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Cisco Meraki

Using the Organization Inventory

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Each organization in Dashboard has an inventory that tracks what Cisco Meraki devices have been added to the organization and any networks it contains. This article will discuss the Organization > Configure > Inventory page, and some common actions that can be done there.

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Searching For Devices

The Organization > Configure > Inventory page will provide a comprehensive listing of all devices that are currently added to any networks within the organization, as well as devices that have been claimed, but are not currently in a network.

 

Use the Search inventory box to search for a device, or group of devices, based on:

  • MAC address
  • Serial number
  • Network name
  • Model number
  • Order number
  • Country code

Note: The country code is reflective of the shipping information on the node's order if it has not been overridden due to regulatory requirements.

Co-termination

The example below demonstrates searching for a serial number:

211.png

 

There are also options to filter the list based on whether devices are:

  • Used - Currently added to a network.
  • Unused - Claimed, but not in a network.
  • Both - Lists all claimed devices, regardless of whether they are in a network.

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The displayed list of devices can also be exported to a CSV file for easier external processing/tracking. Simply click the Download as CSV button to generate and download the file.

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Per-Device Licensing 

The example below demonstrates searching for a serial number:

kb1.PNG

You can also use the filter option to do a more granular search:

  • Product type
  • Product models
  • Device tag
  • Network
  • Usused / In use
  • Order number
  • License expiration date 
  • Days until shutdown 

   kb3.PNG

Similar to organizations that are using the Co-termination licensing model, the displayed list of devices can also be exported to a CSV file, by clicking on the Export button.

  clipboard_ec435ead8f26fe26a0a6ee8922faea59e.png

Claiming Devices/Orders

To begin utilizing a device in Dashboard, it must first be claimed. The claim process can be initiated from any page where devices may be added:

  • Network-wide > Configure > Add Devices
  • Organization > Configure > Inventory (detailed below)

Note: Network-only administrators cannot claim devices into the organization's Inventory. They may only claim devices via Network-wide > Configure > Add Devices.

If a device was recently removed from a network, please allow up to 60 minutes before attempting to claim the device/order to a different inventory. 

Note: Claiming a device to an organization's Inventory does NOT assign ownership. The Inventory is merely for record-keeping and organizing. Administrators must assign the device to a network to actually claim ownership of that device.

If you would like to take ownership of the devices but are not ready to add them to your network in your current organization, you can claim them to a temporary ‘holding organization’. Once you have created the new organization, you will want to create a network. This will assign ownership of the devices to the holding organization. If no licenses are added the organization will shut down and will not allow anyone else to claim the devices or use the devices in any other organization.

Please follow the KB for moving devices between organizations when you are ready to move the devices.

Quickly Scan and Claim Multiple Devices through the Meraki Mobile App 

If you have to claim multiple devices, the quickest way is by scanning their barcode using the Meraki app.

  1. Log in to your Meraki iOS or Android app with your Meraki dashboard account. Create a new account if you do not have one.
  2. Navigate to the correct network through the left-side bar.
  3. Go to the Devices tab from the bottom navigation bar.
  4. Select the + icon on the top right of the screen and pick Scan new device barcode.
  5. Point your phone camera toward the hardware barcode to claim the device.
  6. Enter device information and then select Done. Press Add another to claim a new device.

mv_claim_device.png

Co-termination

  1. Click Claim.
    213.png
     
  2. Enter either the twelve-digit serial number of the device(s) OR the nine-digit Cisco Meraki order number(s); one per line.
    222223156.png
     
  3. Click Claim.
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  4. A green box indicating "Changes saved" will appear above and the devices will be added to the list of available devices.
    6f1693a3-a143-4677-94f5-da682bead5e6

    If an error message appears indicating "Some of the devices you tied claiming are in use", verify that the device isn't already active in this organization or another one. If it is in another organization, it will need to be removed.
    3a46a57c-ecfb-42f0-aec4-242ef7f3a9df
     
  5. Click Close
  6. The device(s) is now available for adding to a network.

Under the co-termination licensing model, only Cisco Meraki orders that include hardware can be claimed to the Inventory using this tool. Attempting to claim orders that only include licensing will result in an error message. The licensing from these orders can, instead, be claimed by following these steps.

Entering a Cisco Meraki order number into the Claim tool will simultaneously claim all devices and licensing included in that order.

This being said, if any elements of an order have been already claimed to an organization in Dashboard, the order cannot be claimed as a whole. The remaining devices will need to be claimed individually and the licensing will need to be claimed following a separate process.

Alternatively, orders may still be claimed if the already claimed devices are first removed from their respective environments. 

Per-Device Licensing

  1. Click Add..
    clipboard_ee30dcc9924197b1b5c9ae80c9f8c5ada.png
     
  2. Enter either the twelve-digit serial number of the device(s) OR the nine-digit Cisco Meraki order number(s); one per line.
    kb5.png
     
  3. Click Next
    clipboard_ee2f1933a69d9fb3cc94810f7fda5b31f.png
     
  4. You should get the following message if the claim was successful (with a list of all the devices that have been assigned to your organization's inventory)
    clipboard_e1ae364b8c12f722c0558f8303f179e4f.png
     
  5. Click Next
     
  6. In the next menu, you will get the option to assign your newly claimed device(s) to specific networks in your organization or you can click on the Assign later button to complete this process later. 
    kb7.png
    clipboard_e4fec963f36a90d8239dafae7c0731f8a.png
     
  7. The last menu will provide you with a set of documentation to get you started on configuring your new devices
    clipboard_e4ff827106f84cc9e39df05a7e461fcf1.png
     
  8. Click Done to complete the process.
    clipboard_eb6315ade86c690f7d57f68795da83b22.png

Error Message: Some of the devices you tried claiming are in use

If you attempt to claim a Meraki device that is already claimed in another organization's network, you will receive an error message reading "Some of the devices you tried claiming are in use".
 

error_message.png

If a device is claimed in a network, it will not be possible to

 

Due to privacy and security concerns, Cisco Meraki Support cannot assist in moving/removing devices that have already been claimed to another organization.

In order to add a device to your network, you will need to contact an administrator of the organization that currently owns the device and have them follow the instructions in our documentation to remove the device from their network. Once that has been done, after a brief wait (5-60 minutes), the device should be claimable again.

Unclaiming Devices

Co-termination

Sometimes devices need to be entirely removed from an organization in Dashboard, most often as part of moving the device to another organization. The steps below will unclaim a device and remove it from the organization's inventory.

Note: The device must be removed from any networks before proceeding.

  1. Navigate to the Organization > Configure > Inventory page.
  2. Check the box for the device(s) to unclaim.
    7777775484448.png
     
  3. Click Unclaim.
    221.png
     
  4. The device(s) will disappear from the list.

Per-Device Licensing

  1. Navigate to the Organization > Configure > Inventory page.
  2. Check the box for the device(s) to unclaim.
    clipboard_e90a8728b7e79ec65e336d31516cd49af.png
     
  3. Click on Actions, select the option Remove from Organization.
    Note: If the device is currently in a network, you will first need to remove the device from the network following the steps in the Adding and Removing Devices from Dashboard Networks article.clipboard_e0f2a3eb5faea4189befe1f8b8b22564c.png
  4. A confirmation menu will pop up, click on Remove.
    kb8.PNG
     
  5. The device(s) will disappear from the list. 

Adding Devices to Networks

While there are multiple ways devices can be added to a network, this section will outline the process to add devices from the Inventory page.

For more information, please review the article on Adding and Removing Devices from Dashboard Networks.

Before beginning, create a network if one doesn't already exist. 

Co-Termination

  1. Navigate to the Organization > Configure > Inventory page
  2. Check the box next to any device(s) to add.
    223.png
     
  3. Click Add to...
    222.png
     
  4. To add to an existing network:
    1. Select Existing network
      231.png
       
    2. Choose the desired network from the dropdown
      Note: Only one MX or Z1 can be in a network.
      Note: Adding more than one device type to a network will automatically convert that network to a combined network.
    3. Click Add to existing.
      232.png
       
  5. To add to a new network:
    1. Select New network.
      233.png
       
    2. Enter a Name for the network.
    3. Choose a Configuration. Leave as "Default" unless cloning another network, or tying to a template is desired.
    4. Click Create network and add.
      234.png
       
  6. The device(s) will be added to the desired network.

Per-Device Licensing

  1. Navigate to the Organization > Configure > Inventory page
  2. Check the box next to any device(s) that are being added to a network
    clipboard_ee78e15c7550fd00ad7c04c37ba66cc1b.png
     
  3. Click on Actions, select the option Change network assignment
    kb10.png
     
  4. Select Move devices to network and pick the network from the drop down menu. Afterwards, click on Review changes. 
    kb11.png
     
  5. Review the changes and then click on Move to network.
    kb12.png
     
  6. After the devices have been successfully moved to their network, you will get the following message. Click on Done to finalize the process.
    clipboard_eae46992d79e78d711fbf518234d60a82.png
     
  7. The device(s) will be added to the desired network.

We highly recommend having the total switch count in any dashboard network to be less than or equal to 400 switches. If switch count exceeds 400 switches, it is likely to slow down the loading of the network topology/ switch ports page or result in display of inconsistent output.

Country Code

By default, the country/region shown on the Inventory page for a node is reflective of the ship-to address from its order. Once the node is added to a wireless network, the country code will update to reflect the network's country code configured under the Network-wide > Configure > General page.

 

If a non-wireless device, such as an MS or MX, have their network combined with a wireless network, its country code on the Inventory page will also be updated to the same country code of the combined network based on the Network-wide > Configure > General page.

Note: If the country code of the combined network was updated before prior to combining a non-wireless and a wireless network (and they had different country codes), the non-wireless device will not have its country code updated in the Inventory page until the Network-wide > Configure > General page is saved.

Bulk Switch Replacement

This section explains the steps necessary to replace switches. The Organization > Configure > Inventory page enables users to replace switches while maintaining configuration continuity via a straightforward workflow. Some common use cases for switch replacement are:

  1. Return Material Authorization (RMA) process

  2. Replacing a switch of the same port density but with a different feature set. Eg: MS355-48 with MS355-48P for PoE

  3. Replacing a switch that is not part of RMA. Eg: when consolidating networks and not necessarily replacing a faulty switch

Prerequisites: To successfully replace switches using this workflow, the following expectations must be met:

  1. You can replace switches that are currently assigned to a network. Unassigned switches cannot be replaced. 

  2. The replacement switch must not be assigned to a network. Assigned switches cannot be used as replacements.

 

Guide: To replace one or more existing switches:

  • Go to Organization > Configure > Inventory and select switch device which is assigned to a network and click on replace (make sure that there are replacement devices available) 

  • Select newly claimed switches that aren’t part of any network in the new device dropdown selector. The dropdown selector displays a list of all the switch devices that are available, not associated with any network, and share the same model and port density.

  • It is important to note that replacement is permitted on various subset models of a specific switch model, for example: MS390-48P can be replaced with an MS390-48 /MS390-48U/MS390-48UX. Below are a few examples of different subset models:

    • Model

      Model Subset

      MS120-24

      MS120-24P

      MS120-48

      MS120-48FP, MS120-48LP

      MS120-8

      MS120-8FP, MS120-8LP

      MS125-24

      MS125-24P

      MS125-48

      MS125-48FP, MS125-48LP
    • *For more information on models and subsets, please refer to the family datasheet here. 
  • Choose an action for the existing device 
    • Users can select one of the two actions -  they can return device to inventory or unclaim the device
  • The bulk replace action on the Organization > Configure > Inventory page scales the current switch cloning feature and is designed to copy over all the port-level and some switch-level configuration settings from the source switch to another. All configurations that are copied over are described in this switch cloning KB.
  • After initiating the replacement action, it will take a few minutes to complete. The following are the statuses during this process:
    • In Progress
    • Completed
    • Failed

 

APIs: We have APIs to support switch replacement programmatically. 

POST /organizations/{organizationId}/inventory/devices/swaps/bulk and GET /organizations/{organizationId}/inventory/devices/swaps/bulk/{id} are used by this feature to create the switch replacement request, and poll the status.

 

Known Limitations

  1. Replacement does not allow copying over the L3 config settings because two switches in the same network cannot have the same L3 configurations as it can lead to conflicts and service disruptions.

  2. With the exception of replacement of an MS210/225 configuration to an MS250, replacement requires the source and destination switches to be the same model.

  3. Replacement requires the source and destination switches to have the same port density. 

  4. Stacked switches cannot be replaced with this workflow.

  5. Switches that are part of networks bound to config or switches bound to switch templates cannot be replaced with this workflow.

Additional Resources

For information on related topics, refer to the following articles:

Adding & Removing Devices from Dashboard Networks

Licensing Guidelines & Limitations

Moving a Device Between Organizations

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