03-17-2016 12:14 AM - edited 07-05-2021 04:47 AM
Hi
one of our customer need Meraki wlc instead of cisco wireless controller
what is the difference between meraki and cisco wireless controller
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03-17-2016 07:08 AM
Meraki is cloud managed. Cisco WLC is on-premise managed.
03-17-2016 08:05 PM
The Meraki Cloud Controller interface can be managed from any location with Internet access as the controller is just in the cloud. Meraki has a mobile app that is iOS or Android compatible so that the environment can be managed from truly anywhere and any device. The Cisco Premise-Based Controller must be managed from the same location or via anywhere on the Internet via a VPN client.
03-17-2016 07:08 AM
Meraki is cloud managed. Cisco WLC is on-premise managed.
03-20-2016 05:22 AM
Dear Philip & Mohanak
Many thanks for your reply regarding miraki wireless controller. One of our client asking for meraki controller and its a well known chain of hotels distributed over countries.
Like in Cisco WLC we have option for Flex or HREAP to register remote access points to WLC like 5760. Here could you please elaborate a little how miraki controller will work.
Does it has any hardware or its just a software based product.
How the access points will register to this controller and how AP's will be manage.
What type of licensing will be used
Where there cloud based controller will be located?
Kindly elaborate a bit to understand better.
Thanks.
03-20-2016 12:17 PM
Meraki access points by default bridge locally (aka FlexConnect). If you install an MX security appliance then you can also get them to tunnel an SSID back to that security appliance.
You need a Meraki access point. This is the models available.
https://meraki.cisco.com/products/wireless#models
The access points only register to the Meraki cloud controller. There is nothing more to do than plug them in. All they need is Internet access. In the cloud interface you just register serial numbers or order number. If you order them together, then when you register one order number the whole lot will get registered at once.
You need a licence to make them work. If the licence expires they stop working. You can buy 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 year licences. Access points only have one licence option, "Enterprise". You need a licence for each individual device.
https://docs.meraki.com/display/kb/Meraki+Licensing+FAQ
Meraki uses Amazon AWS. Which one of the Amazon AWS regions is used depends on where you and the device are in the world.
Why don't you sign up for a demo? If you attend a free Webinar they give you an access point.
03-20-2016 10:40 PM
Thanks for your reply Philip
I saw some webinars for meraki devices and read documents related to this.
Now the things are clear about its functionality and design.
Just one things i want to clear. In documentation its mentioned that public IP address (routeable IP addess) must be used for each meraki device to register it with cloud controller.
Is this mandatory that if there is 200 access points at the client site then block of 200 public IP address should be purchase. Even switches and security devices should have public IP.
This looks like the situation one to one static natting where each device will be mapped with one public and private IP. But there is also a port based static nat where with one public ip we can static nat web, email, telnet, FTP, ssh services for different server/devices
Kindly advise.
Thanks.
03-21-2016 11:56 AM
You can have 200 Meraki access points behind a router doing NAT to a single public IP address with no issues. They just need to be able to get to the Internet.
03-17-2016 08:05 PM
The Meraki Cloud Controller interface can be managed from any location with Internet access as the controller is just in the cloud. Meraki has a mobile app that is iOS or Android compatible so that the environment can be managed from truly anywhere and any device. The Cisco Premise-Based Controller must be managed from the same location or via anywhere on the Internet via a VPN client.
03-19-2016 10:21 PM
Thanks Mohanak
Could you please post any links for configuration guides Examples for Meraki cloud Controller
03-20-2016 07:05 PM
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