Cisco@Work Case Study: Cisco Global Wireless LAN Software Migration This publication describes how Cisco has benefited from the deployment of its own products. Many factors may have contributed to the results and benefits described; Cisco does not guarantee comparable results elsewhere. CISCO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties, therefore this disclaimer may not apply to you. Cisco Information Technology November 3, 2004

Overview Challenge Solution Results Next Steps Migrate from VxWorks to Cisco IOS® Software on Cisco® Aironet® 350 and Aironet 1200 access points Solution Form a global cross-functional Wireless IOS Migration team to design and manage the migration Results Migrated software on 98 percent of access points to date, enabling support for all new and enhanced features available in Cisco IOS Software Next Steps Continue to enhance the capabilities of the Cisco global WLAN

Challenge─Migrate from VxWorks to Cisco IOS Software Develop global strategy for migration The one-time migration of all access points worldwide from VxWorks to Cisco IOS® Software posed a significant effort in planning, development, testing, and coordination Identify stable release Cisco® Aironet® 350s and Aironet 1200s were deployed on the network, and Cisco IT had to identify a release of Cisco IOS Software that would ensure a stable, error-free operation with all standard client bases

Challenge─Migrate from VxWorks to Cisco IOS Software (continued) Ensure network management support Cisco® IT had to ensure that existing support would function correctly on the Cisco Aironet® 350s and Aironet 1200s running Cisco IOS® Software, and that MIB support would function correctly within the existing management tools Train the support team The unique attributes of supporting Cisco IOS Software on Aironet access points would require training personnel who were accustomed to using management tools developed for VxWorks

Solution─Migration Summary Over a 5-month period, Cisco® IT migrated almost all the 3000+ access points worldwide to Cisco IOS® Software 6-step process Develop an efficient migration process Develop a standard access point configuration Identify a stable, reliable Cisco IOS Software image Determine that configuration and Cisco IOS Software image integrated with existing network management tools Conduct pilot testing Migrate all access points worldwide

Solution─Develop Migration Process 3-step process for migrating large numbers of access points Prepare list of hosts to be converted from VxWorks to Cisco IOS® Software Replace VxWorks with Cisco IOS Software using appropriate tool Load new standard access point configuration Several tools to aid engineers in the migration CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) (preferred) Cisco® Aironet® Conversion tool Custom script based on the Cisco Aironet Conversion tool

Solution─Develop Standard Configuration Develop standard access point configuration supporting Cisco® Aironet® 350s and Aironet 1200s Challenge was to develop a standard configuration that would integrate access points running Cisco IOS® Software into existing WLAN Step 1: Ensure existing configuration included Cisco LEAP, TKIP, SSIDs, and other required features Step 2: Identify new features to be incorporated into the configuration Step 3: Resolve all issues discovered

Solution─Identify Appropriate Cisco IOS Software Image Cisco® IT evaluated all Cisco IOS Software features that would best support a WLAN Tested in lab Tested at pilot sites Selected Cisco IOS® Software Release 12.2(13)JA1 as image best suited to current WLAN environment (mid 2004) Subsequently upgraded to Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(13)JA2 Most recently upgraded to Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(15)JA (late 2004)

Solution─Integration with Existing Tools Configuration and Cisco IOS® Software image integrated with existing network management tools Verified that network management tools such as monitors, syslogs, configuration backup, and SNMP would continue to support access points Conducted extensive lab and pilot testing and comprehensive audits following migration

Solution─Pilot Testing Pilot tests conducted in several sites, after lab testing San Jose Amsterdam Sydney Research Triangle Park Same conversion methods used at all sites to test for issues Pilots provided engineers with experience in migrating access point software

Solution─Global Migration Issues were resolved and procedures thoroughly tested, then full global implementation was performed Training presentation delivered to all WLAN support personnel in each region prior to migration All 40 buildings in San Jose converted using CiscoWorks WLSE within a 2½ week period, after hours

Results─Summary As of August 2004, software on 98 percent of access points converted to Cisco IOS® Software Deployment took only 236 hours (about one access point every 5 minutes) Entire migration completed within 5 months Service disruption minimal resulting from work performed outside of business hours Fewer than 1% of access points failed to be converted and were replaced WLAN now capable of supporting new and enhanced features available in Cisco IOS Software

Results─Poised for Improvement Cisco® IT uses a single operating system across wired and wireless network devices Reduces the need for additional training and support Eases troubleshooting and debugging processes Increases ease of upgrading to future enhancements Ensures support for new Cisco IOS® Software features: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) standards, WDS support for CiscoWorks WLSE, and others Saves power on wireless PCs by supporting client Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) caching on access points Extends QoS into the wireless environment to support successful delivery of voice and data traffic

Next Steps─Positioned for Upgrade to 802.11g CiscoWorks WLSE, currently deployed in San Jose, will be expanded globally as budget allows Amsterdam campus currently piloting Cisco® Catalyst® 6500 Series Wireless LAN Services Module (WLSM), which allows secure Layer 3 roaming across wireless LANs

For additional Cisco IT case studies on a variety of business solutions, go to Cisco IT @ Work www.cisco.com/go/ciscoitatwork This publication describes how Cisco has benefited from the deployment of its own products. Many factors may have contributed to the results and benefits described; Cisco does not guarantee comparable results elsewhere. CISCO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties, therefore this disclaimer may not apply to you. Rich Gore © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 15 15