Additional Wireless AP on a Budget

[rjf2019]

In our school we have a Cisco 2500 wireless controller, and about a dozen Cisco 1140 wireless access points. We need to add an extra one in a new buildiing, which has a data point installed on the roof, and can be easily patched to the same Cisco PoE switch as the other APs.

 

The 1140s are getting quite old now, and 18 months down the line we might be looking at a total refresh. In the mean time we need wifi in the new building... albeit on a shoestring budget.

 

I was looking at grabbing one of these from the 1140 series:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AIR-LAP1142N-Cisco-Controller-Based-Access/dp/B001PC8LR6/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=

 

And patching it into the Cisco PoE switch. Interested in people's thoughts about the idea, and about how much set-up work it might entail.

[mavhc]

the only issue is if you've maxed out the number of APs you're licenced for. Otherwise just plug it in and it should work

 

Also that 10 year problem. http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/197250-your-cisco-wlc-10-years-old-everything-will-break.html

 

To add a new one that's on the old firmware you may have to set the WLC clock back, add it, let it upgrade, then set it forward again

[PotNoodleTech]

If you have a licence spare, I can donate you a 1142n.

[rjf2019]

What would be the easiest way to check how many licences we have available?

 

In the web interface I have navigated to: Controller --> Inventory and see:[TABLE=width: 500]

[TR]

[TD=class: list, align: left]Maximum number of APs supported[/TD]

[TD=class: list]15'[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

Does that indicate 15 licences? Just checked the data sheet and it says that they are sold with 5, 15, 25 or 50 licences.

@AButters , if we do have the licences, then that would be warmly appreciated.

 

Edit:

 

 

​Just looked further under: Management --> Software Activation --> Licences and I've attached a screenshot of what I see. To me, that confirms 15 permanent licences.

Edited October 18, 2019 by rjf2019

[mavhc]

Scroll down on the first Monitor>Summary page to to Access Point Summary> All APs to see how many in use currently

 

Yeah, 15 is your max without paying more.

[rjf2019]

Scroll down on the first Monitor>Summary page to to Access Point Summary> All APs to see how many in use currently

 

Yeah, 15 is your max without paying more.

 

Thanks, yes we currently have 12.

[mavhc]

Excellent, plug one in, if it doesn't connect I'd suspect the 10 year problem, you'll have to set the clock back to update it.

[rjf2019]

Excellent, plug one in, if it doesn't connect I'd suspect the 10 year problem, you'll have to set the clock back to update it.

 

Thanks, that's a very helpful link you posted earlier. From reading it, would I be right in thinking that if we'd recently had an overnight power cut and the WLC had been powered off, and then come back on again without any issues, then we're alright? (Unless the certificate has exired in the meantime.)

 

​Edit:​

 

Just had more of a play with the WLC interface... Under Management --> HTTP-HTTPS I see the attached file. Does that mean we're good until February of 2022 before we hit any problems?

Edited October 18, 2019 by rjf2019

[mavhc]

Think it's a different certificate. Check the cisco docs, make sure you're on the latest firmware, and then run that config command to disable the checks.

[PotNoodleTech]

Does that indicate 15 licences? Just checked the data sheet and it says that they are sold with 5, 15, 25 or 50 licences.

@AButters , if we do have the licences, then that would be warmly appreciated.

 

Edit:

 

 

​Just looked further under: Management --> Software Activation --> Licences and I've attached a screenshot of what I see. To me, that confirms 15 permanent licences.

 

PM me your schools details etc and I'll see what I can do!

 

Thanks

 

Andrew

[rjf2019]

PM me your schools details etc and I'll see what I can do!

 

Thanks

 

Andrew

 

 

I've just PM'd you