New Features and Enhancements:
- Now external LDAP server supports port 636.
- Upgraded OpenSSL package to support TLSv1.2.
Bug Fixes:
- Fixes the issue where a maximum of 50 APs per profile appear in the Advanced Tx Power Override function.
- Fixes the client connection error that occurs when the first SSID is configured on a 2.4 GHz band.
Known Issues:
- If the RADIUS server password includes a left angle bracket “<”, then the client might fail to connect. Workaround: Set a new RADIUS server password that does not include the left angle bracket character.
Firmware Upgrade Instructions:
To update your product’s firmware, follow the instructions in your product’s user manual. To find your user manual, visit https://www.netgear.com/support/, enter your model number in the search box, and click the Documentation button on the product page.
Before updating the firmware on your wireless controller please read these release notes carefully. The update path to the latest firmware is dependent on the firmware currently running on your wireless controller, and the access point models manages.
NOTE:
CUSTOMERS UPDATING THE CONTROLLER FROM 5.5.1.X FIRMWARE MUST FIRST UPDATE TO THE MIGRATION FIRMWARE (5.5.1R.1) BEFORE UPDATING TO 6.5.5.24 RELEASE
If you have the WAC720 or WAC730 in your Controller network:
- Update the controller to 5.5.1R.1 firmware, which is bundled together with the 6.5.5.24 release zip file.
- Once the update is complete, login to the controller, and make sure that all the APs are in the connected state.
- You MUST wait for at least 15 minutes after all APs have reached the connected state before proceeding.
- After waiting for 15 minutes, update the controller to 6.5.5.24 firmware.
- Once the update is complete, log in to the controller and make sure all the APs have come to the connected state, so that clients are able to connect to the network, and the controller network is up and running.
| Current Firmware Version | Upgrade Steps |
| WC9500-5.5.1.X | 5.5.1. X -> 5.5.1R.1 -> 6.5.5.24 |
If you do NOT have the WAC720 or WAC730 in your controller network:
- If you do not have the WAC720 or WAC730 in your controller network, you can skip the migration firmware release, and directly update the controller from 5.5.1.x to 6.5.5.24.
| Current Firmware Version | Upgrade Steps |
| WC9500-5.5.1.X | 5.5.1.X -> 6.5.5.24 |
Upgrade Matrix:
Update to 6.5.5.24 from recent releases
| Devices | Firmware Upgraded From below versions to 6.5.5.24 |
| WC9500 | |
| 6.5.5.18 | |
| 6.5.5.12 | |
| 6.5.5.0 | |
| 6.5.3.9 |
| Older Firmware Version | Upgrade Steps |
| WC9500-6.5.5.18 | 6.5.5.18 -> 6.5.5.24 |
| WC9500-6.5.3.12 | 6.5.3.12 -> 6.5.5.24 |
| WC9500-6.5.5.0 | 6.5.5.0 -> 6.5.5.24 |
| WC9500-6.5.3.9 | 6.5.3.9 -> 6.5.5.24 |
Update to 6.5.5.24 from Standalone AP Firmware
The following table lists the minimum Standalone AP firmware version required to discover and convert to the Controller firmware. If you manage the AP in standalone mode, then you must downgrade to the standalone AP firmware version.
Note: Make sure SNMP is enabled on the following models before discovery process in controller.
| AP Model | Firmware Version |
| WNAP210 | 3.7.4.0 |
| WNAP320 | 3.7.4.0 |
| WNDAP350 | 3.7.4.0 |
| WNDAP360 | 3.7.4.0 |
| WNDAP660 | 3.7.4.0 |
| WAC720 | 3.7.11.0 |
| WAC730 | 3.7.11.0 |
| WAC740 | NOT APPLICABLE |
| WND930 | 2.1.2 |
Upgrade Instructions:
- Using the Download Link below, download and extract the new firmware to a convenient place such as your desktop.
Download Link: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/WC9500/WC9500_V6.5.5.24.zip - Log into the WC9500.
- Make a backup of the current running configuration from Maintenance > Backup/Restore and select BACKUP button.
**Read the Caveats below if the upgrade is from a lower major release - Select Maintenance > Upgrade from the main/submenu.
- In the Firmware Upgrade section, select Local File and click Browse.
- Locate the downloaded file and click Apply.This will start the software upgrade to your WC9500. This may take some time. Do not interrupt the upgrade process. At the conclusion of the upgrade, your WC9500 will reboot.
- In case of stacked and redundancy configurations, please follow the below steps:
- Upgrade the redundant controller first if available. Wait for the redundant controller to upgrade successfully and come back active.
- Then upgrade in the order Slave 2, Slave 1 and Master controller.
Caveats:
When the update is from 4.x.x.x to 5.x.x.x and the Admin password has any special characters (example: "MyPassword!@#$%^"), change the password to alphanumeric only before updating (example: "Password"). Make a configuration backup, and update. After the update you can reset to your old password in 5.x.x.x.
Discovering Standalone from controller
In firmware version 6.5.1.X we remove support for WNDAP620 model access point.
| AP Model | Minimum AP software version |
| WNAP210v2 | V2.1.6 or later |
| WNAP320 | V2.1.6 or later |
| WNDAP350 | V2.1.9 or later |
| WNDAP620 | V2.0.8 or later |
| WNDAP660 | V2.0.5 or later |
| WAC720 | V3.1.1.0 or later |
| WAC730 | V3.1.1.0 or later |
| WNDAP930 | V2.0.4 or later |
This product includes software code developed by third parties, including software code subject to the GNU General Public License ("GPL") or GNU Lesser General Public License ("LGPL"). As applicable, the terms of the GPL and LGPL, and information on obtaining access to the GPL Code and LGPL Code used in this product, are available to you at NETGEAR Open Source GPL. The GPL Code and LGPL Code used in this product is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY and is subject to the copyrights of one or more authors. For details, see the GPL Code and LGPL Code for this product and the terms of the GPL and LGPL.