05 September 2012

 

Cisco Virtual Wireless LAN Controller (vWLC) - Installing and Troubleshooting

On the 30th of August 2012, Cisco released the Wireless LAN Controller release 7.3.101. which also includes support of the Virtual Wireless LAN Controller (vWLC). The release notes can be found from Cisco at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/wireless/controller/release/notes/crn73.html

The following post is the experienced I had installing and troubleshooting the vWLC. I followed this guide by Cisco http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10315/products_tech_note09186a0080bd2d04.shtml#NetPro but ran into a few issues.

Points To Keep In Mind on the vWLC:
vWLC Requirements

The following are the vWLC requirements extracted from the .ova template:

  • 1 CPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 8GB HDD
  • 2 NICs (probably can get away with one and not using  the service port)



Downloading The vWLC

The vWLC software (AIR-CTVM-7-3-101-0.ova) from Cisco is a .ova file. This is a package that will unpack and create the virtual machine.


Deploy OVA Template

Open the vSphere client. I currently use ESXi 4.1.

Select the .ova file.

As you can see here the vWLC only requires 8GB of HDD space.

Give this VM a name or leave it at the default.

Select a datastore to installe the vWLC.

Select thick provision format.

Review and click finish.

It only takes about a minute or two to deploy.



Power On vWLC Host For The First Time

Power on the vWLC host.




Basic Configuration (configure the time correctly or the certificates will be invalid)

It takes roughly about four minutes to get to the Configuration Wizard Tool form power on. Go through the wizard like any other WLC. When asked to configure NTP, make sure that your NTP is working correctly. If it is not or you are unsure, manually configure the time instead of using NTP. This is important as it will affect the generation of the self-signed certificate. (Also check the time on the ESX server is right)

Logging On To vWLC and Activating Evaluation License

Log on to the vWLC with the credentials configured before.

As you can see the main page states 0 Access Points supported.

 Got to Management then Software Activation then Licenses.

I am not sure why the only way to get the EULA to come up, is to change the priority and click 'Set Priority'.


Reboot the vWLC.

Configure DHCP Option 43 For WLC Discovery

I have configured a DHCP pool/server on the switch. I then add Option 43 which contains the vWLC IP address in hex format for the access point to find the vWLC.

Access Point Must be 7.3 Or Above To Join vWLC

The statement above is stated in the deployment guide by Cisco. This is interesting as if you don't have an existing WLC that is on release 7.3 or above, the access point will not join the vWLC. This has to do with the vWLC using a self-signed certificate and the access point not being able to verify the certificate.

I then started looking at Cisco's website to see if there is a way around it but couldn't find anything. I realised that there is a new lightweight image for the Cisco 3500 access point I used that was released on the same date as the vWLC. I gave that a go to see if the access point would join the vWLC.

I had to use the recovery method to get the new lightweight image on.

It actually works and the vWLC shows that the access point joined and started downloading the full image.


Invalid Certificate Caused By Incorrect Time

After downloading the joining the vWLC and downloading the image, I thought the access point would join the vWLC without a problem. Instead I got the error message below.

I checked the self-signed certificate and realised that the certificate was invalid due to the clock. I updated the time but couldn't find a way to re-generate the self-signed certificates used to authenticate the access points (you can re-generate the SSL self-signed certificates). I had no choice but to rebuild the vWLC and making sure I have the time right. It turned out that the vWLC could not contact my NTP server. I ended up manually configuring the time during the wizard at the start.

After rebuilding and re-configuring the vWLC, I checked that the self-signed certificates is valid and that the access point could join the vWLC.


Access Point Must Be In FlexConnect Mode

When the access point showed up on the vWLC, for some reason it is in FlexConnect mode. I changed it to local mode. I created a test SSID to see if the clients cant connect to the access point controlled by the vWLC. The SSID does not broadcast at all. The error message I am getting is from the access point stating '*Sep  5 13:56:19.186: %LWAPP-3-CLIENTERRORLOG: Delete VAP: received a delete request for an invalid WLAN ID 1' I have tried to remove the SSID (WLAN ID1), rebooting both the vWLC and access point without any luck.

The next day I read up the guide and release notes again and found this 'APs will be operating in FlexConnect mode only.' That was the problem, vWLC will only work with access points in FlexConnect mode.

Testing Wireless Connection

I went back to the vWLC change the access point back to FlexConnect mode.

After the access point rebooted in FlexConnect mode, the test SSID started broadcasting and I could connect to it.

 Wireless client connected to vWLC on Android device.

Wireless client connected shown in the vWLC.




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Comments:
Hello Jeen,

Excellent information. What are the spec of the hardware where you installed the vWLC? I see Cisco recommends some specific hardware, but I was wondering if you used something different. Thanks in advance!

UCS R210-2121605W Rack Mount Server (2 RU):

2 * Intel Xeon CPU X5670 @ 2.93 GHz

16 G memory

IBM x3550 M3 Server:

2 * Intel Xeon 5600 series processors with 4 cores each and each core capable of doing hyper threading which gives you 16 CPUs in total @3.6 GHz

12G memory

ISR G2 Services Ready Engine (SRE) using UCS Express (Stretch goal):

SRE 700: Single Core Intel Core Duo 1.86 GHz with 4 GB memory

SRE 900: Dual Core Intel Core Duo 1.86 GHz with 4 GB memory (upgradable to 8 GB
 
Hi Mobil,

The guide states "Suggested Hardware Recommendations for Hosting Cisco Virtual Controllers" but my point of view is that is the suggested requirements for the entire CUWN in a box (vWLC, vNCS & vMSE).

The vWLC I deployed was in a lab scenario using a very low powered server (HP N40L). I did allocate 2GB of RAM and 8 GB of HDD.
 
Hello Jeen,

It is awesome that you are posting about this. Good information you have got there. Keep it up!
 
Hello Jeen!

Thanks four your post. I have done most of your observations aswell. My vWLC works great, but I only have 1131 AP:s and the latest downloadable code for those are from 2008. I have struggled a while with the certificate-thing until I realized that the AP need 7.3 code in order to associate.

Still, I am stuck with AP:s running to old code. If you have any ideas on how to solve this, please share. The only solution I can see is to find a physical wlc running 7.3-code and associate my ap:s with that wlc once to get the new code.

But the reason I want vWLC to work in my lab is because I have no physical wlc. Now I need a "real" wlc to get my virtual working. A bit annoying!

Best regards
Jimmy larsson
http://nat0.net

 
Great Post!

I have the same situations as Jimmy (Home Lab etc).

the only physical WLC i can get my hands on currently runs 6.0.182.0 :(

So i'm stuck at present.

any idea if this will be patched out in further releases?

Dan.
 
Hey Dan,

I think I could help you. what is your email address?

 
Hi Mobil,

I have my personal/home lab with 1131aps. i couldn't join the said AP with vWLC. Can you please help me?
Thanks
 
Thanks for this awesome tutorial. I am currently studying for the lab and the vWLC will be a lot of help. What material are you using to prepare for the lab?
 
For the guys that need a physical WLC to upgrade you can vpn to my home lab trough vpn or something.
 
I've never worked with an AP in flexconnect mode. Are there any big differences between flexconnect and localmode?
 
Hi Jaime,

Thanks. The materials I am going through are mostly from what Cisco recommended here https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccie_wireless/lab_exam?tab=2
For practicing, I recently got the IPExpert Workbook and when I am done with that, will get the FastLane one.

It really depends on what you use FlexConnect for to know the differences. There are a lot of guides out there on FlexConnect, you might want to search up on H-REAP too as that is what FlexConnect used to be known as. Also the following is a good matrix:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10315/products_tech_note09186a0080b3690b.shtml
 
Hello,

I now have an LAP1131AG (eBay for £60) working on my vWLC without the use of first assigning it to a physical WLC running 7.3 code as everyone keeps mentioning.

My vWLC is running 7.3.101.0

Now the most important bit: the Cisco website mentions under its Latest Releases for my 1130 series AP “12.4.10b-JDA(ED)” (03-Nov-08) THIS IS NOT CORRECT! There is a later version than this named “12.4.25e-JAL(ED)” (04-Sept-12) << this is the one you need!

Download “c1130-rcvk9w8-tar.124-25e.JAL.tar” and upgrade; I didn’t use the Upgrade Tool, admittedly the AP did come preconfigured with an LWAPP image (quite old). I just used the general method of renaming the file to .default, changing your IP address to 10.0.0.2/8 etc and using the MODE button.

Changed the mode to Flexconnect, which I believe is the new H-REAP and were off! Serving SSIDs and working without faults :) (I believe I may have played with Certificates also)

I hope this helps everyone and saves them the few hours this cost me :)

P.S. I have some 1200 series, AKA 1200, 1231, 1232, these do not work! However 1240’s do :)

Cheers! Dan.
 
great walk though. vWLC is good stuff... BUT... has anyone got this thing licensed?! You have to setup the Cisco License Manager and load it though that. So far, I'm unable to get my bought and paid for license loaded!
 
Hi Jeen,

I have been looking at your post & have found it excellent, I just wanted some advice on the server & wanted to know if this is ok?

I see you are using the HP N40L, i have found one on the web: -
HP ProLiant Turion II N40L MicroServer
Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011
Kingston 8GB DDR3 1333MHz i5 Memory
Just wanted to ask if you can review this for me to see if it is ok before i place an order, also would i need the windows server software?

Many thanks & look forward to hearing from you.

Sean
sean.roberts@phoenix.co.uk
 
DAN!

Do you have a copy of the file,

c1130-rcvk9w8-tar.124-25e.JAL.tar

available? Only one I can find to download is

c1130-rcvk9w8-tar.124-25e.JAZ.tar

which is probably a newer one but just not sure if it is compatible??

Cheers :)
Mike
 
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