Recently had to convert Cisco 3700 AP from Controller managed to Autonomous when I client separated from their parent company and bought out the IT equipment (that was a very costly mistake – if converting from corporate to small business invest in business grade IT equipment as it is much cheaper, by thousands of dollars). I researched online and found several posts about using the “archive sw-download” method on the AP, but those didn’t work with the TAR file that I was downloading from Cisco. I found another means of doing this by resetting the AP to factory defaults which allowed me to login via the console port and switching to manual boot.

Reset AP to Default

• Remove power from the AP
• Hold down the MODE button
• Plug back in power
• Wait 30 seconds then release the MODE button

Configure AP to Manual Boot

• You should now be able to login with the “enable” command using the password Cisco
• Type in the following command:
  • debug capwap con cli
  • conf t
  • boot manual
  • reload

Use TFTP to update firmware

• Download / Install a TFTP server software of your choice.
• Move Firmware TAR file into server directory
• Once the AP finishes the manual boot process the prompt with be ap:
• Type in the following commands:
  • set IP_ADDR <IP Address on same subnet as TFTP server>
  • set NETMASK <Subnet Mask on same subnet at TFTP server>
  • set DEFAULT_ROUTER <IP Address of default gateway>
  • ether_init
  • tftp_init
  • tar -xtract tftp://<IP Address of TFTP Server>/<Name of firmware TAR file> flash:
• use “dir flash:” and cd to find directory name and firmware file name, then issue the last commands:
  • set BOOT flash:/<Directory name>/<File name>
  • boot

The AP will reboot with the new firmware and be ready to access a new configuration. This method works great as long as the TFTP extraction of the TAR file completes successfully.

If you need any help gaining access to your Cisco network gear or with configuring your Cisco equipment, then contact us for support.