WLC 5500 reach limit number of AP supported

[BernardNdale]

Hi,

I am using WLC 5500 in the WLAN and I have added 42 AP 1500 and 1800 Indoor which is the amoung limit number of AP supported by my WLC.
Can someone suggest any better solutions:
* Change AP model by 2800 or another model which can cover large area by AP. Advise model to use

* Add another WLC!! then increased the capability of limit number of AP supported

* Can some one advise wich CAP AP model can cover 50 or 100 meter of area so I will reduce the number of AP in my WLC

KR 

[Leo Laohoo]

Mobility Express

[Scott Fella]

Never think that using another ap will increase coverage so that you can reduce density. That way of thinking will give you a very poor wireless experience. Keep in mind that the regulatory bodies for a country limits what channel and power can be used indoor and outdoor.
What you need to do is review what you currently have, look at the end of sale, end of software vulnerabilities and or end of support, to see when you need to replace your equipment. Your best bet is to look into the 9800 controllers, either appliances or virtual. Your 1800’s are supported but depending on what model 1500’s you have, it might be or might not be supported and you would have to replace those that are not supported. You can reference this matrix.
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/compatibility/matrix/compatibility-matrix.html#pgfId-550562

Keep in mind that the controllers that replaced the 5508’s have been marked also as end of sale on Jan 2022. So that is why I mentioned the 9800’s. You can look into the 3504’s which still fall into the same date. That can replace your 5508 and supports up to 150 access points.

[BernardNdale]

Thanks so much Scott for your reply.
Please can you advise a way to migrate from WLC 5500 to  9800 without causing network downtime?

KR 

[Scott Fella]

Migration can’t be planned over a forum. Someone has to look at how your existing network is designed and implemented, maybe suggest changes to ap placement, ap density, which would require cabling. Find a low voltage vendor that can do the work and also determine how long it would take and if the work has to be done after hours or only between certain times. You also need to test and validate, then determine how you want to migrate with the least downtime. There will always be a downtime, so keep that in mind.
You really need to sit down with your Cisco SE or your Cisco Var and plan this out.

[Rich R]

And in case you missed Leo's answer above, and you're wanting to do this cheaply, then you could switch to using Mobility Express running on one or two of your existing 1800 APs which support 50 APs and 1000 clients, no license required and not having to buy any new WLC.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/enterprise-networks/mobility-express/q-and-a-c67-734485.html

ME is a cut-down version of AireOS WLC so won't have all the features you have on regular WLC and only suitable for single site but that sounds like what you want anyway so might be perfect for you.

Either way you need to take end of sale/support into account so start planning for migration to 9800 family WLC and 9100 APs in the future.  Again you can run EWC (Embedded Wireless Controller) for AP (the 9800 equivalent of ME) if you don't want to spend on a WLC.