Predownload image to access points

Question

Hi,
Just wondering if someone can shed some light on the predownload process.
As per the WLC configuration guide:
1. Download new image to the WLC.
2. Change the new image to backup image. > config boot backup)
3. Predownload new image to access points > config ap image predownload {primary | backup} {ap_name | all}
Here not sure whether to use the primary or backup. Is it from AP perspective or from WLC.
I mean
using primary does it mean that the WLC primary image will be downloaded (which is in fact the existing image becasue of step 2.)
or
using primary means whatever image I download becomes the primary image on the AP
4. Swap primary and secondary image on AP > config ap image swap {ap_name | all}
5. Make sure all APs have done with the predownload
6. reset system in HH:MM:SS image {swap | no-swap} reset-aps [save-config]
Here not sure what exactly the swap image does. Whether it swaps the image on the AP only or on the controller as well?
I have the feeling if I follow the guide my WLC will have the new code as backup and after reset system using the swap keyword the APs will come back with the new code.
Am I missing something?
Thanks
Krisztian

Answer 1

Hi Krisztian,
both the WLC and the AP will consider the primary image to be the newly downloaded image.
The current/running image will become the backup one.
The step 2 you mentioned below (config boot backup) just means that if you reboot the WLC it will boot from the backup image (which is the "old" one in this case).
You can check what is the active (running) and the next boot image on the WLC with the "show boot" command, e.g.:
(Cisco Controller) >show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 7.0.98.0 (default) (active)
Backup Boot Image................................ 6.0.199.0
Then, after using the "config boot backup" command this will become:
(Cisco Controller) >show boot
Primary Boot Image............................... 7.0.98.0 (active)
Backup Boot Image................................ 6.0.199.0 (default)
So, the "config boot backup" won't make the backup image to become primary.. the WLC will just boot from the backup image.
About the "config ap image predownload" command on the WLC, the primary/backup is from the WLC perspective:
(Cisco Controller) >config ap image predownload ?
primary        Predownload an image to a Cisco AP from the controller's Primary image.
backup         Predownload an image to a Cisco AP from the controller's Backup image.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Federico
If this answers your question please mark the question as "answered" and rate it, so other users can easily find it.