What Is Cisco Meraki Used For?

Cisco Meraki is networking equipment that’s managed entirely from the cloud. Firewalls, switches, Wi-Fi access points, security cameras, sensors and mobile devices all run from one web dashboard, so a business can set up and run every site without an engineer on site or a controller in a closet.

It’s used most for networks spread across several locations: retail chains, clinics, schools and branch offices. Cisco bought Meraki in 2012, and the Meraki dashboard now also manages Meraki versions of some Cisco Catalyst switches and access points.

What each Meraki product line is used for

	What it is	What businesses use it for
MX	Security appliance: firewall, router, SD-WAN and VPN in one box	The internet edge of each site, and connecting branches to each other
MS	Switches, many with PoE	Wired ports for computers and printers; power for phones, cameras and access points
MR and CW	Wi-Fi access points	Wi-Fi for offices, classrooms, stores and warehouses
MV	Security cameras that store video on the camera	Video surveillance without a separate recorder
MT	Sensors	Temperature, humidity, door and water-leak alerts for closets, server rooms and coolers
MG	Cellular gateways	Backup or primary internet over a cellular connection
Systems Manager	Mobile device management	Configuring, locking and wiping company laptops, tablets and phones

Meraki firewalls (MX)

An MX sits where the internet comes into a site. It does the firewalling and routing, filters content, blocks threats and builds VPN tunnels to your other sites automatically: Meraki calls this Auto VPN, and it’s the main reason chains with dozens of locations choose Meraki. Small sites use desktop models like the MX67 and MX68; larger offices use rack models like the MX85. Plenty of older MX100s are still in service, too.

Meraki switches (MS)

MS switches connect wired devices and power PoE devices like phones, cameras and access points. From the dashboard you can see every port across every site, which device is plugged into it, how much power it draws and whether the cable is healthy. Common access switches are the MS130-48P and MS225; the MS390 and Meraki-managed Catalyst 9300 cover larger networks.

Meraki Wi-Fi (MR and CW)

Meraki access points cover offices, schools, stores and warehouses, and outdoor models like the MR76 and MR86 cover yards and campuses. Guest Wi-Fi with a sign-in page, rogue access point detection (Air Marshal) and per-application traffic rules are built in. Newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 models carry Cisco CW part numbers and are managed from the same dashboard. For the two most common Wi-Fi 6 models, see MR36 vs MR46.

Meraki cameras, sensors and device management

MV cameras record to storage inside the camera, so there’s no recorder to buy, and you watch and search footage from the dashboard. MT sensors watch the conditions that take down equipment and spoil inventory: heat in a wiring closet, an open door, water on the floor. Systems Manager handles company laptops, tablets and phones: push settings and apps, and lock or wipe a lost device.

What makes Meraki different: the dashboard

Traditional Cisco gear is configured device by device, usually from a command line, and enterprise Wi-Fi needs a controller. Meraki has neither. You add a device to the dashboard by its serial number; when it’s plugged in anywhere with internet, it connects to the cloud and downloads its configuration. You can ship an MX and a switch to a new store, have the manager plug them in and configure everything from headquarters.

The same dashboard shows every device and client across every site, sends alerts, schedules firmware upgrades and has an API for automation.

What happens if the internet goes down?

The network keeps running. Meraki devices keep their configuration locally and your traffic never passes through Meraki’s cloud; only management traffic does. During an outage you can’t change settings or see the dashboard until the connection is back.

What does Meraki cost to run?

Every Meraki device needs an active license, which covers the dashboard, firmware updates and Meraki support. If licenses lapse, Meraki gives a 30-day grace period; after that the devices stop passing traffic. Budget for the license term along with the hardware. Our Meraki pros and cons post covers the trade-offs in more detail.

Who is Meraki a good fit for?

• Businesses with several sites and no IT staff at most of them.
• Small IT teams who’d rather click than type commands.
• Anyone who wants one vendor and one screen for firewall, switching, Wi-Fi and cameras.

It’s a weaker fit for teams that want command-line control of every setting, or that don’t want a recurring license.

Meraki FAQ

Is Meraki the same as Cisco?

Meraki is a Cisco brand. The difference is management: Meraki devices run from the Meraki dashboard, while traditional Cisco Catalyst equipment runs Cisco IOS XE and is managed from the command line or Cisco Catalyst Center.

How do I remove a device from a Meraki network?

In the dashboard, go to Organization > Inventory, select the device and remove it from its network. If you’re selling it or passing it on, also choose Unclaim so the next owner can add it to their own dashboard. Step-by-step: removing a Meraki device from your dashboard.

Can I buy refurbished Meraki equipment?

Yes. We sell new and refurbished Meraki, with the condition labeled on every listing and our 90-day warranty. We also buy used Meraki equipment.

Get a quote

Send us the Meraki part numbers you need, or the list for a new site, and we’ll quote it the same business day.