Convert Standalone AP to Lightweight AP

Mohsin Raza September 24, 2025

Convert Standalone AP to Lightweight AP 

Convert Standalone (Autonomous, k9w7) → Lightweight (CAPWAP, k9w8)

Convert Standalone AP to Lightweight AP
Fig 1: Convert Standalone AP to Lightweight AP

This can be done directly from configuration/EXEC mode.

Steps:

  • Connect to the AP via console.
  • Make sure you can ping the TFTP server that has the lightweight IOS image.
  • Copy the lightweight image (example: ap3g2-k9w8-tar.153-3.JD.tar) to your TFTP server root directory.

Commands:

  • AP# ping 192.168.1.100                ← test TFTP server reachability
  • AP# archive download-sw /overwrite /force-reload tftp://192.168.1.100/ap3g2-k9w8-tar.153-3.JD.tar

/overwrite = replace current IOS

/force-reload = reboot after upgrade

👉 After reload, the AP will boot as Lightweight (CAPWAP) and attempt to discover a WLC (via DHCP option 43, DNS CISCO-LWAPP-CONTROLLER.localdomain, or broadcast).


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