How to Convert a Cisco 3502i Access Point from Autonomous to Lightweight Mode
How to Convert a Cisco 3502i Access Point from Autonomous to Lightweight Mode
If you have a Cisco 3502i access point that is running in autonomous mode, you might want to convert it to lightweight mode so that it can join a wireless LAN controller (WLC) and be centrally managed. This article will show you how to do that using a recovery mode file and a TFTP server.
Step 1: Download the Recovery Mode File
The recovery mode file is a lightweight image that allows the access point to join a WLC without having the full image. You can download the recovery mode file from the Cisco website. In this example, we will use the file ap3g1-rcvk9w8-tar.152-2.JB.tar, which is compatible with Cisco IOS Release 15.2(2)JB[^1^]. Make sure you have a valid Cisco account to access the download page.
ap3g1 rcvk9w8 tar 152 2 jb tar
Step 2: Configure a TFTP Server
You will need a TFTP server to transfer the recovery mode file to the access point. You can use any TFTP server software that you prefer, such as TFTPD32 or SolarWinds TFTP Server. Make sure that the TFTP server is running on your PC and that the recovery mode file is in the TFTP server folder.