Omada Controller Upgrade Instructions

Read the instructions and determine the upgrade path, and then follow the steps provided to upgrade your controller, which maintains your configurations and reduces the overall upgrade downtime.

Upgrade Paths and Version Considerations

Regardless of which type of Omada Controller you are using, you can upgrade it to different forms of Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5.

Old Versions
SoftWare Controller

Omada Software Controller

Release 3.1.4 or above

HardWare Controller

Omada Hardware Controller

OC200: Release 1.2.0 or above

 
New Release
SoftWare Controller

Omada SDN Software Controller

Release 4.1.5

HardWare Controller

Omada SDN Hardware Controller

OC200: Release 1.7.0

OC300: Release 1.0.0

CloudBased Controller

Omada Cloud-Based Controller

Coming Soon, Accepting Free Trial Applications

If you are currently using a version earlier than Omada Software Controller, Release 3.1.4 (Omada Hardware Controller, Release 1.2.0), you need to first upgrade to one of the releases that are listed above and then follow the upgrade procedure in this guide.

Checking Compatibility List

Omada SDN Controller can configure and manage only the devices with supported firmware.

View the Omada SDN Compatibility List to check if your device is compatible with Omada SDN Controller. Please click the device image and check if you have the latest firmware. If not, download the latest firmware and follow the instructions to upgrade it.

 

Feature Updates

Two levels of functional changes that you should pay attention to when upgrading a controller: features to be configured and adjusted features.

1. Features to be configured

These features will require manual configuration. In other words, these are features that have a direct corresponding solution, but for various reasons cannot be automatically upgraded.

Wireless Control > Access Control

Access Control has been updated to ACL in the Network Security module in Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5. The new function can be applied to specific clients or groups whose traffic passes through the gateway, switches and EAPs.

If you want to restore Access Control configurations, go to Settings > Network Security > ACL and configure the EAP ACL rules manually after upgrading.

Wireless Control > Portal

Portal has been improved in Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5, which can take effect on SSIDs and LAN networks. Only one portal is allowed for a single site and supports one authentication type (including No Authentication, Simple Password, Hotspot, External RADIUS Server, and External Portal Server). For Hotspot, you can select one or more authentication modes from Voucher, Local User, SMS, RADIUS, and Facebook.

If you want to restore Portal configuration, go to Settings > Authentication and configure Portal manually after upgrading.

Wireless Control > Free Authentication Policy

Free Authentication Policy has been changed to Authentication-Free Policy as a subordinate function of Portal in Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5, which can allow certain clients to access the internet without Portal authentication.

2. Adjusted features

These are features that have been adjusted or replaced by new designs.

Wireless Control > Scheduler
Wireless Control > Scheduler Association

The two modules are adjusted to the Profile module in Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5, which provides a more flexible and practical approach for Time Range customization and association.

Insight > Untrusted Rogue APs
Insight >Trusted Rogue APs

The two modules are adjusted in Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5. Rogue APs Detection can scan all channels to detect all nearby APs by an optimized mechanism, but will not sort the rouge APs into Trusted or Untrusted in the new release, which simplifies the configuration.

Site Settings > Log Settings

For old versions, you need to set both the sender’s and receiver’s email address to receive system logs, and set Time Mode to determine system logs to be sent at a specific time or time interval. With Mail Server configured on the Controller module, Omada SDN Controller 4.1.5 can send emails for resetting your password, pushing notifications, and delivering the system logs. And the system logs will be automatically emailed to the mailbox bound with the administrator account at a regular interval.

Controller Settings > User Account

The tiered roles of system administrators have been redefined. The system administrators of the old controller have three types of roles with a descending priority: Administrator (including Root Administrator), Operator, and Observer. Correspondingly, Three roles of the new release are Master Administrator, Administrator, and Viewer.

Which SDN controller would you want to upgrade to?

Omada SDN Controller offers diverse deployment solutions. There are three different controllers, but they serve the same purpose in managing and monitoring networks.

Upgrade Procedure

 
1. Back up your current controller.
  • Step 1

    Go to Controller Settings > Backup&Restore.

    Step1

  • Step 2

    Select the length of time in days that data will be backed up in the Retained Data Backup drop- down list. For example, with 7 days selected, the data only in recent 7 days will be backed up.

  • Step 3

    Click Backup to save the current configuration and data in the controller as a backup file.

2. Uninstall your current controller.
  • Step 1

    In the search box on the taskbar of the controller host, type Control Panel and select it from the results. Select Programs > Programs and Features.

    Press and hold (or right-click) on the program you want to remove and select Uninstall. Then follow the directions on the screen.

    Step1

  • Step 2

    Click No to completely remove all data of the controller.

    Step2

3. Install Omada Software Controller 4.1.5.
  • Step 1

    Run the installation file and follow the wizard to install the Omada SDN Controller. The installation file can be downloaded from https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/download/omada-software-controller/.

  • Step 2

    Launch the Omada SDN Controller and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the Quick Setup. After the wizard is finished, a login screen will appear. Enter the username and password you created and click Log in.

4. Import the backup file of the previous controller.
  • Step 1

    Go to Settings > Maintenance > Backup & Restore.

    Step1

  • Step 2

    Click Browse to locate and choose the backup file of the previous controller. Then click Restore to upload the file.

5. Upgrade the devices in Omada SDN Controller.
  • Step 1

    After the backup files imported, the devices will be automatically discovered and adopted by the controller. Go to Devices, and click Upgrade Icon to upgrade the devices one by one. Or you can click Start Rolling Upgrade to upgrade the devices in batch.

    Step1

  • Step 2 (Optional)

    To realize custom upgrade, you can click the entry of the device to open the Properties window, click Config and then you can upgrade the device’s firmware version manually in Manage Device section.

    Step2

 
 
1. Install Omada Software Controller 4.1.5.
 
2. Migrate your configurations and data from the current controller to the new controller.
  • Step 1

    On the current controller, go to Controller Settings > Migrate > Controller Migrate, select the length of time in days that data will be backed up in the Retained Data Backup, and click Download Backup File to export the configurations and data of your current controller as a backup file. If you have backed up the file, click Skip.

    Step1

  • Step 2

    Log in to the cloud-based controller. If you don't have a cloud-based controller, go to https://omada.tplinkcloud.com and follow the instructions to register for a cloud-based controller first.

    Go to Settings > Maintenance > Backup & Restore. Click Browse to locate and choose the backup file of the previous controller. Then click Restore to upload the file.

    After the file has been restored to the new controller, go back to the previous controller and click Confirm.

    Step2

  • Step 3

    On the current controller, enter the IP address or URL of the new controller into Controller URL/IP input field. Then click Migrate Devices to migrate the devices to the new controller.

    Step3

    Note:
    Make sure that TCP/UDP ports 29810–29813 is enabled on the computer. So the EAPs can communicate with the controller via the ports. If the firewall and antivirus software block these ports, they also block the packets between the controller and EAPs.

  • Step 4

    Verify that all the migrated devices are visible and connected on the new controller. When all the migrated devices are in Connected status on the Device page on the new controller, click Forget Devices to finish the migration process.

    Step4

  • Omada Cloud-Based Controller uses device-based licensing model to manage the devices and networks. Therefore, bind the devices with valid licenses after all devices are migrated to the Omada Cloud-Based Controller. For detailed information about device-based licensing, refer to Know more about licensing.
3. Upgrade the devices in Omada SDN Controller.
 
 
 
1. Upgrade the firmware of your current controller.

The hardware controller can be upgraded online, or manually in a slightly different way.

Online Upgrade
  • Step 1

    Go to Controller Settings > Maintenance, click Download & Upgrade to upgrade the controller to interim version 1.2.3.

    Step1

  • Step 2

    Go to Controller Settings > Backup&Restore.

    Step2

    Select the length of time in days that data will be backed up in the Retained Data Backup drop-down list. Click Backup to save the current configuration and data in the controller as a backup file.

  • Step 3

    After backup finished, go to Controller Settings > Maintenance, click Download & Upgrade to upgrade the controller to the new version 1.7.0, which is the Omada SDN Controller.

    Step3

Manual Upgrade
  • Step 1

    Go to Controller Settings > Backup&Restore.

    Step1

    Select the length of time in days that data will be backed up in the Retained Data Backup drop-down list. Click Backup to save the current configuration and data in the controller as a backup file.

  • Step 2

    Go to Controller Settings > Maintenance, click Browse to locate and choose proper firmware file of the new version 1.7.0, which is the Omada SDN Controller.

    Step2

2. Import the backup file of the previous controller.
 
 
 
 
1. Deploy Omada SDN Hardware Controller.

Deploy your new hardware controller according to your need and network topology. Then launch the controller and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the Quick Setup.

 
 
 
 
1. Upgrade to Omada Software Controller.
Upgrade on the Same Computer
 
Upgrade Across Devices
 
2. Migrate your configurations and data from the current controller to the new controller.
  • Export
  • Step1
  • cloud-based controller
  • IP/Inform URL
  • Step3
  • Step4
 
 
1. Upgrade to Omada Hardware Controller.
Upgrade on the Same Omada Hardware Controller
 
Upgrade to Another Omada Hardware Controller