2 minute read (234 words).

How to run a firmware upgrade on a Cisco 5500 wireless LAN controller


Networking, Uncategorised

Need to upgrade the firmware on a Cisco 5500 WLC, here is a step by step guide.

If your controllers are setup in a HA pair, these commands should be run on both, but missing out the AP upgrade setups.

Step 1
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(Show WLC current boot and backup images versions)
show boot


Step 2
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(Copy images from TFTP - will copy to standby also)
transfer download datatype code
transfer download serverip 192.168.1.11
transfer download mode tftp
transfer download filename AIR-CT5500-K9-7-6-130-0.aes
>transfer download path /
transfer download start


Step 3
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(Change default boot image to current verison in backup slot - run on both HA units)
config boot backup


Step 4
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(New image will be primary boot image)
show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 8.5.161.0 
Backup Boot Image................................ 8.3.140.0 (default) (active)


Step 5
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(Show AP current boot and backup image versions)
show ap image all


Step 6
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(Copy image from WLC to APs)
config ap image predownload primary all


Step 7
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(New image will be backup boot image - Predownload status = Complete)
show ap image all

Total number of APs.............................. 49
Number of APs
        Initiated....................................... 0
        Downloading..................................... 0
        Predownloading.................................. 0
        Completed predownloading........................ 49
        Not Supported................................... 0
        Failed to Predownload........................... 0

                                                 Predownload     Predownload                                  Flexconnect
AP Name            Primary Image  Backup Image   Status          Version        Next Retry Time  Retry Count  Predownload
------------------ -------------- -------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------ --------------
ap-1           8.3.140.0      8.5.161.0      Complete        8.5.161.0      NA               NA


Step 8
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(Reboot WLCs)
reset system both in 00:02:31 image swap reset-aps save-config



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