Cisco Meraki Using

Using a Cisco Meraki Access Point as a Mesh Repeater
Mesh Repeater Overview
In a Meraki network, "mesh repeaters" are AP's without a wired path to the cloud. Repeaters rely on other mesh repeaters and or "mesh gateways" to route
client traffic towards the Internet. Mesh repeaters make use of mesh routing metrics to determine the best quality route to use when forwarding client traffic. Any
Meraki AP can function as a mesh repeater. At least one mesh gateway must be installed on the network before you add a mesh repeater.
Note: Only Cisco Meraki APs can function as repeaters and gateways. Wireless MX security appliances, Z1/Z3 teleworker gateways, and third-party APs cannot
participate in a wireless mesh.
Prerequisites:
• Add the serial number of the mesh repeater AP to the network in Dashboard.
• Add the serial number of the mesh gateway AP to the network in Dashboard.
• Install a mesh gateway AP within range of the mesh repeater.
Installing a Repeater
1. Install the mesh repeater within wireless range of the mesh gateway.
2. Connect the mesh repeater to its power supply. The power supply can be a Meraki PoE injector, plug-in AC power adapter, or IEEE 802.3af compliant PoE
switch. If using Meraki PoE injectors/adapters refer to the instructions in the AP product setup guide. If the LED's do not light up when the power supply is
connected try the following:
• Swap power supplies with known working supply.
• When using PoE adpaters or switches try swapping cables, PoE adapters or switches.
• Make sure the cables are less than 100 meters long
Note: If the repeater is being powered via PoE and/or has any sort of link back to a network, if it is configured with a static IP, it will not come online as a
repeater and continue attempting to function as a gateway.
3. Once the repeater is powered the LED's go through a series of sequences. Please refer to the
LED locations for your model.
• Pre-2014 Models
◦ Radio light will turn solid green or solid orange (MR Units). If the radio light is off make sure power supply is
working.
◦ Signal lights will move back and forth as the AP search for neighbors. The repeaters lights will turn solid green
after 2 minutes of scanning if a working route to the mesh gateway can be found. If the lights continuously
move back and forth and never turn solid green, the repeater cannot find a route to the mesh gateway.
• 2014 and beyond Models (single LED)
Product Setup Guide for the model AP to determine the exact
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