Cisco Wifi access points roaming

access-pointcisco

I have two Cisco AIR-AP1832-E-K9 access points.

The first one is already operational (1).

Its operating mode is: AP & Controller (2).

I configured two WLANs (and also two VLANs, two SSIDs) on this WLC-AP.

With the second AP I would like to achieve roaming.

I don't know how to configure this second access point.

By default, AIR-AP1832-E-K9 are in "AP & Controller" operating mode.

But I don't need two controllers.

Can the second AP "share" the configuration of the first AP (the WLAN definitions for example)?

Or do these WLANs (VLANs and SSIDs) have to be redefined in exactly the same way on the second AP?

How does the second AP "pairs"/"associates with" with the first one?

Does it have something to do with "master" and "subordinate" APs?

I don't care about doing this configuration twice but I don't want the APs to "compete".

I just need to go from one room to another with my Cisco Wifi phone in hand without any disruption.

Thank you.

(1) As a side note, I did the first AP configuration in CLI.

(2) I don't know how to check that in CLI. If you know, please share.

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EDIT 1

I just did the initial configuration in CLI of the second access point.

As a result, I cannot access the first access point anymore (either via https://access_point_1_ip or via SSH).

I can access the second access point via https://access_point_2_ip and it shows that:

  • the second access point operating mode is "AP & Controller",
  • the first access point operating mode is "AP only".

And I cannot change these operating modes via the GUI.

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EDIT 2

I solved my problem by installing the 8.5.131.0 version of the software on AP1.

And apart from the initial setup, I didn't configure anything special on the second access point.

Thank you for your help.

Best Answer

Apparently, you don't actually have a controller, which would make things very simple.

But briefly:

  • You need to configure each access point with its own IP address.
  • Each access point will use a different RF channel.
  • Both access points will have the same SSID and same WPA key.
  • Both access points will map the SSID to the same VLAN.

This will allow your clients to roam.