Normally downgrading WLC software code is not recommended. Specially from one major version to another as feature set may not compatible & downgrade process may not happen smoothly.
But in certain cases you have to downgrade the software code of your WLC. In my case I got 4402 with 7.0.230.0 code & I had to downgrade it to 7.0.116.0 for my lab studies.
(4402-a) >show sysinfo Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc. Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller Product Version.................................. 7.0.230.0 RTOS Version..................................... 7.0.230.0 Bootloader Version............................... 7.0.230.0 Emergency Image Version.......................... 7.0.230.0 Build Type....................................... DATA + WPS System Name...................................... 4402-a System Location.................................. System Contact................................... System ObjectID.................................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.14179.1.1.4.3 IP Address....................................... 10.10.20.100
Once you download the correct software image from cisco.com you can start the process of downloading image to WLC. (if you are working with a WLC in production, always advised to take a configuration backup prior to this). Once downloaded it will automatically extracting the files & downgrade the image. once everything finished it will prompt to reload the WLC
(4402-a) >transfer download mode tftp
(4402-a) >transfer download datatype code
(4402-a) >transfer download serverip 192.168.20.107
(4402-a) >transfer download path .
(4402-a) >transfer download filename AIR-WLC4400-K9-7-0-116-0.aes
(4402-a) >transfer download start
Mode............................................. TFTP
Data Type........................................ Code
TFTP Server IP................................... 192.168.20.107
TFTP Packet Timeout.............................. 6
TFTP Max Retries................................. 10
TFTP Path........................................ ./
TFTP Filename.................................... AIR-WLC4400-K9-7-0-116-0.aes
This may take some time.
Are you sure you want to start? (y/N) y
TFTP Code transfer starting.
TFTP receive complete... extracting components.
Executing backup script.
Writing new RTOS to flash disk.
Writing new Code to flash disk.
Writing new APIB to flash disk.
Executing install_apib script.
Executing fini script.
TFTP File transfer is successful.
Reboot the controller for update to complete.
Optionally, pre-download the image to APs before rebooting to reduce network downtime.
(4402-a) >reset system
The system has unsaved changes.
Would you like to save them now? (y/N) y
Configuration Saved!
System will now restart!
Once reloaded you can verify the software version by “show sysinfo” CLI command.
(4402-a) >show sysinfo Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc. Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller Product Version.................................. 7.0.116.0 RTOS Version..................................... 7.0.116.0 Bootloader Version............................... 7.0.230.0 Emergency Image Version.......................... 7.0.230.0 Build Type....................................... DATA + WPS System Name...................................... 4402-a System Location.................................. System Contact................................... System ObjectID.................................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.14179.1.1.4.3 IP Address....................................... 10.10.20.100
As you can see bootloader version is still 7.0.230.0. So it is advisable to downgrade bootloader version as well. You can download boot load file “AIR-WLC4400-K9-7-0-116-0-ER.aes” & download it to WLC in same manner.
(4402-a) >transfer download mode tftp
(4402-a) >transfer download datatype co
(4402-a) >transfer download datatype code
(4402-a) >transfer download path .
(4402-a) >transfer download filename AIR-WLC4400-K9-7-0-116-0-ER.aes
(4402-a) >transfer download serverip 192.168.20.107
(4402-a) >transfer download start
Mode............................................. TFTP
Data Type........................................ Code
TFTP Server IP................................... 192.168.20.107
TFTP Packet Timeout.............................. 6
TFTP Max Retries................................. 10
TFTP Path........................................ ./
TFTP Filename.................................... AIR-WLC4400-K9-7-0-116-0-ER.aes
This may take some time.
Are you sure you want to start? (y/N) y
TFTP Code transfer starting.
TFTP receive complete... extracting components.
Writing new bootloader to flash.
Writing new Emergency Bootloader to flash disk.
Writing new Emergency Bootloader RTOS to flash disk.
TFTP File transfer is successful.
Reboot the controller for update to complete.
Optionally, pre-download the image to APs before rebooting to reduce network downtime.
(4402-a) >reset system
Once reloaded you can verify both bootloader & boot image are in the required version.
(4402-a) >show sysinfo Manufacturer's Name.............................. Cisco Systems Inc. Product Name..................................... Cisco Controller Product Version.................................. 7.0.116.0 RTOS Version..................................... 7.0.116.0 Bootloader Version............................... 7.0.116.0 Emergency Image Version.......................... 7.0.116.0 Build Type....................................... DATA + WPS System Name...................................... 4402-a System Location.................................. System Contact................................... System ObjectID.................................. 1.3.6.1.4.1.14179.1.1.4.3 IP Address....................................... 10.10.20.100
“show boot” command verify the primary & backup image available. In this case it is looks odd that latest image shown as backup (it is normal as we downgraded the code)
(4402-a) >show boot Primary Boot Image............................... Code 7.0.116.0 (default) (active) Backup Boot Image................................ Code 7.0.230.0
Now WLC is ready for my lab set up.
mrn-cciew 
I upgraded my WLC 5700 Series from 15.0 to 15.2 the latest version, all the configs are intact but for some reason i cannot anywhere from the WLC, all routes are the same and if configurations, im wondering if i need to rollback or am i missing something
IOS-XE version wise from what code to what you went. Check any config diffs if you got a backup & see any differences.
Give it a reload & see as well prior to roll back
Rasika
hi i need download ap image
you have to get it from Cisco download page.
Rasika
Hi,
So I grabbed a WLC 2504 off eBay and of course, it’s bricked on arrival. It would appear that he must have killed the flash entirely because there is not even a boot menu option to restore the firmware. All it does on boot is this now:
=====
WLCNG Boot Loader Version 1.0.20 (Built on Jan 9 2014 at 19:02:44 by cisco)
Board Revision 0.0 (SN: PSZ18331DQS, Type: AIR-CT2504-K9) (P)
Verifying boot loader integrity…
##########################################
### IMPROPER SYSTEM OPERATION DETECTED ###
### ———————————- ###
### System has been halted because: ###
### 1. Boot loader failed verification ###
##########################################
=====
Before I ship this item back (and thus risk not only never getting my money back, but him keeping the WLC itself), is there any way at all that you know of to recover this WLC similar to what you listed here?
Thanks!
hi, do you have the firmware? I can not find it