I spent days attempting to do this conversion using the documentation online, and failed miserably. I opened a ticket with Cisco, and their engineer also failed miserably. While the engineer troubleshot using their own setup, I managed to cull the necessary information from multiple unrelated posts and deep-diving the commands.
NOTE: This how-to specifically applies to 1815i WAPs that DO NOT ALREADY HAVE MOBILITY EXPRESS INSTALLED. If the device is new and in the box, it will say it on the box. If not, then you can determine it in the elevated CLI by typing show version. IF THE DEVICE ALREADY HAS IT INSTALLED, you will see this:
AP Running Image : 8.5.110.0 (or whatever version)
Primary Boot Image : 8.5.110.0
Backup Boot Image : 8.3.111.0
AP Image type : MOBILITY EXPRESS IMAGE
AP Configuration : MOBILITY EXPRESS CAPABLE
or
AP Running Image : 8.6.110.0
Primary Boot Image : 8.6.110.0
Backup Boot Image : 8.3.111.0
AP Image type : MOBILITY EXPRESS IMAGE
AP Configuration : NOT MOBILITY EXPRESS CAPABLE
Step 1: Prerequisites
You need the following:
- SmartNet contract for the device. This gives you access to the upgrade firmware.
- TFTP server. I used the free one from SolarWinds.
- Console cable. I use a USB-based one purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AFNBC3K
- PoE for the device, either through a switch or injector.
- Terminal interface. I’m using Windows 10, so I use PuTTY.
- Mobility Express firmware, uploaded to your TFTP Root folder.
Step 2: Make all the connections
Connect console cable to the Console Port on your device, and the other end to your computer.
Connect your device to your network via the POE port, and let it get an IP address via DHCP.
Launch your terminal app and connect to the device via Serial.
Make sure that your TFTP server’s firewall allows UDP:69
Step 3: Wait for the device to load, and then log in.
Hit Enter when you see it repeatedly trying to connect to a controller on 255.255.255.255. If the device is new, the Username and password are both Cisco (case sensitive)
Username Cisco
Password
ap enable
Password
ap#
Step 4: Stop the constant logging that wrecks your train of thought
ap#logging console disable
Step 5: Switch the boot loader to part 1
The device boots from part 2 by default. Switching to part 1 makes the next steps easier.
ap#config boot path 1
Step 6: Restart the device
ap#reload
Proceed with reload? [confirm]
Step 7: While in Part 1, load new firmware
ap#archive download-sw /reload tftp:///
Example:
ap#archive download-sw /reload tftp://10.10.10.52/AIR-AP1815-K9-ME-8-6-101-0.tar
Step 8: Watch and confirm
You should see something like this;
######################################################################## 100.0%
Image downloaded, writing to flash…
do PREDOWNLOAD, part1 is active part
sh: CHECK_ME: unknown operand
Verify returns 0
Verify returns 0
Unlocking /dev/mtd4 …
Erasing /dev/mtd4 …
23+0 records in
23+0 records out
part to upgrade is part2
AP backup version: 8.6.101.0
do ACTIVATE, part1 is active part
activate , set BOOT to part2
AP primary version: 8.6.101.0
AP backup version: 8.3.111.0
Archive done.
upgrade: AP Rebooting: CLI triggered reboot(archive command)
(device restarts)
Step 9: Log back in and Verify that the device has Mobility Express available
ap#show version
…endless text…
AP Running Image : 8.6.110.0
Primary Boot Image : 8.6.110.0
Backup Boot Image : 8.3.111.0
AP Image type : MOBILITY EXPRESS IMAGE
AP Configuration : NOT MOBILITY EXPRESS CAPABLE
Step 10: Convert the device to Mobility Express (standalone mode)
ap#ap-type mobility-express
Changing AP Type to Mobility Express
(device restarts, and takes five+ minutes to get to the Cisco Wizard Configuration Tool)
You will now be presented with a new set of configuration options that are not covered in this How-to, but the first one will be:
Would you like to terminate autoinstall? [yes]:
The rest of the configuration is actually pretty well-covered in Cisco’s documentation. Just be sure to assign a static address to the device that is NOT THE SAME as the one it received via DHCP on your network.
Thus concludes my first How-to.