I recently picked up two AIR-LAP1142N access points from eBay that had previously been used with a Cisco Wireless LAN controller. As such they were configured with CAPWAP and do allow for independent operation. Cisco access points have three different image types available:
- Lightweight (Files matching cXXX->k9w8.tar.xxx)
- Lightweight Recovery (Files matching cXXX-rcvk9w8.tar.xxx)
- Autonomous (Files matching cXXX-k9w7.tar.xxx)
In order to use the access point without a wireless LAN controller (WLC), the Autonomous image must be installed onto the access point. Thankfully there is a process to convert a lightweight access point to an autonomous one.
- Connect to the AP with a serial cable, then connect the AP to a power source, be it via a POE Injector or a PoE switch. Once booted you will be able to authenticate.
AP1234.5678.abcd>en Password: Cisco AP1234.5678.abcd#
- Unfortunately many of the commands you’ll want to use, such as configure terminal will be unavailable. To enable the commands you’ll need issue the following commands:
AP1234.5678.abcd#debug capwap console cli CAPWAP console CLI allow/disallow debugging is on
- Download an autonomous image for your AP and place it on a TFTP server that is reachable from the access point. It should have obtained network address information using DHCP automatically. In the example below I’m using “c1140-k9w7-tar.152-4.JB4.tar” but this can be any suitable autonomous image.
AP1234.5678.abcd#conf t Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z. AP1234.5678.abcd#archive download-sw /overwrite /reload tftp://TFTP SERVER/c1140-k9w7-tar.152-4.JB4.tar
The access point will download the software and reboot into the new autonomous image. The default username and password are cisco/Cisco.
Dave, you are GENIUS!!!
debug capwap console cli – and I have conf t on AP.
Thank you.
You can also use below one line command. Applicable on Cisco 1700I AP
capwap ap autonomous
Amir, does the Cisco 1700I AP already have the autonomous image in memory in order to use the capwap ap autonomous command? Or do you still need to download the image and setup the tftp server?
Thanks
Image is already there. No need to download any image.
after this command, i can use this AP as standalone without WLAN Controller???
Yes
Where do i find the .tar file? when i downloaded it i only got a .JA file
Great Article!
This is awesome – I have two new AP’s in the house. Thanks!
I found the .tar file, and I get through the commands, and it does the extracting but the archive command fails with the messages:
——————————————–
Premature end of tar file
ERROR: Problem extracting files from archive.
Download image failed, notify controller!!! From:8.2.130.0 to 8.2.100.0, FailureCode:3
archive download: takes 52 seconds
——————————————–
I’ve had this result with two different .tar files.
Hi,
I have an AP AIR-AP1832I-E-K9 with 8.2.151.0 running image, and that command:
capwap ap autonomous
debug capwap console cli
after enable command aren’t working…
Any idea on how to obtain the default tar for autonomous mode for a Cisco AP 2702E? It looks like need an entitlement to download it from Cisco? Is there any other source that somebody can share? Dropbox, drive link would be much appreciated.
How to add a new AP to a Existing AP Controller?