Concept Guide

166| ap image-preload Dell Networking W-Series ArubaOS 6.5.x| Reference Guide
Parameter Description
ap-name <name>
Remove an individual AP from the preload list
partition <partition-num>
Specify the partition from which the APs should download their
images. By default, the APs will preload images from the controller’s
default boot partition.
max-downloads <max-downloads>
Specify the maximum number of APs that can simultaneously
download their image from the controller. The default value is ten
APs.
Usage Guidelines
The AP image preload feature minimizes the downtime required for a controller upgrade by allowing the APs to
download the new images before the controller actually starts running the new version.
This feature allows you to select the maximum number of APs that are allowed to preload the new software
image at any one time, thereby reducing the possibility that the controller may get overloaded or that network
traffic may be impacted by all APs on the controller attempting to download a new image at once.
APs can continue normal operation while they are downloading their new software version. When the
download completes, the AP sends a message to the controller, informing it that the AP has either successfully
downloaded the new software version, or that the preload has failed for some reason. If the download fails,
the AP will retry the download after a brief waiting period.
You can allow every AP on a controller to preload a new software version, or also create a custom list of AP
groups or individual APs that can use this feature. If a new AP associates to the controller while the AP image
download feature is active, the controller will check that AP’s name and group to see if it appears in the preload
list. If an AP is on the list, (and does not already have the specified image in its Flash memory) that AP will start
preloading its image.
Once a software version has been downloaded by an AP, another version cannot be downloaded until the AP reboots.
Example
The following command enables the image preload feature and adds the APs in the AP groups corp1 and corp2
to the preload list.
ap image-preload activate specific-aps
add ap-group corp1
add ap-group corp2
Command History
This command was introduced in ArubaOS 6.3.
Command Information
Platforms Licensing Command Mode
Available on all platforms Base operating system Enable mode on master controllers