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Cisco AIR1131AG IOS switch from centralized to autonomous

Cisco Aironet is one of wireless APs popular in the enterprise. Since AIR1131AG is also exhibited in second-hand market, it is easy to introduce it to home network.

There are many centrally controlled types by WLC in the enterprise, and many are sold in the second hand as they are. WLC is required for centralized management, but since it is costly to introduce WLC at home, describe how to change (convert) the mode of Cisco Aironet 1131AG's IOS from centralized to autonomous.

Which mode you are working in can be identified from the number at the end of the OS by show version etc.

  • K9W8 centralized management AP (Lightweight AP) IOS
  • K9W7 Autonomous AP (Autonomous AP) IOS

Prepare for OS switchover

First, check whether the current OS is a central management type. Verify that it is Cxxxx-K9W8 with show version.

show version

Cisco IOS Software, C1130 Software (C1130-K9W8-M), Version 12.4(10b)JDD, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 1986-2009 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 14-Jul-09 12:34 by prod_rel_team
-
ROM: Bootstrap program is C1130 boot loader
BOOTLDR: C1130 Boot Loader (C1130-BOOT-M) Version 12.3(8)JEA, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)

Also, it is necessary to prepare an autonomous OS for change.

Switch from centralized to autonomous

The switching procedure in the new Aironet is as follows.

networkengineering.stackexchange.com

However, with my AIR 1131AG, there is no capwap ~ command in the WLC mode. In old models it is still LWAPP before being changed to CAPWAP, so it can not follow this procedure.

OS replacement / switching is required in one of the following two patterns.

  1. Work similarly with the lwapp command
  2. Autonomous IOS loading at boot

Similar work with the lwapp command

There seems to be a command for LWAPP, but it does not work well... Even when trying to change a part of the command for CAPWAP to LWAPP...

autonomous IOS load at boot

I convert the OS with this procedure. As stated in this Cisco document.

Cisco 4400 Series Wireless LAN Controllers - Retirement Notification - Cisco

Chapter: Using the MODE Button and a TFTP Server to Return to a Previous Release

  1. Set the IP address of 10.0.0.2 (~ 10.0.0.30) / 27 on the PC.
  2. Install and start the TFTP server software (3CDaemon etc) on the PC.
  3. Change the IOS filename you prepared and move it to the TFTP home directory. For AIR1131 c1300-k9w7-tar.default (*1)
  4. Connect the PC and the wireless AP with a LAN cable. (Or the same broadcast domain via SW)
  5. Hold down the MODE button and turn on the wireless AP. (*2)
  6. Release the MODE button when the E lamp blinks orange and the R lamp turns red in 20 seconds to 30 seconds. (*2)
  7. The OS is transferred and restarted.
  8. Start up with autonomous OS.

Appendix

*1 The file name of IOS needs to be matched with what is searched by TFTP. Here is an example at the time of file name mistake.

*Mar 1 00:00:06.102: %SYS-5-RESTART: System restarted --
Cisco IOS Software, C1130 Software (C1130-RCVK9W8-M), Version 12.3(11)JX1, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

button is pressed, wait for button to be released...
button pressed for 69 seconds
process_config_recovery: set IP address and config to default 10.0.0.1 //AP's IP address was set
process_config_recovery: image recovery
image_recovery: Download default IOS tar image tftp://255.255.255.255/c1130-k9w7-tar.default //Search TFTP Server and IOS File
-
examining image...
%Error opening (connection timed out)Loading "flash:/c1130-rcvk9w8-mx/c1130-rcvk9w8-mx"...###
-
File "flash:/c1130-rcvk9w8-mx/c1130-rcvk9w8-mx" uncompressed and installed, entry point: 0x3000 executing... //Autonomous IOS wasn't found, and loaded centralized IOS image

*2 MODE button - LED here

Successfully, the autonomous OS is read as follows. After reboot it can be converted as standalone Aironet.

examining image...
extracting info (283 bytes)
Image info:
Version Suffix: k9w7-.124-10b.JDA3
Image Name: c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3
Version Directory: c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3
Ios Image Size: 4844032
Total Image Size: 5581312
Image Feature: WIRELESS LAN
Image Family: C1130
Wireless Switch Management Version: 1.0
Extracting files...
c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/ (directory) 0 (bytes)
c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/ (directory) 0 (bytes)
c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/level/ (directory) 0 (bytes)
c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/level/1/ (directory) 0 (bytes)
extracting c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/level/1/appsui.js (557 bytes)
extracting c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/level/1/back.shtml (498 bytes)
extracting c1130-k9w7-mx.124-10b.JDA3/html/level/1/cookies.js (5026 bytes).
...

Conclusion - Switching the Cisco AIR1131AG's IOS from centralized to autonomous

Switching the IOS of the Cisco Aironet 1131AG from the centralized type to the autonomous type from the boot menu with the long press of the MODE button. Although some preparation is required, OS can be easily replaced by TFTP.


This Blog is English Version of my JP's.

Sorry if my English sentences are incorrect.

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