WLC: AP Managers Are Pingable - 7.x onwards

Since the very beginning the AP manager on a Cisco WLC would never respond to pings. Well that has all changed if you use LAG and a AP manager with 7.x code!

I like how Cisco hides little nuggets in their documentation. It states, in LAG mode, the management and AP manager uses the same base LAG MAC address.

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Note With the 7.0 release onwards, the MAC address of the management interface and the AP-manager interface is the same as the base LAG MAC address.

LAB

A show ARP on the distribution switch you can see the MAC is identical for both the manager and AP manager.

NOTE --

This was tested on 4402,4404 and 5508 model controllers.

AP manager(s) aren't needed with a 5508.

This only applies to a WLC in LAG mode w/ AP Manager

Additional Reading Material:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/controller/7.0/configuration/guide/c70mint.html#wp1117168