(Optional) Configuring Automatic Upgrade When APs Go Online

Context

APs can be upgraded on an AC in the following modes:

Automatic upgrade: used when APs are not online on an AC yet. Usually, automatic upgrade parameters are configured prior to AP access. When going online, APs upgrade automatically.

For APs that are already online on the AC, you can trigger AP restart after configuring the automatic upgrade parameters, and the APs upgrade automatically during restart. Compared to the automatic upgrade, the in-service upgrade can reduce service interruption time.
In-service upgrade: mainly used when APs are already online on the AC and carry WLAN services. For details about the in-service upgrade, see Performing an In-Service Upgrade and Patch Loading for APs.
Scheduled upgrade: mainly used when APs are already online on the AC and carry WLAN services. A scheduled upgrade is recommended when the access traffic volume on the network is low.

In automatic upgrade mode, an AP checks whether its version is the same as that configured on the AC, SFTP server, or FTP server during login. If the two versions are different, the AP upgrades its version, restarts, and goes online again. If the two versions are the same, the AP does not upgrade its version.

Table 1 lists the automatic upgrade modes supported by APs.

**Table 1** AP automatic upgrade modes
Upgrade Mode	Function	Scenario
AC mode	An AP downloads the upgrade file from an AC.	This mode applies to the scenario where a small number of APs need to go online.
FTP mode	An AP downloads the upgrade file from an FTP server.	This mode applies to the scenario where high network security is not required in file transmission. In FTP mode, data is transmitted in plain text, bringing potential security risks.
SFTP mode	An AP downloads the upgrade file from an SFTP server.	This mode applies to the scenario demanding high network security. In SFTP mode, data is encrypted, ensuring data integrity and privacy.

If multiple APs are upgraded simultaneously in AC mode, the upgrade takes a long time and many AC resources are consumed. To reduce service interruption caused by AP upgrade, the FTP or SFTP mode is recommended.

Prerequisites

The AP version file has been uploaded to the AC, SFTP server, or FTP server.

Procedure

Run system-view
The system view is displayed.
Run wlan
The WLAN view is displayed.
Run the following commands as required.
- AC mode
  
  Run ap update mode ac-mode
  
  The AP upgrade mode is set to AC mode.
  
  By default, the AP upgrade mode is AC mode.
  
  If the source AP version is V200R008 or earlier, the APs cannot be upgraded in AC mode.
- FTP mode
  1. Run ap update mode ftp-mode
    
    The AP upgrade mode is set to FTP mode.
    
    By default, the AP upgrade mode is AC mode.
  2. Run ap update ftp-server ip-address server-ip-address ftp-username ftp-username ftp-password cipher ftp-password
    
    Basic FTP information is configured.
    
    By default, no IP address, user name, or password is configured for the FTP server.
    
    It is recommended that you use an external FTP server to upgrade APs. If the AC functions as the FTP server, a maximum of five APs can be upgraded simultaneously. If there are n login VTY users, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is subtracted by n - 1.
    
    The FTP server user name cannot contain the double quotation marks ("). Ensure that the FTP server user name and unencrypted password configured on the AC do not contain the preceding characters. Otherwise, FTP upgrade fails.
  3. Run ap update ftp-server max-connect-number max-connect-number
    
    The maximum number of APs to be upgraded simultaneously is configured.
    
    By default, a maximum of 50 APs can be upgraded simultaneously in FTP mode.
    An external FTP server can be used, which is recommended. The AC can also function as the FTP server.
    - When an external FTP server is used, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is the configured max-connect-number.
    - If an AC is used as the FTP server, a maximum of five APs can be upgraded simultaneously even if the specified number is larger than five.
      
      When the AC functions as the FTP server, run the ap update ftp-server max-connect-number max-connect-number command to set the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously. The value of max-connect-number is an integer ranging from 1 to 5. During the upgrade, a maximum of 1 to 5 APs can be upgraded at a time until all APs are upgraded.
      
      If the configured number of APs to be upgraded simultaneously is larger than five, an error message will be displayed after the first five APs are upgraded. The remaining APs cannot be automatically upgraded. You have to repeat the command until all APs are upgraded.
      
      If there are n login VTY users, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is subtracted by n - 1.
- SFTP mode
  1. Run ap update mode sftp-mode
    
    The AP upgrade mode is set to SFTP mode.
    
    By default, the AP upgrade mode is AC mode.
  2. Run ap update sftp-server ip-address server-ip-address sftp-username sftp-username sftp-password cipher sftp-password
    
    Basic SFTP information is configured.
    
    By default, no IP address, user name, or password is configured for the SFTP server.
    
    It is recommended that you use an external SFTP server to upgrade APs. If the AC functions as the SFTP server, a maximum of five APs can be upgraded simultaneously. If there are n login VTY users, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is subtracted by n - 1.
    
    APs do not support the double quotation marks ("). Ensure that the SFTP server user name and unencrypted password configured on the AC do not contain the preceding characters. Otherwise, SFTP upgrade fails.
  3. Run ap update sftp-server max-connect-number max-connect-number
    
    The maximum number of APs to be upgraded simultaneously is configured.
    
    By default, a maximum of 50 APs can be upgraded simultaneously in SFTP mode.
    An external SFTP server can be used, which is recommended. The AC can also function as the SFTP server.
    - When an external SFTP server is used, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is the configured max-connect-number.
    - If an AC is used as the SFTP server, a maximum of five APs can be upgraded simultaneously even if the specified number is larger than five.
      
      When the AC functions as the SFTP server, run the ap update sftp-server max-connect-number max-connect-number command to set the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously. The value of max-connect-number is an integer ranging from 1 to 5. During the upgrade, a maximum of 1 to 5 APs can be upgraded at a time until all APs are upgraded.
      
      If max-connect-number is set larger than 5, an error message will be displayed after the first five APs are upgraded. The remaining APs cannot be automatically upgraded. You have to repeat the command until all APs are upgraded.
      
      If there are n login VTY users, the maximum number of APs that can be upgraded simultaneously is subtracted by n - 1.
Run ap update update-filename filename ap-type type-id [ ap-group ap-group-name ]
An upgrade file is configured for APs of a specified type.

Verifying the Configuration

Run the display ap update configuration command to check AP upgrade configurations.
Run the display ap-type { all | id type-id | type ap-type } command to check the AP type.
Run the display ap version { all | { ap-group ap-group-name | version-name version-name } ^* } command to check the AP version.