WLC 8.5 support WIFI 6

[Leftz]

Hi we have WLC 3504/v8.5.140 and ap3802. After user change to WIFI 6 card, there is connection issue. Its very easy to disconnect to wifi. Does this ios support it? Thank you

[jagan.chowdam]

Cisco 3800 series APs are WiFi 5 only (802.11ac Wave 2). Even though the client is WiFi 6 capable, AP & client negotiate WiFi speeds based on their capabilities. In this case, they'll negotiate WiFi 5 speeds.

I would check the drivers on the NIC and also the client Wireless NIC configuration.

What is the NIC card that's been installed?

CJ

/**  Please rate useful responses **/

[Scott Fella]

Things to keep in mind, if all other device are working fine, then the issue points to the device that the user decided to swap out the NIC.  The Intel AX2xx cards have given folks issues and late last month Intel released a new version.  There are still folks that are having issues, so it's best to look at the Intel forum if the NIC is an Intel.  Like what @jagan.chowdam mentioned and what you need to understand, is that protocol support is dependent on the access points not the controller version per se.  The controller model with the image will either be compatible to the access point model or not.  

For troubleshooting, you can use a newer iPhone, Android or other laptop that has support for wifi 6 and see if that has issues.  This way you can rule out some variables.  

[Leo Laohoo]

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@Leftz wrote:

After user change to WIFI 6 card, there is connection issue.

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We need more useful and relevant information than this.  

1. What, EXACTLY, is the problem? 
2. Is this happening to one person('s device) or a lot of users?
3. What firmware is the controller running on?
4. What are the different APs used?
5. Isolate and identify what wireless clients are affected (based on OS or SSID or location).
6. What, EXACTLY, is the error message being displayed? 
7. What radio are the issue(s) more prominent?
8. Have you VERIFIED and replicated the issue?

[Scott Fella]

They should have these questions part of a sticky:)

[Leftz]

Thank you for your reply. That are good questions. This is not only one device issue. Once changing back to wifi 5 from 6, the issue resolved. Client are contacting vendor. So far we are getting more info on this issue. Only thing we concern is if its related with wlc ios 8.5.140

[Scott Fella]

It's not.... your ap doesn't support wifi 6.

[Scott Fella]

Keep in mind... folks here need questions answered in order to help.  So please answer the questions that @Leo Laohoo requested or else, we can't help you.

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

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@Leftz wrote:

Thank you for your reply. That are good questions. This is not only one device issue. Once changing back to wifi 5 from 6, the issue resolved. Client are contacting vendor. So far we are getting more info on this issue. Only thing we concern is if its related with wlc ios 8.5.140

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Read. Understand. Is that too much to ask?

[Leftz]

Thanks Scott, we have wlc 8.10 with ap 3802. The environment can support wifi 6, but do not know if wlc 8.5.140 /same ap 3802 can work with wifi 6.

If you have a link to share, it would be great. 

[Scott Fella]

Take a look at the ap data sheet.  That ap doesn't support wifi 6.

WiFi 6 (802.11ax) the 6th Generation of WiFi - Cisco

[Arshad Safrulla]

Hi Zshowip,

Wi-FI6 (AX) to work you need both your wireless infrastructure and the connecting clients to be capable of Wi-Fi6. Not all the AP's support this. In Cisco you have the new Catalyst 9000 series AP's which are WiFi6 certified, any other AP model which is not a Catalyst AP is not Wi-Fi6 capable. Also you must understand that the new Catalyst AP's are supported only with certain AireOS controllers (3504,5520, 8540, vWLC) running AireOS code 8.8 or higher. So Technically you cannot connect any Wi-Fi6 capable AP to your controller running AireOS code 8.5.X.

Specific to your use case 3802 is a Wi-Fi5 (AC Wave 2) capable AP, even when you connect a Wi-Fi6 capable client to this AP you will not get any Wi-Fi6 features. All the clients which are honoring the wireless standards are backward compatible, and therefor it supports older generations of wireless as well. For example if you have an Iphone13 or laptop with AX200 or AX201 Wireless NIC, if the connecting AP is Wi-Fi6 capable it will negotiate Wi-Fi6, if the connecting AP is not Wi-fi6 capable then it will negotiate the next available Wi-Fi generation (AC or N). Same way if you have an Iphone X which is only Wi-Fi5 capable, when it tries to connect to Wi-Fi if the AP is Wi-Fi6 still it will

negotiate Wi-Fi5 or lower because the client is not capable of AX. 

Also it is recommended that you upgrade your WLC code to the latest Cisco recommended, before the upgrade please make sure the read the release notes. Make sure all your AP's are compatible with the new code.

Recommended AireOS Wireless LAN Controller Releases - Cisco

[Leftz]

I found the below link and its answer for the issue. My understanding is 3802 does not support wifi 6, but it is compatible with wifi 6. so wlc/ap might not be reason for our issue. 

@leo, thanks for your questions, but so far I do not have some info to answer. 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/nb-06-802-11ax-faq-cte-en.html

Q.  Is Wi-Fi 6 backward compatible with previous generations of Wi-Fi?

A.   In Wi-Fi 6, all devices must also support all the mandatory 802.11a, b, g, n, and ac modes of operation. This ensures that Wi-Fi 6 access points (APs) and clients are backward compatible with legacy APs and clients.

[Scott Fella]

Nope.... wifi 6 is backwards compatible, but your ap doesn't support wifi 6, so the answer to your question is the following.

• You need 91x0 series access points that support wifi 6 and is backwards compatible with ax/n, etc.
• You controller would need to be upgraded to support the 91x0 in order to have wifi 6

[Scott Fella]

Let me try to simplify this to make it easy

• 3504 supports wifi 6 access point on v8.10
• 91x0 are the first Cisco AP's that support wifi 6
• v8.5.x does not support wifi 6 as feature support comes out when access points come out
• wifi 6 is backwards compatible, just like ac is backward compatible and 802.11n is also backward compatible.
• Take for example your user that changed the NIC card to wifi6, the hardware has to change for support, upgrading the NIC firmware will not give you wifi 6.