AP Migration from Traditional Wireless to SD-Access Fabric

SD-Access wireless architecture integrates wireless access into the SD-Access fabric to gain all the advantages of the fabric and Cisco DNA Center automation. Over The Top (OTT) wireless architecture involves running a traditional wireless on top of the fabric network.

Figure 1. SD-Access Wireless Architecture
SD-Access Wireless Architecture

This guide describes how to migrate APs from a traditional wireless or OTT network to Cisco SD-Access fabric network using Cisco DNA Center.

This guide is based on Cisco DNA Center 2.3.3; steps and examples may vary based on your Cisco DNA Center version.

Prerequisites

Ensure the following:

  • You have set up a Cisco SD-Access fabric network using Cisco DNA Center.

  • The devices involved in the migration are discovered and available in the Cisco DNA Center inventory.

Scenario 1: Migrate APs that are not managed by Cisco DNA Center

In this scenario, APs belong to a traditional wireless network that is not managed by Cisco DNA Center. Migration involves deploying a new Cisco SD-Access fabric wireless controller using Cisco DNA Center and then migrating the APs to the fabric wireless controller.

Procedure

Step 1

Create a network profile for the fabric network and assign it to the sites to be migrated.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Profiles.

  2. Click Add Profile and choose Wireless.

    Add Profile

  3. Enter a valid profile name in the Profile Name field.

  4. Click Assign to assign sites to the profile.

    Create Network Profile

  5. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 2

Create SSIDs for the wireless fabric network and associate it to the fabric profile.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Settings.

  2. Click the Wireless tab.

  3. From the left hierarchy tree, choose Global.

  4. In the SSID table, click the Add icon, and choose Enterprise.

    Add SSID

  5. Configure the required settings.

    SSID Settings

  6. Associate the SSID to the fabric profile.

    Associate SSID to Profile

  7. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 3

Provision the wireless controller.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the wireless controller that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

    Provision Device

    In the Select Primary Managed AP Locations option, choose the sites to be migrated.

    Select Managed AP Locations

  4. Configure the other required settings and click Deploy.

Step 4

Add the wireless controller to the fabric network.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Fabric Infrastructure tab.

    Fabric Infrastructure

  4. Choose the wireless controller that you want to add to the fabric network.

  5. In the Fabric window, click the Wireless toggle button and click Add.

    Add to Fabric

    The wireless controller is added to the fabric network.

Step 5

Assign an IP pool to the SSID.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Wireless SSIDs tab.

    Assign IP Pool to SSID

  4. Choose the SSID and assign an IP address pool.

Step 6

On the DHCP server, configure the DHCP Option 43 in the INFRA VN to point to the fabric wireless controller.

Step 7

On the traditional wireless controller GUI, select an AP and perform a factory-reset.

Step 8

Connect the AP to the fabric edge.

The AP gets the IP address from the INFRA VN and joins the fabric wireless controller.

Step 9

Check the Cisco DNA Center inventory to ensure that the AP is reachable and in a managed state. Resync the fabric wireless controller, if needed.

AP Inventory Status

Step 10

Provision the AP.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the AP that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

  4. Configure other required settings and click Deploy.

Step 11

Repeat Step 8 through Step 10 to migrate the remaining APs.

What to do next

Ensure that there are access tunnels for all the migrated APs on the fabric edge nodes and the APs are shown as fabric-enabled on the fabric wireless controller.

Ensure that the APs are broadcasting the fabric SSIDs. You can check the SSID status on the AP using the run show dot11 wlan command; the SSIDs must be in up state.

Scenario 2: Migrate Local Mode APs (managed by Cisco DNA Center)

In this scenario, APs belong to a traditional or OTT wireless controller that is managed by Cisco DNA Center. Migration involves deploying a new Cisco SD-Access fabric wireless controller using Cisco DNA Center and migrating the APs to the fabric wireless controller. This scenario assumes that APs are already part of the INFRA VN and connected to the fabric edge and are in Local mode (central switching).

Before you begin

Ensure that APs are connected to the fabric edge nodes.

In this scenario, since the traditional or OTT wireless controller is already managing the fabric site, you must create two buildings under the network hierarchy, one for the OTT wireless controller and the other for the fabric wireless controller. For example, Building 1 for the OTT wireless controller and Building 2 for the fabric wireless controller. These buildings are used temporarily during the migration process for provisioning the wireless controllers.

Procedure

Step 1

Create a network profile for the fabric network and assign it to the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Profiles.

  2. Click Add Profile and choose Wireless.

    Add Profile

  3. Enter a valid profile name in the Profile Name field.

  4. Click Assign to assign sites to the profile.

    Choose the site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller.

    Create Network Profile

  5. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 2

Create SSIDs for the wireless fabric network and associate it to the fabric profile.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Settings.

  2. Click the Wireless tab.

  3. From the left hierarchy tree, choose Global.

  4. In the SSID table, click the Add icon, and choose Enterprise.

    Add SSID

  5. Configure the required settings.

    SSID Settings

  6. Associate the SSID to the fabric profile.

    Associate SSID to Profile

  7. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 3

Provision the fabric wireless controller.

Note

 

Before provisioning, check if the OTT wireless controller has the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller under managed locations. If it is, remove the site from the OTT wireless controller and reprovision it before adding the new site (Building 2) to the fabric wireless controller.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the wireless controller that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

    Provision Device

    Use the Select Primary Managed AP Locations option and choose the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric controller.

    Select Managed AP Locations

  4. Configure the other required settings and click Deploy.

Step 4

Add the fabric wireless controller to the fabric network.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Fabric Infrastructure tab.

    Fabric Infrastructure

  4. Choose the wireless controller that you want to add to the fabric network.

  5. In the Fabric window, click the Wireless toggle button and click Add.

    Add to Fabric

    The wireless controller is added to the fabric network.

Step 5

Assign an IP pool to the SSID.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Wireless SSIDs tab.

    Assign IP Pool to SSID

  4. Choose the SSID and assign an IP address pool.

Step 6

On the DHCP server, configure the DHCP Option 43 in the INFRA VN to point to the fabric wireless controller.

Step 7

On the wireless controller GUI, select an AP and perform a factory-reset.

The AP reboots, gets the IP address from the INFRA VN, and joins the fabric wireless controller.

Step 8

Check the Cisco DNA Center inventory to ensure that the AP is reachable and in a managed state. Resync the fabric wireless controller, if needed.

AP Inventory Status

Step 9

Migrate the rest of the APs using the Cisco DNA Center Configure Access Points workflow.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Workflows > Configure Access Points.

  2. Click the Configure AP And Radio Parameters radio button and choose the Configure AP Parameters option.

  3. Configure fabric wireless controller as the primary controller and OTT wireless controller as the secondary controller.

    Configure AP Parameters

  4. Configure the other AP parameters, if needed, and complete the workflow.

Step 10

Log in to the fabric wireless controller GUI and make sure that AP has joined the wireless controller.

Step 11

Resync the fabric and OTT wireless controllers on the Cisco DNA Center GUI.

Step 12

Provision the OTT wireless controller by removing the sites to be migrated and assigning the new site (Building 1) under managed AP locations.

Step 13

Assign the sites to be migrated in the fabric profile.

Step 14

Provision the fabric wireless controller by adding the sites to be migrated and removing the new site (Building 2) from the managed AP locations.

Step 15

Provision the migrated APs.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the AP that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

  4. Configure the required settings and click Deploy.

Ensure that the APs have the correct site tag, RF tag, and policy tag.

Step 16

Use the above procedure for migrating additional sites, if required.

Step 17

After migrating all the sites under the OTT wireless controller, remove the OTT wireless controller from Cisco DNA Center and delete the temporary sites that were created (Building 1 and Building 2).

What to do next

Ensure that there are access tunnels for all the fabric APs on the fabric edge nodes and the APs are shown as fabric-enabled on the fabric wireless controller.

Ensure that the APs are broadcasting the fabric SSIDs. You can check the SSID status on the AP using the run show dot11 wlan command; the SSIDs must be in up state.

Scenario 3: Migrate Flex Mode APs (managed by Cisco DNA Center)

In this scenario, APs belong to a traditional or OTT wireless controller that is managed by Cisco DNA Center. Migration involves deploying a new Cisco SD-Access fabric wireless controller using Cisco DNA Center and migrating the APs to the fabric wireless controller. This scenario assumes that APs are already part of the INFRA VN and connected to the fabric edge and are in FlexConnect mode (local switching).

Before you begin

Ensure that APs are connected to the fabric edge nodes.

In this scenario, since the traditional or OTT wireless controller is already managing the fabric site, you must create two buildings under the network hierarchy, one for the OTT wireless controller and the other for the fabric wireless controller. For example, Building 1 for the OTT wireless controller and Building 2 for the fabric wireless controller. These buildings are used temporarily during the migration process for provisioning the wireless controllers.

Procedure

Step 1

Create a network profile for the fabric network and assign it to the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Profiles.

  2. Click Add Profile and choose Wireless.

    Add Profile

  3. Enter a valid profile name in the Profile Name field.

  4. Click Assign to assign sites to the profile.

    Choose the site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller.

    Create Network Profile

  5. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 2

Create SSIDs for the wireless fabric network and associate it to the fabric profile.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Design > Network Settings.

  2. Click the Wireless tab.

  3. From the left hierarchy tree, choose Global.

  4. In the SSID table, click the Add icon, and choose Enterprise.

    Add SSID

  5. Configure the required settings.

    SSID Settings

  6. Associate the SSID to the fabric profile.

    Associate SSID to Profile

  7. Configure the other required details and click Save.

Step 3

Provision the fabric wireless controller.

Note

 

Before provisioning, check if the OTT wireless controller has the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric wireless controller under managed locations. If it is, remove the site from the OTT wireless controller and reprovision it before adding the new site (Building 2) to the fabric wireless controller.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the wireless controller that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

    Provision Device

    Use the Select Primary Managed AP Locations option and choose the new site (Building 2) created for the fabric controller.

    Select Managed AP Locations

  4. Configure the other required settings and click Deploy.

Step 4

Add the fabric wireless controller to the fabric network.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Fabric Infrastructure tab.

    Fabric Infrastructure

  4. Choose the wireless controller that you want to add to the fabric network.

  5. In the Fabric window, click the Wireless toggle button and click Add.

    Add to Fabric

    The wireless controller is added to the fabric network.

Step 5

Assign an IP pool to the SSID.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Fabric Sites.

  2. Select the fabric site.

  3. Click the Wireless SSIDs tab.

    Assign IP Pool to SSID

  4. Choose the SSID and assign an IP address pool.

Step 6

On the DHCP server, configure the DHCP Option 43 in the INFRA VN to point to the fabric wireless controller.

Step 7

On the wireless controller GUI, select an AP and perform a factory-reset.

Step 8

Set the AP switchport to default value using the default int <> command on the switch.

The AP reboots, gets the IP address from the INFRA VN, and joins the fabric wireless controller.

Step 9

Check the Cisco DNA Center inventory to ensure that the AP is reachable and in a managed state. Resync the fabric wireless controller, if needed.

AP Inventory Status

Step 10

Migrate the rest of the APs using the Cisco DNA Center Configure Access Points workflow.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Workflows > Configure Access Points.

  2. Click the Configure AP And Radio Parameters radio button and choose the Configure AP Parameters option.

  3. Configure fabric wireless controller as the primary controller and OTT wireless controller as the secondary controller.

    Configure AP Parameters

  4. Configure the other AP parameters, if needed, and complete the workflow.

Step 11

Set the AP switchports to default values.

For bulk configurations, use Cisco DNA Center templates.

Step 12

Log in to the fabric wireless controller GUI and make sure that AP has joined the wireless controller.

Step 13

Resync the fabric and OTT wireless controllers on the Cisco DNA Center GUI.

Step 14

Provision the OTT wireless controller by removing the sites to be migrated and assigning the new site (Building 1) under managed AP locations.

Step 15

Assign the sites to be migrated in the fabric profile.

Step 16

Provision the fabric wireless controller by adding the sites to be migrated and removing the new site (Building 2) from the managed AP locations.

Step 17

Provision the migrated APs.

  1. In the Cisco DNA Center home page, click the menu icon and choose Provision > Inventory.

  2. Select the AP that you want to provision.

  3. From the Actions drop-down list, choose Provision > Provision Device.

  4. Choose a floor and configure other required settings.

    Provision AP

  5. Click Deploy.

Ensure that the APs have the correct site tag, RF tag, and policy tag.

Step 18

Use the above procedure for migrating additional sites, if required.

Step 19

After migrating all the sites under the OTT wireless controller, remove the OTT wireless controller from Cisco DNA Center and delete the temporary sites that were created (Building 1 and Building 2).

Step 20

Remove the VLANS that are not needed from all the fabric edges.

You can use Cisco DNA Center templates for this task.

What to do next

Ensure that there are access tunnels for all the fabric APs on the fabric edge nodes and the APs are shown as fabric-enabled on the fabric wireless controller.

Ensure that the APs are broadcasting the fabric SSIDs. You can check the SSID status on the AP using the run show dot11 wlan command; the SSIDs must be in up state.