Cisco Meraki is a cloud-based solution that offers a complete management solution for a network. It provides easy-to-use and powerful features that can help you simplify your IT infrastructure. Meraki’s architecture enables you to manage all your devices from a single cloud dashboard centrally.
The headquarters of the cloud-managed IT firm Cisco Meraki is in San Francisco, California. Their offerings span WIFI, switching, security, workplace mobility management, and security cameras, all of which can be centrally controlled over the internet.
In December 2012, Cisco Systems purchased Meraki in a multi-billion dollar deal.
What is Cisco Meraki Used For?
Cisco Meraki is used to manage networking devices from a central location. These devices include wireless access points, switches, security appliances, and security cameras.
Meraki’s products are all cloud-managed, which can be controlled and monitored anywhere with an internet connection.
The main benefit of using Cisco Meraki is that it’s much easier to manage than a traditional network because all configuration and management are done through a web-based dashboard.
This allows for lower latency, higher utilization of bandwidth, and reduced costs.
There’s no need for on-site IT staff or dedicated hardware. All you need is an internet connection to get started.
The Meraki dashboard is a centralized web browser-based solution for managing Meraki services and devices.
You must log in to the Dashboard using a dashboard account to manage and set up your networks, devices, and organizations.
The IT team can dropship equipment and have local people plug it in because Meraki supports configuration while in transit.
What Kind of Device is Meraki?
The security appliances made by Cisco Meraki have a potent category-based content filter that compares content to millions of URLs in dozens of categories.
The firewall solution is designed for retail, healthcare, and manufacturing companies.
It allows them to seamlessly protect software-defined networking across wide area networks while managing cloud platform traffic.
What is the Difference Between Cisco and Meraki?
Cisco is renowned for its flexibility and ease of customization, while Meraki is known for its simplicity and out-of-the-box functionality. Meraki may be the better option if you need a solution that can be quickly deployed and doesn’t require a lot of tweaking.
However, if you need more control over your network or want to easily add new features and functionality, Cisco is the way to go. Ultimately, it all comes down to what your specific needs are.
Cisco Systems changed the company’s name to Cisco Meraki after purchasing it in 2012 for around 1.2 billion dollars.
Since then, they have focused on providing cloud computing services, and today they are regarded as one of the most reputable companies in their industry.
Although Meraki demands annual license payments from customers to utilize their product, the upfront implementation expenses are far lower than those of an on-premise Cisco solution.
Can Meraki Work Without Internet?
Meraki devices require an active internet connection to be correctly configured and managed. Without an internet connection, it is impossible to access the Dashboard or make any changes to the network.
While getting a Meraki device online without a Dashboard is possible, doing so requires a fair amount of manual configuration.
As a result, Meraki devices are not well suited for use in offline or remote environments.
Do I Need a License for Meraki?
Yes, a cloud license is needed to manage each Meraki hardware component. Meraki hardware that doesn’t have a license won’t pass traffic. However, some Meraki MX security appliances may be eligible for a license conversion.
Customers can easily assign a license to a particular device or network thanks to the per-device licensing approach offered by Cisco Meraki.
With the ability to set a single expiration date for all devices and networks, IT professionals can easily manage the expiration dates of all Meraki licenses.
An organization-wide application of Meraki co-term licensing results in a single expiration date for all of the Meraki devices it manages.
The weighted average of the license types you have purchased and claimed for your dashboard organization is dynamically used to compute that date.
How Do I Install Meraki?
A somewhat different procedure is used to construct a Systems Manager network for endpoint management.
- Utilizing the previously created account, log in to https://dashboard.meraki.com.
- Select Next after selecting Set up Systems Manager from the prompt window.
The Meraki cloud allows you to configure everything before your devices even arrive, in contrast to conventional gear that needs physical access to be configured.
Before you can start using the Cisco Meraki cloud, you must create a dashboard account that allows you to log in to the service and manage your networks.
Create a new network by selecting the type of device you will be using from the list.
How Much Does Meraki License Cost?
The pricing for each of the Meraki product lines varies. For instance, one-year wireless licenses are priced at $150, while three-year switch licenses are $400. There are also different time frames for these licenses, such as one day, three days, five days, and ten years.
There must be a valid subscription for each Meraki Go Access point. By doing this, you can be confident that your wireless network is constantly equipped with the newest features, bug fixes, and security patches.
Customers with Meraki networks that need less downtime in the case of a hardware breakdown can use Meraki Now, a bundle of optional hardware replacement services.
What Happens if Meraki License Expires?
Through a certified Meraki partner, you may purchase a renewal. Your Meraki network device will stop working if you decide not to renew, preventing you from managing your device through the Meraki cloud.
After a license expires, Meraki devices have a grace period of 30 days, during which the license can be reactivated.
Customers can do this to guarantee continuity and prevent service outages when a license expires. If the license is not reactivated after 30 days, Meraki-based devices will no longer be protected on the network.
Click here to read more on Meraki Licensing.
Conclusion
Cisco Meraki dominates the market for cloud-managed networking. As a result, this Cisco subsidiary offers a unique set of benefits, making it the go-to choice for many organizations.
These benefits include the per-device licensing model, ease of installation and management, and continuous updates and security patches. Meraki’s end-to-end solution can be expensive, but it is worth the investment for many companies.
If you are looking for a reliable and easy-to-use networking solution, Cisco Meraki should be at the top of your list.