Selecting a Management Mode for Unified Licenses - Wi-Fi 7
Overview
This article provides a comprehensive guide on choosing a management mode for your Unified licenses in a Cisco Networking Subscription. Depending on your requirements, you can opt to manage your licenses and devices in cloud mode, hybrid mode, or on-premises mode.
This process applies only to unified licenses under the Cisco Networking Subscription for Wi-Fi 7 devices. Other SKUs under Cisco Networking Subscription licensing will be cloud-only.
If you have Term licenses for Wi-Fi 7, they will be cloud-only, and on-premises management will not be available.
Learn more with these free online training courses on the Meraki Learning Hub:
Prerequisites
- Customers need to claim their subscription in Meraki Dashboard. How to Claim a Subscription
- Customers need to bind their subscription to the network they are going to have managed on-prem. How to Bind a Network to a Subscription
- Customers need to have their Smart Account /Virtual Account information at hand. Smart Account Administration
Choosing Management for Wi-Fi 7
Cloud Mode
Customers who manage their licenses, inventory, and Wi-Fi 7 devices through the Meraki Dashboard will enjoy the full cloud experience. No additional actions are required to maintain this experience.
Hybrid Mode
Customers who manage devices on-premises while still utilizing the Meraki dashboard for your licenses and inventory for ease of management will be in a hybrid mode.
1. Log into the Meraki dashboard by going to dashboard.meraki.com and input your Email and Password. Click Log in once you are ready.
2. Once you log in, Click on Network-Wide > Management Mode section. Click on the On-premises managed button.
3. At this point you will be prompted to ensure your wireless LAN controller is configured correctly and have your Smart Account credentials available. When you are ready, click the Get Started button.
4. Proceed to log in to Cisco Smart Software Manager, click the Continue to log in button.
5. Proceed to input the required credentials, click the Submit button.
6. Once you are signed in, you will be brought back to Meraki Dashboard to choose the Smart/Virtual account you will associate with Meraki Dashboard, click the Submit button.
7. click on Validate to bring your available virtual account.
8. Proceed to choose your Virtual Account.
One Smart Account can be associated to a Meraki Dashboard organization at a time. Networks within the organization can be associated to one Virtual Account each.
9. You will be prompted that this virtual account will allocate licenses to your device managed by CSSM, click Next.
10. To associate APs via discovery Wireless LAN Controller click Next.
11. Click on the Confirm check box and read the Terms & Conditions.
this action will disconnect all your APs from the network you are moving to on-prem management. After the reboot, the APs will try to discover the Wireless LAN Controller.
12. Once you have reviewed the Terms & Conditions, Click on the Confirm
13. You will be prompted that your changes have been saved.
Note: If you have an On-Prem SSM and have not yet assigned your devices to your Meraki Dashboard network, Your devices will be automatically assigned to the Network you configured. Also, your On-Prem SSM must sync each time a new AP is activated to get a license.
14. Once this hybrid mode is set, log in to Cisco Software Central and click on Manage Licenses under the Smart Software Manager to view the assigned licenses in your CSSM.
15. Navigate to the Smart Software Licensing page and click on the Inventory tab.
16. Navigate to Click on the Licenses tab. The total quantity of licenses sourced externally is displayed under Available to Use in your Networking Cloud Virtual Account. These metrics are incremented by in-compliance device assignments from Meraki Dashboard, and the balance reflects the actual balance of licenses.
You are not able to edit or delete any licenses in CSSM in that Virtual Account while in this mode because they are managed in Meraki Dashboard.
On-Prem Mode
Customers who manage their licenses, through the Cisco Smart Software Manager (CSSM) and their Wi-Fi 7 devices via WLC will have the full on-prem experience. No additional actions are required to maintain this experience. Smart Account Administration