WLC_AP_JOIN ERROR - AP model C9124AXI-ROW is unsupported

[c.walsh]

I get this error, when trying to join an AP model C9124AXI-ROW to EWC on C9120AXI.

According to the compliance tool the model is supported.

The EWC/WLC is running version 17.3.8a

Wireless LAN Compliance Lookup (cisco.com)

[marce1000]

      - I think for the -ROW access points  you will need at least 17.6.x , will do further digging...

 M.

[marce1000 · Accepted solution]

 - Added reply (ref) : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/catalyst-9800-series-wireless-controllers/217734-connect-and-join-a-row-domain-access-po.html
                   >....Cisco IOS® XE release 17.6 and later provide support for -ROW domain access points 

 M.

[c.walsh]

Thanks for the reply, will try that. Do you know if it is possible to have both 9120 & 9124 APs on the same network, without a 9800 WLC.

How would we download the image to a 9124 from a 9120, or vice-versa?

[marce1000]

       >Thanks for the reply, will try that. Do you know if it is possible to have both 9120 & 9124 APs on the same network, without a 9800 WLC.
                        In essence no , unless they would be in autonomous mode (not advised) 

       >How would we download the image to a 9124 from a 9120, or vice-versa?
  You couldn't that is what a wireless controller (the 9800) does , providing specific images for the various AP models, 

 M.

[Rich R]

Yes, you can.  Always refer to the TAC recommended version of IOS (link below) and refer to the release notes for supported APs.  For EWC the release notes also list which APs can be Primary and Subordinate:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/ewc/17-9/rel-notes/ewc-rn-17-9-x.html#Cisco_Concept.dita_4e686689-db5f-464b-8157-92abcfd40028

9120 and 9124 are both capable of either role and could even form an HA pair if they both run EWC.

EWC AP does not have enough flash space to store all AP images like a WLC does so you must host those images on a TFTP server which the AP will download the image from.  You configure the TFTP server details on the EWC as per:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/embedded-wireless-controller-on-catalyst-access-points/215303-embedded-wireless-controller-conversion.html

"Unlike a 9800 controller, the EWC flash memory does not have enough space to store all AP images. All the AP images need to be hosted on an external TFTP or SFTP server. When a second AP tries to join, the EWC points it to the external server. Without these commands, no other AP is able to join it:"

EWC(config)#wireless profile image-download default
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile)#image-download-mode tftp
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile-tftp)#tftp-image-server 192.168.1.25
EWC(config-wireless-image-download-profile-tftp)#tftp-image-path /

[marce1000]

 - Tx for confirming  solution ; consider moving forward to 17.9.4a too (advisory) and most of all because of fix for                   : https://bst.cloudapps.cisco.com/bugsearch/bug/CSCwh87343

 M.