Wireless upgrade

[stephendrkw]

We have new 5508 Controllers, ISE Server, Mobility Services Server new 3600 Access Points that will replace current 4400 Controllers, NAC, Location Server and all access points.

Is it possible to build new Controllers with the same SSID as current Controllers and associate new Access Points with new Controllers ONLY. Even though the SSID's will be the same I want to segregate old vs. new and gradually migrate 100 Access Points over a period. Basically I don't want to interfere or break Production.

this maybe a bit vague, all replies would be appreciated.

[Scott Fella · Accepted solution]

That is very vague

Well if you don't want anything to break I would suggest you bring up the new WLC's and run them parallel with your existing. Meaning that you should have all the WLC's on the same Mobility Group if you want seamless roaming and RF consideration. Then I would probably make sure that the primary and secondary WLC's are defined on each access points so that your old AP's do not join the new WLC and that the new AP's don't try to join the old WLC in which it will fail anyways because of the code your running on your old WLC.

You can keep the same SSID as that isn't an issue as long as the WLC's are on the same Mobility Group.

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[stephendrkw]

I read some docs since your reply and your suggestion seems the easiest way to migrate, thanks

[chopra.harish2]

That's right Scott. Even I did it once... I ran cisco wireless in parrallel to Aruba and later removed Aruba from the entire network with less than few seconds of downtime. ..

[Scott Fella]

Yeah... I'm a risky mo fo, but luck I know what works and doesn't work:). I have cutover large environments but prefer not to run in parallel unless the two systems can work together. So that means old Cisco and New Cisco. I have had implementations that the client wanted to migrate sections at a time and that really doesn't work too well. Roaming breaks and if you cutover a floor at a time, well devices might connect to an AP above or below and break roaming. My preference it a full cut and not phases:). But that means that new cable has to be ran to all the new APs and when we cut, it's just a matter or shutting down the old AP's and running a script to admin up the new APs.

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[Scott Fella]

Harish,

I have done the opposite also... Cisco to Aruba:)

Not my sell or input, Aruba was able to sell their solution better:(

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