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Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

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  • 1.  Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 11, 2025 06:54 AM

    Hi Everyone,

    we are currently running smaller location with a cluster of 24 AP224.

    Theyre running on Version 8.6.0.24.

    We now want to expand the location and also the wifi cluster. We think about AP 515.

    Is it possible to integrate the 515's into the existing cluster? What Firmware do they need to run on?



  • 2.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs
    Best Answer

    Posted Jun 11, 2025 12:15 PM

    Please check with your local account team for help on this.  Look at the datasheet for the AP-515 to see the minimum software version and then check if the AP-224 has a version in common.



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    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 02:29 AM

    Hi,

    thanks for your reply!

    Yeah, i looked after the minimum firmware. According to this table, it would be 8.4.0.

    The 8.6.0.24 is also compatible. This would be the correct firmware for both APs. On the other hand, i dont know if its compliant to run new APs on older firmware...

    Maybe we buy completly new APs and get rid of the 224. 

    Thank you!




  • 4.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 06:53 AM

    You must remember that IAPs perform master election at boot time. As long as no preferred master AP is configured in the Instant Cluster, AP 515 would win the master election. In this case, it would distribute its configuration to all IAPs in the cluster. For an AP fresh out of the box, this would mean that it deletes the instant configuration.



    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Waldemar
    ACCX # 1377, ACEP, ACX - Network Security
    If you find my answer useful, consider giving kudos and/or mark as solution
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 07:11 AM

    Thank you. I thought about something like this.

    One of the AP-224 is preferred master. So this means i could connect a 515 to the same network and it would join the cluster as slave AP?




  • 6.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 09:25 AM

    Yes exactly, just put the new AP in the same VLAN where the rest of the APs are.

    The new AP must have the same software version as the 224 APs, otherwise it will not join the cluster.



    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Waldemar
    ACCX # 1377, ACEP, ACX - Network Security
    If you find my answer useful, consider giving kudos and/or mark as solution
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 09:52 AM

    Hi Waldemar,

    thank you. How do i downgrade the APs before joining the cluster?

    Last week i configured a AP515 cluster. Configured the first AP as master, upgraded the firmware to 8.10 and then included the other APs.

    Every AP joined the cluster and upgraded the firmware automatically. Wont this work the other way around with downgrading the firmware?




  • 8.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 11:25 AM

    Hi Christoph,

    if an AP joins the Instant Cluster and has a different software version, it must synchronize it. It can download the software from the Instant Master - provided that it requires the same image type as is available on the Instant Master. This is probably what happened with your AP515 cluster.

    It will work the same way when downgrading. If you upload a different software version in the AP515 cluster, it will be distributed to all APs that are currently on. After the downgrade, all APs will boot. If you later boot up additional AP515s in the same VLAN, they will also automatically perform a software downgrade.



    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Waldemar
    ACCX # 1377, ACEP, ACX - Network Security
    If you find my answer useful, consider giving kudos and/or mark as solution
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 12, 2025 01:23 PM

    Considering where in the product lifecycle the AP-224 is, yes, get rid of them.  Also, if you're attempting to mix the AP-515 into the same area where the AP-224 is providing coverage, then you'll have some interesting results for your clients as they move between an 802.11ac wave 1 (Wi-Fi 5 wave 1) and an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) AP.



    ------------------------------
    Carson Hulcher, ACEX#110
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Expand existing WiFi Cluster with new APs

    Posted Jun 13, 2025 01:50 AM

    Thats a good point. I also thought about this.

    There are two separate warehouses in our building. At the moment we use one of them and want to expand to the second one.

    Therye are separated with a wall and some doors. The clients will be roaming through both warehouses but the transition between WH1 and WH2 would take some time.

    Anyways, i think the best will be to get rid of the 224.

    Thank you for your replies!