@jwaltrip 

Hey

The answer is a bit of both.. 

The main point of config for the network is the controller, this will have all the config and settings for everything it manages..  However each device also has a local configuration from the controller saved for itself, should the controller goes down will self govern using the last configuration it received from the controller

Should the controller totally die, and you have no backup.. then yes you would need to reconfigure the network on the controller from scratch, then reset and re-adopt the APs/Switches as they will be locked to the old controller.

However if you have a backup (even just settings), then the controller can re-adopt and reconfigure the APs/Switches without the need to reset anything.  Generally I take a settings backup after any change to the controller, that way if anything does happen its a quick turn around.

thanks

that was the info I was looking for.

I have auto backup turned on.