Converting to Unleashed via ZD running 9.13.3.0 build 164

Question

Hi all,

We have an EOL ZD 3000 running 9.13.3.0 build 164, and a dozens of R500 and R600 access points. We need to have better resilience now that we don't want to wait for a network redesign that's coming.  So, for the interim, we'd like to get all the R500 and R600 to Unleashed ... at least to the versions that have Wave 1 support.  At a later date, we'll look at whether they need to go to modern APs.

With that all in mind, some of the APs are in very hard to get to locations (e.g., high up) -- and as in production units during extended working hours, the windows to update are limited -- and we need to do something that's lower risk of failure, as losing all for a day would be painful. Bottom line: these APs, located in two cities, but sharing one ZD3000, make resets and local loads are real pain to do.

It looks like there might be a path that we can update the APs, via the ZD.  But, it looks like they are on 10.1 ZD versions or later.  We don't have a support agreement for the ZD (and it seems a waste given that we want to retire it), so we can't get to more than 9.3.3 right now.

Is there a way to update the R500s and R600s without physically reseting them?  Can we do that via ZD 9.3.3.164?  Or if not that, is there a way to update them singly or in bulk from the command line when the access points are currently associated with the ZD3000?

Thanks in advance! Neil

neil_ticktin_io · Answer

Thanks to everyone on this.  The solution, I find, is actually an open source tool called Crossbreeder -- which makes doing updates like this in bulk a ton easier. See https://indhradhanush.github.io/rksunlfw/

And, another useful tool for figuring out which versions you can use -- especially if you are mixing AP models -- is https://indhradhanush.github.io/rksunlfw/

Hope that helps someone else looking for the answers on this.

sanjay_kumar · Answer

@neil_ticktin_io

You can connect the AP with ZD image to SZ image by following the below steps. I just tested in lab as well.

Note: The below steps are from the AP CLI. Make sure that the AP is getting the IP from DHCP.
As we do not have a batch script on the ZD, we have to do this on individual AP.

1. Login to the AP CLI.
2. Set the AP to factory reset using the command "set factory".
3. Reboot the AP using the command "reboot".
4. Once the AP is up, login to the CLI using the credentials super:sp-admin
5. Connect the AP to SZ\vSZ using the command "set scg ip SZ IP"
6. AP will connect to the vSZ and will upgrade to vSZ AP firmware.

To connect the ZD managed AP to Unleashed use the below steps:
1. Login to the AP CLI.
2. Set the AP to factory reset using the command "set factory".
3. Reboot the AP using the command "reboot".
4. Now you can login to the AP GUI.
5. Go to Upgrade tab and load the Unleashed image.

neil_ticktin_io · Answer

@sanjay_kumar As I understand it, we could take the ZD to 10.1 and then issue the firmware updates from there to get to unleashed. Are you saying that's not the case?

Do you have any suggestions on how to do this without physically touching the R600's?  They are difficult to get to -- even the switch end of ethernet to power them is difficult for some.