Important:

• The version that is loaded on the controller is considered to be the priority current version. When a new access point is connected, it will update to this version, regardless of which version is installed on the access point (older or younger).
• If several firmware versions for the same access point model are loaded on the controller, the oldest firmware version will be considered current. For example, if the software versions loaded are: 
  • WEP-1L-1.5.0_build_100.tar.gz,
  • WEP-1L-1.6.0_build_50.tar.gz

the current firmware version is 1.6.0_build_50.tar.gz.

Loading software to the controller

Use the command to load the firmware:

wlc# copy tftp://192.168.1.2:/WEP-1L-1.6.0_build_75.tar.gz system:access-points-firmwares
# where
# TFTP server IP address: 192.168.1.2, 
# firmware file name: WEP-1L-1.6.0_build_75.tar.gz.

To view the list of downloaded files, use the command:

wlc# dir system:access-points-firmwares
# Output example
Name                                                       Type         Size            
--------------------------------------------------------   ----------   --------   --   
WEP-1L-1.5.0_build_59.tar.gz                               File         9.07       MB   
WEP-1L-1.6.0_build_75.tar.gz                               File         9.08       MB  

To delete firmware files from the controller, use the command:

# Delete all firmware files. The command requires confirmation
wlc# delete system:access-points-firmwares
Do you really want to clear directory? (y/N): y                                          

# Delete a certain file
wlc# delete system:access-points-firmwares/WEP-1L-1.5.0_build_59.tar.gz

Algorithm for launching updates

Default setting

The default setting works as follows: when a new AP is connected, it will immediately and automatically update to the firmware that is loaded on the WLC. If the AP is already under WLC management, it will update to the current firmware as soon as it is downloaded, if the update manager is disabled.

Setting up a scheduled update manager

In the WLC configuration, in order to avoid service interruption during an update, an update manager (update-mgr) is provided to set the time interval during which an update can be run. The setting consists of three parameters:

• start-time – the beginning of the time interval in which the update is performed. The default value is 03:00; 
• end-time – the end of the time interval in which the update is performed. Default value: 04:00;
• scheduled – enable the update manager on a scheduled basis. Default value: no scheduled.

When the manager is enabled, scheduled updates will be performed only for access points that are already under the controller's control.

If a new AP connected has a different firmware version than the one loaded on the controller, the update will take place immediately, regardless of the schedule.

Configuration example

# Configure update-manager. Update interval: 00:00 - 01:00
wlc# configure 
wlc(config)# wlc
wlc(config-wlc)# update-manager
wlc(config-wlc-update-mgr)# start-time 00:00
wlc(config-wlc-update-mgr)# end-time 01:00
wlc(config-wlc-update-mgr)# scheduled 

# Commit and confirm the configuration
wlc(config-wlc-update-mgr)# do commit 
wlc(config-wlc-update-mgr)# do confirm

# Show the configuration
wlc# show run wlc update-manager 
  update-manager
    scheduled
    start-time 00:00
    end-time 01:00
  exit
wlc#

With this setting, the update of access points that are already under the control of the controller to the current downloaded version will occur in the time interval 00:00–01:00. 

2024-01-18T14:16:57+07:00 %WLC-E-ERROR: SA:[e8:28:c1:da:c9:b0]:AP with board type 'WEP-1L' with unsupported firmware version '2.2.0 build 352', no firmware image for upgrade

The firmware versions of access points for which communication with WLC version 1.19.2 is supported are listed in the table below:

The firmware versions of the access points for which communication with the WLC controller versions 1.15.3 to 1.19.1 is supported are listed in the table below: