AP Firmware Upgrade Through the AP CLI

In rare cases, you may need to upgrade an AP using the CLI. This typically occurs under specific circumstances, such as when the AP is unreachable by the controller or when RUCKUS Support provides a special debugging image to help analyze an AP issue.

Complete the following steps to perform an AP firmware upgrade using the AP CLI:

Open the AP CLI. For more information, refer to Entering the AP CLI.

Note: It is important to note that for SmartZone-managed APs, firmware upgrades are usually handled automatically by the controller. Manual intervention via CLI is only necessary in exceptional situations. For more information about uploading an AP patch to upgrade the AP firmware directly from the controller, refer to the RUCKUS SmartZone Access Points and Switch Management Guide.

In the AP CLI, enter the command fw set with its different options to prepare the upgrade details:
- fw set host server_ip_address
```
rkscli: fw set host 192.168.110.164
Host: 192.168.110.164
OK
```
- fw set proto {ftp | tftp}
```
rkscli: fw set proto ftp
OK
```
- fw set port port_number. This command is optional, by default TFTP uses port 69 and FTP uses port 21. Set a different port number only if your server is configured as such.
```
rkscli: fw set port 12345
OK
```
- fw set user username. FTP uses username and password to make the transfer secure. Set the username that is configured in the FTP server.
```
rkscli: fw set user admin
OK
```
- fw set password password. FTP uses username and password to make the transfer secure. Set the password that is configured in the FTP server.
```
rkscli: fw set password pass-1
OK
```
- fw set control file_name. Use the file name as shown in the FTP or TFTP server, including the control file extension (.bl7).
```
rkscli: fw set control 118.2.0.0.875.bl7
Control file: 118.2.0.0.875.bl7
OK
```

Enter the fw show command to review the information you have entered to ensure it is correct.

rkscli: fw show
current primary boot image is Image2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto F/W upgrade                          = disabled
Running on image                          = Image2
FW Control Control File                   = 118.2.0.0.875.bl7
Control File Server                       = 192.168.110.164
Protocol                                  = FTP
Port                                      = 12345
User                                      = "8c6976e5b5410415bde908bd4dee15dfb167a9c873fc4bb8a81f6f2ab448a918" ---> The user information is encrypted.
Password                                  = "d7a27d87dd034ad5b270eff696b65ad45812b42f51224d10cc43a50613923ae6" ---> The password information is encrypted
Log Level                                 = Info [Default]
Ignore FW from Controller                 = disabled
Boot Flags (Main,Backup,Factory,Reset)    = M. ..  [MB FR]
Image1 Version                            = 6.1.2.0.1392
Image1 Type                               = FSI
Image2 Version                            = 6.1.2.0.2219
Image2 Type                               = FSI
Current AP Firmware Version               = 6.1.2.0.2219
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use <fw show all> command to get more information about Image1 and Image2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK

Enter the fw update command to initiate the file transfer from the server to the AP.

rkscli: fw update
fw: Updating rcks_wlan.main ...
v54_fw_update: download 192.168.110.164 section=rcks_fw.main image=Image1 ctl_file=118.2.0.0.875.bl7 (/writable/fw/main.cntl) local=0
net_get_firmware_download, Upgrading from Fully Signed Image(FSI) to Fully Signed Image(FSI) image.
 Host: 192.168.110.164, Port:12345, File: 118.2.0.0.875.bl7
Downloading firmware(50.79MB)
[====================================================================================================] 100
**fw(8367) : Completed

Enter the fw show all command to confirm the file upload was correct.

Enter the command reboot to force the AP to boot with the new file.

After the AP reboots, the firmware upgrade has been completed. Enter the command get version to verify the upgrade.

Troubleshooting Issues with the Network

AP Firmware Upgrade Through the AP CLI