Introduction

A Wireless Access Point (WAP) configuration file contains all the information about the WAP. Configuration files are created in XML format. There are three different configuration files of a WAP:

- Startup Configuration — This file is the primary configuration file and is stored on the flash memory of the WAP.

- Backup Configuration — The backup configuration is an additional file stored on the WAP and is used as a backup.

- Mirror Configuration — If the startup configuration file is not modified for 24 hours, it is saved as a mirror configuration, which is preserved across factory resets. This file is a snapshot of a past startup configuration, and can be used to recover settings after a factory reset.

These files can be backed up to your computer or downloaded onto the WAP to update the settings. Configuration files can also be copied to different files, or can be deleted.

In this scenario, the configuration files are going to be downloaded then backed up via Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) from a TFTP server with an IP address of 192.168.101.101. This article also shows steps on how to download and back up the files via Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), in case these methods are required to be used.

Objective

The objective of this document is to provide instructions on how to manage configuration files on your WAP by downloading, backing up, copying, and deleting a configuration file.

Applicable Devices

- WAP125

- WAP581

Software Version

- 1.0.0.5 — WAP125

- 1.0.0.4 — WAP581

Manage Configuration Files

Download Backup Configuration File via TFTP

Note: Images may vary depending on the model of your WAP. The images below are taken from the WAP125.

Download Configuration File

Step 1. Log in to the access point web-based utility by entering your Username and Password in the fields provided and then click Login.

Note: The default username/password is cisco/cisco.

Step 2. ChooseAdministration > Configuration Files.

Step 3. Click the Download/Backup right button.

Step 4. In the Transfer Method area, click the Via TFTP radio button to select the protocol to be used when downloading/backing up the configuration file.

Step 5. In the Transfer From drop-down list, choose PC to Access Point radio button to download the configuration file from the computer to the Access Point.

Step 6. From the Using drop-down list, choose a configuration file to transfer. The options are:

- Startup Configuration — This file is the primary configuration file and is stored on the flash memory of the WAP. The downloaded file will be saved as the startup configuration file. The existing startup configuration file will be overwritten.

- Backup Configuration —The backup configuration is an additional file stored on the WAP and is used as a backup. The downloaded file will be saved as the backup configuration file. The existing backup configuration file will be overwritten.

Note: In this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 7. Enter the file name of the configuration file in the Configuration Filename field.

Note: The file name can be one to 32 characters long but cannot contain special characters and spaces. For this example, config.xml is used.

Step 8. Enter the TFTP server IP address in the TFTP Server IPv4 Address field.

Note: For this example, 192.168.101.101 is used.

Step 9. Click Save.

Step 10. A progress bar appears. Wait and do not navigate away from the page.

Step 11. A message appears informing you that the configuration has been restored successfully and that the WAP will now reboot. Wait until the reboot is complete.

You should now have downloaded a configuration file via TFTP.

Backup Configuration File

Step 1. In the Transfer From drop-down list, choose Access Point to PC.

Step 2. From the Using drop-down list, choose the corresponding configuration file you want to backup. The configuration files that can be backed up are Startup Configuration or Mirror Configuration.

Note: For this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 3. In the Configuration Filename field, enter the name of the configuration file.

Note: The file name can be one to 32 characters long but cannot contain special characters and spaces. For this example, config.xml is used.

Step 4. Enter the TFTP server IP address in the TFTP Server IPv4 Address field.

Note: For this example, 192.168.101.101 is used.

Step 5. Click Save.

Step 6. A progress bar appears. Wait and do not navigate away from the page.

Step 7. A message appears informing you that the configuration has been restored successfully and that the WAP will now reboot. Wait until the reboot is complete.

You should now have backed up the configuration file via TFTP.

Download/Backup Configuration File via HTTP/HTTPS

Download Configuration File

Step 1. In the Transfer Method area, click the Via HTTP/HTTPS radio button to transfer files through your web browser.

Step 2. In the Transfer From drop-down list, choose PC to Access Point radio button to download the configuration file from the computer to the Access Point.

Step 3. From the Using drop-down list, choose a configuration file to transfer. The options are:

- Startup Configuration — This file is the primary configuration file and is stored on the flash memory of the WAP. The downloaded file will be saved as the startup configuration file. The existing startup configuration file will be overwritten.

- Backup Configuration —The backup configuration is an additional file stored on the WAP and is used as a backup. The downloaded file will be saved as the backup configuration file. The existing backup configuration file will be overwritten.

Note: In this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 4. In the Configuration Filename area, click Browse… and locate the file and select the configuration file on your computer.

Note:TFTP Server IPv4 Address field is greyed out if Via HTTP/HTTPS option is selected. For this example, config.xml is used.

Step 5. Click Save.

Step 6. A progress bar appears. Wait and do not navigate away from the page.

Step 7. A message appears informing you that the configuration has been restored successfully and that the WAP will now reboot. Wait until the reboot is complete.

You have now downloaded a configuration file to your WAP via HTTP/HTTPS.

Backup Configuration File

Step 1. Click the Via HTTP/HTTPS radio button.

Step 2. In the Transfer From drop-down list, choose Access Point to PC.

Step 3. From the Using drop-down list, choose the corresponding configuration file you want to backup. The configuration files that can be backed up are Startup Configuration or Mirror Configuration.

Note: In this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 4. Click Save.

Step 5. The configuration file will download through your browser. Check your web browser download history to check the file.

Step 6. A progress bar appears. Wait and do not navigate away from the page.

Step 7. A message appears informing you that the configuration has been restored successfully and that the WAP will now reboot. Wait until the reboot is complete.

You should now have backed up your configuration file via HTTP/HTTPS.

Copy a Configuration File

Step 1. Scroll to the Copy area and click the right arrow.

Step 2. From the Copy From drop-down list, choose a configuration file you want to copy. You can select the Startup Configuration, Backup Configuration, or Mirror Configuration files.

Note: For this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 3. From the To drop-down list, choose the configuration file type that will be replaced by the file you are copying. You can select either the Startup Configuration or Backup Configuration file.

Note: For this example, Backup Configuration is used.

Step 4. Click Save.

Step 5. A progress bar appears. Wait and do not navigate away from the page.

Step 6. An Alert window will appear to inform you that the transfer is successful. Click OK to continue.

You should now have copied or saved a configuration file.

Delete a Configuration File

Step 1. Scroll to the Clear area and click the right arrow.

Step 2. Check the check boxes corresponding to any configuration file you want to delete. The Configuration File Table will display any existing configuration files saved on the WAP, along with the date and time they were created.

Note: If all of the configuration files are checked to be deleted, the WAP will be reset to its factory default settings. In this example, Startup Configuration is chosen.

Step 3. Click Clear Files.

Step 4. A pop-up window will appear to confirm that deleting a configuration file cannot be undone. Click OK to delete the selected file.

Step 5. A pop-up window will appear indicating the deletion was successful. Click OK to continue.

You should now have deleted a configuration file.