Virtual wireless controller

[milosmegis]

Hello,

our company consider to buy of virtual wireless controller to manage APs which we are using currently.
All of APs are now autonomous.

Type of AP is:
Product/Model Number: AIR-AP1131AG-E-K9
IOS: c1130-k9w7-mx.123-7.JA2

We have currently about 20 APs and about 300 employees, that are connected to APs.

I know nothing about virtual wireless controller.
Could you recommend something to me ?
What is important to consider before buy of virtual wireless controller ?
Will our APs work with virtual wireless controller ?

Thank you in advance for replies.

Best regards
Milos

[marce1000]

  - Check the wireless compatibilty matrix , as a start, to find product info and or inconsistencies, for starters (you can easily find it using google).

M.

[Sandeep Choudhary]

Hi,

1. First of check the compatibility of AP and WLC.

Note: 1131 AP supports 8.0.X (means all version )

Here is the link:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html

2. You need to convert all AP from Autonomous to Lightweight

k9w7 - autonomous (or “site survey”) IOS -- U are suing this
k9w8 – full lightweight IOS (this is what is bundled in the WLC .aes image, and is factory installed on “mesh” APs) - U need to use this image to JOIN ap to WLC.

How to convert:

https://rscciew.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/access-point-conversion-lap-to-aap-and-vice-versa/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWDrFjwVNb0

3. AP registration

you must use at-least one method to join AP to WLC:

1 - broadcast, 2 - Static configured, 2 - option43 , 3 - dns

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/70333-lap-registration.html

Regards

Don't forget to rate helpful posts

[milosmegis]

Thanks for quick answer.

and what is difference between images k9w8 and rcvk9w8 (recovery image) ?

Because you wrote about k9w8, but in manual which you posted is used rcvk9w8.

Thank you in advance.

[Sandeep Choudhary]

Hi,

k9w8 – full lightweight IOS (this is what is bundled in the WLC .aes image, and is factory installed on “mesh” APs)
rcvk9w8 - lightweight recovery image – this is factory installed on lightweight APs, unless a “mesh” image is specified; it lacks radio firmware

*** you need rcvk9w8 image to convert from AAP to LAP.

Regards

Don't forget to rate helpful posts

[milosmegis]

Thanks

[Sandeep Choudhary]

If our post solved the question then please mark this question as answered and don't forget to rate helpful posts.

Regards

[milosmegis]

Thank you for help but I am still waiting for some answers.

But I don´t see any button to mark topic as solved.
Could you please tell how to mark topic as answered ?

(I am new on this forum)

Thanks

[Alyza Marie Reyes]

Hi milosmegis,

What server are you currently using? Any x86 server with VMWare hypervisor ESXi4.-x or 5.x will actually work with the Cisco Viruial Wireless Controller. This solution provides centralized control, management and trouble shooting. This will work with lightweight APs as long as they are upgraded to 7.3 software.

By the way, have you contacted a Cisco reseller regarding this?

Hope this helps!

Let me know if you have additional concerns.

[milosmegis]

Thanks,
we use IBM servers with ESX 5.5.0 installed.

And what do you mean that AP should be upgraded to version 7.3 ?
I currently use version of IOS 12.3... and I read on internet that conversion of AP to lightweight can be done with image 12.4. or newer.
Or did you think version of controller ?

And I contacted cisco reseller from slovakia on mail address bratislava-reception@cisco.com , but I didn´t get answer yet. So I try to find other ways to get appropriate information.

Thank you in advance.

[milosmegis]

And also what is better
physical controller or virtual ?

What is difference between them ?

Do they support the same functions or not ?
If it is not same, what should I consider before deployment one of them ?

Thanks