WLC at that time. That would allow you to use the old infrastructure, while in parallel creating the new infrastructure. Put the two WLC into a mobility-group and the users can roam without a problem. 

[Leo Laohoo]

1.  What's wrong with 8.5?  8.5.140.0 is a stable firmware.  8.5.150.0 is about to be released.  

2.  I have loaded 2600/3600 with 8.8.100.0 firmware, however, it is hard coded in the WLC to reject join requests from 2600/3600.