User's Manual
20-24
Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Aironet Access Points
OL-11350-01
Chapter 20 Managing Firmware and Configurations
 Working with Software Images
• The password set by the ip ftp password password global configuration command if the command 
is configured.
• The access point forms a password named username@apname.domain. The variable username is 
the username associated with the current session, apname is the configured host name, and domain 
is the domain of the access point.
The username and password must be associated with an account on the FTP server. If you are writing to 
the server, the FTP server must be properly configured to accept the FTP write request from you.
Use the ip ftp username and ip ftp password commands to specify a username and password for all 
copies. Include the username in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC 
command if you want to specify a username only for that operation. 
If the server has a directory structure, the image file is written to or copied from the directory associated 
with the username on the server. For example, if the image file resides in the home directory of a user 
on the server, specify that user's name as the remote username. 
Before you begin downloading or uploading an image file by using FTP, perform these tasks:
• Ensure that the access point has a route to the FTP server. The access point and the FTP server must 
be in the same subnetwork if you do not have a router to route traffic between subnets. Verify 
connectivity to the FTP server by using the ping command.
• If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and you do not have a valid username, 
make sure that the current FTP username is the one that you want to use for the FTP download. You 
can enter the show users privileged EXEC command to view the valid username. If you do not want 
to use this username, create a new FTP username by using the ip ftp username username global 
configuration command. This new name will be used during all archive operations. The new 
username is stored in NVRAM. If you are accessing the access point through a Telnet session and 
you have a valid username, this username is used, and you do not need to set the FTP username. 
Include the username in the archive download-sw or archive upload-sw privileged EXEC 
command if you want to specify a username for that operation only. 
• When you upload an image file to the FTP server, it must be properly configured to accept the write 
request from the user on the access point. 
For more information, refer to the documentation for your FTP server.
Downloading an Image File by Using FTP
You can download a new image file and overwrite the current image or keep the current image. 
Caution For the download and upload algorithms to operate properly, do not rename image directories.
Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, follow Steps 1 through 7 to download a new image from an FTP 
server and overwrite the existing image. To keep the current image, skip Step 7.
Command Purpose
Step 1
Verify that the FTP server is properly configured by referring 
to the “Preparing to Download or Upload an Image File by 
Using FTP” section on page 20-23.
Step 2
Log into the access point through a Telnet session.










