If MSM760 access controller goes offline, do AP's keep working

[Jbalch]

So let’s say the controller goes off line and the access points at a remote school (managed by the controller) lose power for a few minutes and then come back online.  Will the access point be able to start working again after the reboot and start servicing clients?   Or will the APs have to contact the controller to get it’s configuration before it can service clients?

[ChristianE89]

Well that depends on your configuration. Do your APs use bridge mode or do they tunnel the connection back to the controller?

[Jbalch]

VSC's tunnel traffic back to the controller

[ChristianE89]

They don't have to. Depends on if you use access Control or not

[Jbalch]

I'm actually trying to help someone else out with this problem. I'll find out about the access control. Could you expand on this a little....Thanks

[ChristianE89]

The acesscontrol function is suitable when using a guest network. You will need to look after the setting "Always tunnel client traffic" under Client data tunnel. This setting will only be available when using access control.

[Jbalch]

OK - Thanks for the help. I'm actually reading through the 760 mgmt guide right now...I may have some further questions later. Thanks again!

[Jbalch]

OK, so with no access control or authentication and the VSC's are not tunneling traffic back to the controller - if an AP rebooted due to a power problem and the controller was offline, would the AP pass traffic as it was initially configured  to do so with the controller down?

[tschaps]

No, the only time an AP will retain its configuration is if it's set to autonomous mode. In controlled mode, it can continue to function when the controller goes down as long as the AP doesn't lose power. When it boots up, it is useless until it finds a controller.

[Richard Litchfield]

The AP will continue to operate (with the existing current) irrespective of connectivity back to the controller until the AP loses power. 

 After the AP loses power, it will not do anything until it has connected to the controller and downloaded the current config.