Cisco 2504 Wireless Lan Controller Software Upgrade

The code upgrade procedure for the Cisco 2504 Wireless Lan Controller is not that different than the one for the Cisco 5520 described in details here. This time I will keep it short, simple and to the point.

Worth mentioning that the Cisco 2504 it is now EOL and will be supported by Cisco a few more years.

You should check the release notes and confirm your wireless access points are supported by this version of code.
You may also look at the compatibility matrix for Cisco Prime if you are using that. Some of the features might stop working and you’ll have no idea why.

The steps you have to follow for Cisco 2504 Wireless Lan Controller Software Upgrade are shown below:

• Go to the Cisco website and download the preferred version of code. Today I’m moving away from 8.5.151 which is a very stable version to 8.5.161 release.

• save the existing configuration of the Cisco 2504 wireless controller and download a backup to your TFTP server;
• Download the new bin file to your wireless controller by selecting
  Commands > Download file > Code > Choose file > Download
  At this stage the controller will initiate the download, check the integrity of the file, perform the installation and prompt you when this has been successfully completed asking you to reload.

• Before reloading check that the new image is configured as primary in the boot seq.

• at this stage you could reload the controller and wait for it to come back online.
  However, to minimise the downtime I will SSH the controller and pre-download the image on all wireless access points.
  In my case for my home I have 2 x Cisco 3502.

• Check the download is complete and notice the new image is now the “backup image” – this needs to be changed so the APs will use the new image as primary:
  config ap image swap all
  
  Confirm that 8.5.161 is the new image and then reload the Cisco 2504 Wireless LAN Controller and the Wireless Access Points in the same time.
  reset system in 00:01:30 image no-swap reset-aps save-config
  
  In my scenario where I have under 10 wireless access points the controller will come back UP and the access points will start broadcasting in a few minutes only.