Switch from the WLC to one of the APs running mobility express

[nikolaykostov]

Hello Community,

I have two APs on is a bit older - AIRCAP2602-l-i-k9 and the other is AIR-AP1815W-E-K9. First I bought the 1815 with the idea to run it as a controller for my network, but turned out the console cable for this bad boy is hard to find. Long story short I had to virtualize WLC on my ESXI server so I can find the AP and set it up. Turned out it I can not get full coverage of my place and bought the second one 2602. Turned out it can run a bit older version of the mobility express so now I have them both connected to the vWLC. 

What I am trying to figure out is: Is there a way to not use the vWLC, as to run a R720 DELL just for it is a bit pricy. 

I want to have one of the APs as the WLC, most likely the 2602 as I can console to it with normal Console Cable and make it WLC.

I am trying to find a way to just switch the 2602 to be the WLC and live happily ever after, but not sure if there is just a simple cli command to do so. Both APs are running 8.5.182.0

Can you please direct me in how I can accomplish all of that simple or the hard way. Thank you.

[ammahend · Accepted solution]

you can not convert 2600 to mobility express and register 1815 as subordinate AP serving clients, however you can do Vise Versa.

here is the process to change from CAPWAP to ME

[nikolaykostov]

But both of my APs are already running ME and are connected to vWLC. 

What I am trying to do is make one of them the WLC so I don't need to run a separate vWLC. I kinda understand that I am not able to run the 2602 as ME(oddly enough it runs ME software right now, pushed from the vWLC), but lets say I only have the vWLC and the 1815. How can i make the 1815 the controller?

[ammahend]

check the link I sent you in last post. it has a way to convert lightweight AP (your current APs registered on vWLC)  to Mobility Express (Mobility express is AP functioning as controller).

[nikolaykostov]

Hello, I was able to somehow reset the 1815 and get it to broadcast the SSID. Then I was able to set it up as controller. I was able to downgrade it to 8.5.182 as this is the version that the other one was able to support, but now I am facing new issue :).

On the version 8.10 I was able to create AP group and and set up the interfaces on the 1815 in RLAN. In the new version and the AP as controller I don't see that option even in expert view. Oddly enough I had it when the APs were connected to the vWLC in version 8.5. Is there a way to set the interfaces somehow trough the CLI?

[Scott Fella]

There are a lot of guides and videos folks have made about Mobility Express.  It's not that easy to tell you here are the three steps.  Mobility Express is one of the technologies Cisco has that isn't straight forward.  Just look at some guides and blogs and then take a look at some videos and hopefully that helps.  

[nikolaykostov]

Ok so I got to the point where it works on version 8.5.182.

I have two access points the 1851 as controller and the 2600 as subordinate. In the guy I don't have the option to configure the RLAN (only WLAN) and no option for AP group where I was able to assign the RLAN to the 1815 ports. I see that there is certain commands in the 1815 to enable ethernet interfaces but when I assign the vlan at the end it tells me that :

config ap ethernet 1 mode access enable <AP name> 2

failed to configure required vlan in AP Cisco.

Not sure but from what I am reading it might have to do something with "mesh" I am very green in Wireless and any help is welcomed.

[Rich R]

I think what you've discovered is that ME is a very cut-down version of AireOS WLC. 
Many WLC features are removed from ME and others are simplified.

RLAN was only added to ME from 8.7:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-7/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_7/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_7_chapter_0110.html#task_4DC376B6DFC8455E8939AAC1D538BCF8

AP groups seems to have been added from 8.6 in Expert Mode:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/8-6/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_6/b_cisco_mobility_express_8_6_chapter_0111.html#task_9A82F4547A71437E818F73793D77CCCD

But you've bought end of support 2600 AP which is last supported in 8.5 so you cannot upgrade unfortunately.
You might want to consider replacing the 2600 with a 2700/3700 which will at least allow you to upgrade your ME to latest 8.10 release.

[nikolaykostov]

Thank you, I had a feeling that is the situation. Did all I could from the console and all my efforts were for nothing.

I found a cheap 3700 and ordered it today. Should be here the day after tomorrow and hopefully everything will be able to set up smoothly.

Thank again.