MG51/MG51E Installation Guide

MG51-HW

Front Panel

Back Panel

Side Panels

MG51E-HW

Front Panel

Back Panel

Top & Bottom View

Status Indicator

The MG series of devices use an LED to inform the user of the device's status. LED patterns and their meanings are described below.

Ethernet Port

The MG51/MG51E features two Ethernet ports. Port 1 can be reconfigured to Safe Mode for troubleshooting and diagnostics. Brand new units will ship with both ports configured as LAN, which is the default, normal operating mode.

The port labeled “PoE” (Port 1 & 2) accepts 802.3at power.

AC Adapter Power Port

In the event that the MG cannot be powered by POE, the MG has an AC adapter port that can be used to power it up with the 30watt (12V 2.5A) AC adapter (sold separately).

Factory Reset

To reset an MG cellular gateway to the factory defaults, press the button labeled 'Reset' on the back panel of the appliance for at least 10 seconds. This will clear all the local configuration settings done via the local status page. Please be aware that after resetting the unit, the local status page requires reconfiguration, and the device will need to download its latest configuration from the dashboard cloud. Please be patient as this could take up to 5 - 10 minutes. 

Package Contents

Safety and Warnings

These operations are to be taken with respect to all local laws. Please take the following into consideration for safe operation:

• Power off the unit before you begin. Read the installation instructions before connecting the system to a power source. 

• Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing accidents.

• Read the mounting instructions carefully before beginning installation. Failure to use the correct hardware or to follow the correct procedures could result in a hazardous situation to people and damage to the system.

• This product relies on the building’s installation for short-circuit (over current) protection. Ensure that the protective device is rated not greater than: 15 A, 125 Vac, or 10A, 240 Vac.

• Please only power the device with the provided power cables to ensure regulatory compliance.

Configure the Dashboard Network

The following is a brief overview only of the steps required to add an MG51/MG51E to your network. For detailed instructions about creating, configuring and managing Meraki networks, refer to our online documentation portal.

1. Login to http://dashboard.meraki.com and select the intended organization. If this is your first time using the Meraki dashboard, create a new account.

2. Claim the device to your organization inventory. You will need your Meraki order number (found on your invoice) or the serial number of each MG, which looks like Qxxx-xxxx-xxxx, and is found on the bottom of the unit. You will also need to claim your Enterprise license key, which you should have received via email. 

3. Find or create the network to which you plan to add your MG51/MG51E. 

4. Add your MG51/MG51E to the network. 

Check and Set Firmware

To ensure your MG51/MG51E performs optimally immediately following installation, it is recommended that you facilitate a firmware upgrade prior to using your MG51/MG51E.

1. Insert an active nano (4FF) SIM card/cards into the SIM trays before powering up the device.

2. Connect your MG51/MG51E to power.

3. The MG51/MG51E will turn on and the power LED will glow solid orange until it comes online. 

4. If the unit requires a firmware upgrade after coming online, the power LED will begin blinking white until the upgrade is complete, at which point the LED will turn solid white. You should allow at least a few minutes for the firmware upgrade to complete, depending on the speed of your internet connection.

Check and Configure Upstream Firewall Settings 

If you are testing safe mode on port 1 and have an upstream firewall in place, the firewall must allow outgoing connections on particular ports to specific IP addresses. The most current list of outbound ports and IP addresses for your organization can be found on the Help > Firewall Information page in your dashboard. 

Collect Tools 

You will need the following tools to perform an installation:

T8 Torx screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, Hammer, Drill with 1/4" (6.3mm) bits

Collect Additional Hardware for Installation 

You will need the following hardware to perform an installation:

802.3af PoE source (either PoE switch or Meraki 802.3af PoE injector), AC adapter, Network cables RJ45 connectors long enough for your particular mounting location

Mounting Hardware

The supplied wall screws and anchors allow you to mount the appliance on a drywall surface, either vertically or horizontally. For mounting on drywall, use a ¼-inch drill bit, then insert the plastic and screw assemblies.

• For mounting on wood or a similar surface, use only the screws.

• Allow the heads of the screws to stick out far enough to be inserted securely into the back of the MG.

Picture credits - Jade Neyroud

Connecting to WAN

All Meraki MG devices must have an IP address. This section describes how to configure the WAN interface before you deploy it. A local management web service running on the appliance is accessed through a browser running on a client PC. This web service is used for configuring and monitoring basic ISP/WAN connectivity.

Setting up Cellular Connection

Follow the steps below to configure basic connectivity and other cellular gateway parameters on the MG51/MG51E:

1. Using a client machine such as a laptop, connect directly to LAN interface of the MG.

2. Find the client's IP address and default gateway. Using a browser on the client machine, access the appliance's built-in web service by browsing to mg.meraki.com or the default gateway IP (You do not have to be connected to the Internet to reach this address).

3. Click the Configuration tab under the local status tab. The default credentials are the Serial Number of the device (all upper-case with dashes) as the username and a blank password field.

   4. Configure additional bearer values like APN if required by your carrier under the Configuration tab. 

Configuring Ethernet Ports

To configure physical link settings on the Ethernet ports, click on Ethernet tab. You can enable half duplex, full duplex, and auto-negotiation, as well as set 10 or 100 or 1000-Mbps data rates on Ethernet ports.

How do I know if my MG51 is using 5G?

MG51 use a 5G technology known as 5G NSA (Non-Standalone). The alternative to this is known as 5G SA (Standalone). The core difference between these technologies (NSA / SA) is in the control signaling of the Radio Access Network (RAN). For NSA 5G, the control signaling is anchored to the 4G LTE network and requires a 4G LTE connection to establish before being able to establish the 5G service. Essentially, a 5G NSA connection is required to be built on top of an existing 4G LTE connection.  

This differs from 5G SA, where the control signaling is handled directly on the 5G network. This allows the 5G SA connection to be established purely over 5G without the requirement of a 4G LTE connection. This stepping stone technology (5G NSA) allows providers to more easily and quickly integrate 5G connectivity into their existing networks and ease the transition from an existing 4G LTE network to full 5G SA network.

Via Dashboard: 
Within the Uplink tab of the MG status page on dashboard, the radio status section is displayed. For MG51 this displays both the current 4G and 5G radio status including current bands and signal strength.

When the MG has established a 5G connection the radio status of both the 4G LTE and 5G NSA radio will be displayed:

When a 5G connection is not in use, the 5G status will show "Inactive":

Device power issue

• If device fails to turn on, check the power source to make sure it is adequately supplying power to the MG.

• If there are no LED lights even though there is power at the outlet, check the MG to make sure everything is plugged in properly.

• If device isn't coming after trying both AC adapter and POE, check that the power options also work on other devices in a similar or matching setup.

If you are still experiencing hardware issues, please contact Cisco Meraki Support by logging in to dashboard and using the Help > Get Help option at the top of the page, then opening an email case or calling the Meraki Support center using the contact information on that page.