AP Mode Switching Fails

Symptom

An AP fails to switch between the Fat and Fit modes.

Possible Causes

• The AP software version is incompatible.
• The network between the AP and the file server is disconnected.
• The user name or password of the file server is incorrect.
• The password of the file server contains special characters.
• No operations are performed to check whether AP mode switching is supported.
• The available memory of the AP is insufficient.
• When a PC functions as the FTP, SFTP, or TFTP server, the firewall is enabled on the PC. As a result, the AP upgrade file cannot be downloaded.
• The FTP server does not support REST commands.

Troubleshooting Procedure

1. Check whether the AP software matches the AP model.

   The AP software version must match the AP model, that is, the software version for an AP model cannot be loaded to a different AP model.

   # Run the display version command to view the AP model.

   <Huawei> display version
   Huawei Versatile Routing Platform Software
   VRP (R) software, Version 5.130 (AP5030DN FAT V200R006C10)
   Copyright (C) 2011-2013 HUAWEI TECH CO., LTD
   ......

   If the obtained system software package does not match the AP model, log in to the Huawei enterprise technical support website (http://support.huawei.com/enterprise) to obtain the system software package and Upgrade Guide required by the AP model.

   • To switch a Fat AP to a Fit AP, you need to obtain the following files:
     • Fit AP version software package, such as FitAP5X30XN_V200R006C20.bin
     • Upgrade assistant package, such as FatAP5X30XN_V200R006C20.upgrade_assistant_package.bin

       The assistant package is only supported by the AP1010SN, AP3010DN-V2, AP3030DN, AP4030DN, AP4030DN-E, AP4130DN, AP5030DN, AP5030DN-S, AP5130DN, AP9131DN, and AP9132DN.

     • Uboot file u-boot.bin, which is required when the update is performed using Uboot

       From V200R007C10, the Uboot file u-boot.bin is integrated into the software package and is not independently released.

   • To switch a Fit AP to a Fat AP, you need to obtain the following files:
     • Fat AP version software package, such as FatAP5X30XN_V200R006C20.bin
     • Uboot file u-boot.bin, which is required when the update is performed using Uboot

2. Check whether the AP software version is compatible.

   Huawei APs can work in Fat AP mode from V200R003, and mode switching is not supported between APs running versions earlier than V200R003.

   For example, if you want to switch a Fit AP running V200R002 to a Fat AP, upgrade the Fit AP to V200R003 first.

   To switch a Fat AP to a Fit AP running V200R002, switch the Fat AP to a Fit AP running V200R003, and then roll back the Fit AP version to V200R002.

   # Run the display version command to view the AP software version.

   <Huawei> display version
   Huawei Versatile Routing Platform Software
   VRP (R) software, Version 5.130 (AP5030DN FIT V200R006C10)
   Copyright (C) 2011-2013 HUAWEI TECH CO., LTD
   ......

   If the AP runs a version earlier than V200R003, upgrade the AP software version to V200R003 before switching the AP mode.

   To switch the AP mode across versions, for example, from Fat AP in V200R007C10 to Fit AP in V200R008C10 (skipping V200R007C20), ensure that the version of the upgrade assistant package is the same as the software version.

3. Check whether a PC can successfully ping the AP.

   You cannot switch a Fit AP to a Fat AP in remote upgrade mode using commands. Instead, a PC is required to function as a server. The network port of the PC must be connected to the network port of the AP, and the PC must be able to communicate with the AP.

   Remote upgrade is supported when you switch a Fat AP to a Fit AP using commands. The PC must be able to communicate with the AP.

   1. Access the Windows command line interface (CLI) on your PC, and run the ping command to check whether the PC can successfully ping the AP.

      C:\Users\xxxx> ping 192.168.0.1
      Pinging 192.168.0.1, with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
      Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
      Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
      Reply from 192.168.0.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
      Ping statistics for 192.168.0.1:
      Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% lost)
      Estimated RTT (ms):
      Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

      If the message "Request time out" is displayed, the target device is unreachable.

   2. If the PC fails to ping the AP, change the IP address of the AP or PC.
      • If the PC fails to ping the Fit AP, change the IP address of the PC to ensure that the IP address of the PC is on the same network segment as the IP address of the Fit AP.

        The default IP address of the Fit AP is 169.254.1.1. The IP address of the PC must be on the network segment 169.254.1.0, excluding the IP address 169.254.1.1, with the subnet mask 255.255.255.0. The IP address 169.254.1.100 is recommended.

      • If the PC fails to ping the Fat AP, change the IP address of the PC or Fat AP.

        To change the IP address of the Fat AP, perform the following steps:

        1. Run the display this command in the interface view on the AP to check whether the IP address of the AP is correctly configured.
        2. If the IP address is incorrect, run the ip address ip-address { mask | mask-length } command in the interface view to reconfigure an IP address for the AP.
   3. Run the ping command on the PC again to check whether the PC can successfully ping the AP.

4. Check whether the file server is correctly configured.

   The file system of an AP is different from that of other network devices, such as an AC. An AP has a small storage space and its system software package (a .bin file) cannot be downloaded to a local storage device for the upgrade. An AP can only load system software through a file server. Therefore, when loading the system software, ensure that the FTP, SFTP, or TFTP service is enabled on the file server and the user name and password are correctly configured.

   You can run an FTP, SFTP, or TFTP server program, such as wftpd32 or tftpd32, on a PC so the PC can function as an FTP, SFTP, or TFTP server.

   1. Perform the following operations to check whether the AP can access the file server.

      Assume that the IP address of the file server is 192.168.0.2, and the user name and password are huawei and huawei123, respectively.

      • For the FTP server:

        <Huawei> ftp 192.168.0.2 
        Trying 192.168.0.2 ... 
        Press CTRL+K to abort 
        Connected to 192.168.0.2. 
        220 FTP service ready. 
        User(192.168.0.2:(none)):huawei 
        331 Password required for huawei. 
        Enter password: 
        230 User logged in. 

        If the system prompts you to enter the user name and password, the FTP service is enabled on the file server. You need to enter the user name and password to access the file server.

      • For the SFTP server:

        <Huawei> system-view
        [Huawei] ssh client first-time enable
        [Huawei] sftp 192.168.0.2
        Please input the username: huawei
        Trying 192.168.0.2 ...
        Press CTRL+K to abort
        Enter password:
        sftp-client>

        If the system prompts you to enter the user name and password, the SFTP service is enabled on the file server. You need to enter the user name and password to access the file server.

      • For the TFTP server:

        No user name or password is required for the TFTP server. You can upload a local file on the AP to the file server to check whether the TFTP service is enabled on the file server. If the file is successfully uploaded, the TFTP service is enabled on the file server.

        The following uses the local file test.txt as an example.

        <Huawei> tftp 192.168.0.2 put test.txt

   2. If the FTP, SFTP, or TFTP service is disabled, enable the service on the file server.

      For details, see the help information of the corresponding server.

   3. If the user name and password are incorrect, reconfigure the user name and password.

      You are advised to configure a password that consists of letters and digits but no special characters.

   4. Check whether the name of the system software to be upgraded is correct.

      Check whether the system software name (a string of case-insensitive characters) entered on the AP is the same as that on the file server. If they are different, the download fails. Assume that the IP address of the file server is 192.168.0.2. If TFTP is used, the system software test.bin needs to be downloaded.

      <Huawei> system-view
      [Huawei] ap-mode-switch tftp test.bin 192.168.0.2 
      Info: Preparing to upgrade. Please wait a moment .............
      
      Warning: System will reboot, if you want to switch to upgrade-assistant-package.
      Are you sure to execute these operations ? [Y/N]:Y

5. Check whether the AP mode switching is allowed.

   Before you switch a Fat AP to a Fit AP or a Fit AP to a Fat AP, run the ap-mode-switch check command to check whether the file system of the AP allows the switching between a Fit AP and a Fat AP. The AP mode switching check is not required for the AP8030DN, AP8130DN, AD9430DN-24, and AD9430DN-12. The system software of an AP can be changed or upgraded only after the check result shows that the file system allows for AP mode switching.

   To switch a Fit AP to a Fat AP, if the check result shows that the AP mode switching is not allowed, run the ap-mode-switch prepare command to update the current file system of the AP to a file system that allows a Fit AP to be switched to a Fat AP. Then load the Fat AP system software through the TFTP, FTP, or SFTP server to complete the AP mode switching.

   Run the ap-mode-switch check command in the system view on the AP to check whether the file system of the AP allows for AP mode switching.

   • To switch a Fit AP to a Fat AP, if the check result shows that the AP mode switching is not allowed, run the ap-mode-switch prepare command in the system view on the AP to update the current file system of the AP to a file system that allows a Fit AP to be switched to a Fat AP.
   • To switch a Fat AP to a Fit AP, if the check result shows that AP mode switching is not allowed, restart the AP and check again. If the check result still shows that AP mode switching is not allowed, contact technical support personnel.

6. Check whether the AP has sufficient available storage space.

   # Run the display memory-usage command to check whether the AP has sufficient available storage space.

   <Huawei> display memory-usage
    Memory utilization statistics at 2016-05-23 16:53:36 430 ms
    System Total Memory Is: 66272 kbytes //Indicates the total memory space of the AP system.
    Total Memory Used Is: 39476 kbytes //Indicates the used memory space.
    Memory Using Percentage Is: 60%

   The remaining memory space of an AP is the space left after subtracting the used memory space from the total memory space. If the remaining memory space on an AP is insufficient for storing the new system software package, restart the AP and upgrade it. You can upgrade the AP using Uboot.

   For details about how to upgrade an AP using Uboot, see the Upgrade Guide. Log in to the Huawei enterprise technical support website (http://support.huawei.com/enterprise), and obtain the Upgrade Guide for the corresponding AP model and version.

7. If a Fit AP fails to be switched to a Fat AP in AC mode, rectify the fault by referring to Fit AP Upgrade Fails.
8. When a PC functions as the FTP, SFTP, or TFTP server, you are advised to temporarily disable the firewall and check whether the AP can access the file server.
9. Collect the fault information.
   • Version information

     [Huawei-diagnose] vrbd
     [Huawei-diagnose] display image
     [Huawei-diagnose] display upgrade-assistant-package version

     The display upgrade-assistant-package version command is supported only on Fat APs.

   • Reasons for the failure to switch a Fit AP to a Fat AP

     <Huawei> display upgrade failure-reason

     The display upgrade failure-reason command output is valid only for switching a Fit AP to a Fat AP. This command is supported only on Fit APs.

   • Configuration information

     <Huawei> display current-configuration

   • File system information

     <Huawei> dir flash:/

   • Log information

     [Huawei-diagnose] display logfile buffer
     [Huawei-diagnose] display diag-logfile buffer

     Export log files: Export all log files (in the .dblg, .log, .dblg.zip, or .log.zip format) that record the fault occurrence time in the flash:/logfile directory using FTP or the web platform.