Employ congenital in MAC Os FTP Server to export Cisco WLC configuration

Working with Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers, information technology is sometimes needed to salve and export the configuration into a text file format. It could be needed for backup purposes. Personally, I often do it and then I can import the configuration into the WLC config analyzer. This is a tool developped by Cisco which helps analyzing the configurations. You can learn more about the WLC config analyzer on this website: ​https://supportforums.cisco.com/document/7711/wlc-config-analyzer

​When exporting the configuration file, you accept the choice of using the FTP, TFTP or SFTP protocol.

In this commodity, we will focus on exporting the configuration to the FTP server built into a MAC Bone machine using the FTP protocol. For the testing nosotros have used a Cisco WLC 2504 running AireOS 8.1.111.0 and a MacBook Air running MAC OS 10.11.3.

i - SETUP THE FTP SERVER ON MAC OS

By default, the FTP server is already running. Then all you demand to do is:

  1. validate that the FTP server is running
  2. validate which users you lot can use to connect to the FTP server​

To validate that the FTP server is running, open the Terminal app and type the post-obit command: "netstat -na | grep .21 | grep Listen". This command will brandish the listening connections on port 21 (port used past FTP). In the example below, the ii final lines indicate that the FTP server is running and listening on port 21.

If you don't encounter that the FTP server is upwards, running and listening. You lot can enter the following control in order to start the service:sudo -south launchctl load -west /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist

In terms of which users can connect to the FTP server, you can simply become to "System Preferences -> Accounts" to validate the users you lot take configured on your MAC. If you need more users, you can add user accounts. In the example below, both users "François Vergès – SemFio Networks" and "student" can connect to the ftp server:

2 - TEST THE CONNECTION TO THE FTP LOCALLY

Before transferring the configuration file over from the controller to your MAC. It is always a expert thought to test the connexion to your FTP server locally to make sure that you take the right credentials to connect.

In order to connect to the FTP server, you will need a username and a password. These are the one listed in the section higher up.

Open the Terminal awarding and type the post-obit command:ftp localhost. The FTP server should ask you to enter your username and so your password. Y'all should and then exist able to connect to the FTP server running on your MAC. Here is an example:

You are at present almost set to transfer some files betwixt your Cisco controller and your MAC.

3 - SETUP THE CONNECTION TO THE CISCO WLC

Important note: Your MAC computer has to be connected to the wired network in order for the transfer to work. The controller will not allow the transfer if you lot are connected from the Wi-Fi network.

Here are the unlike manner you may connect your MAC to the WLC:

  • Connect your MAC to the wired network on the same vlan that is used for the direction interface on the controller
  • Connect directly your MAC to the service port (except for WLC 2504 which does not have a service port)

In my case, I performed my testing on a Cisco WLC 2504 so I continued my MAC to a switchport on the same vlan equally the one I apply for the direction interface on the controller. In my case information technology was vlan 20.

Here is the setup I used to write this commodity:

Then one time you have connected your MAC on the aforementioned vlan every bit the management, yous are prepare to perform the actual FTP transfer.

4 - TRANSFER THE CONFIGURATION

Connect to the GUI of the controller and navigate to "Commands -> Upload File":

In the drop down menu list name "File Blazon", choose "Configuration".
Equally a "Transfer Fashion", choose "FTP".
Note: you accept the possibility to secure the file by encrypting it before sending information technology over the network.

In the "Server Details" section, y'all need to fill out these dissimilar fields:

  • IP Address: This is the IP address of the FTP server. And then this is the IP accost of your MAC computer.
  • File Path: This is the path where you want to send your file onto the FTP server. If you exit "./", information technology is going to send the file to the dwelling house directory of the user you are using for the transfer.
  • File Proper noun: This is the proper name you lot want to give to the configuration file onto the FTP server
  • Server Login Username: This is your user account proper name on the FTP server
  • Server Login Password: This is the password tied to this user account on the FTP server
  • Service Port Number: This is the port used for FTP on the server (21 in my case)

Once you lot have filled out all the fields, y'all tin click on the "Upload" button to start the transfer.

When the transfer is completed, you lot will get the post-obit message: "File transfer operation completed successfully."

Now, if I go dorsum to my MAC reckoner, I tin can see that the configuration file is there, located on the home directory of the user "SemFio":

5 - TROUBLESHOOT THE TRANSFER

From the controller CLI, you lot can enter the following debug command to troubleshoot a transfer:debug transfer trace enable

Here is an instance of the debug output of a transfer:

I hope this will help others since it is a pretty convenient style to transfer the full WLC configuration in a short amount of time.