Pre-download with Local Firmware Fetch
Overview
Introduced in MR 32.1.2, Pre-download with Local Firmware Fetch allows an AP, to download firmware from Dashboard and distribute image to other APs over the LAN, cutting down on image download times and high load on the cloud backend infrastructure. During the upgrade process, APs within a network are divided into groups. Within these groups, APs are randomly selected to be servers. Elected server APs will download the relevant image from the Dashboard. Remaining APs that are a part of the local area network can then retrieve the image from server APs.
Firmware
MR 32.1.2+
Upgrade Process:
1. APs are randomly selected on the LAN to become server APs.
2. Server APs download firmware from Dashboard.
3. Client APs that share the same IPv4 or IPv6 gateway will attempt to curl the expected file from the server AP, on port 9359.
4. Client APs on the LAN will attempt for 3 minutes to retrieve the image before reverting to self upgrade procedure.
5. If a client AP is successful in retrieving the file from the server AP, client APs will complete the rest of the upgrade process as normal, and reboot.
Note: Server APs are chosen based on node-connectivity rather than IP address. APs that share the same IPv4 or IPv6 WAN uplink (IPv4 takes precedence over IPv6 if both are present) are placed into groups where servers are assigned randomly to the group.
Note: Pre-download with Local Firmware Fetch requires networks to at minimum be running MR 32.1.2
AP Clustering:
Clustering of Client APs is based on the following requirements.
-
Client APs can discover and communicate with each other over the local network.
-
APs must be the same model type.
-
It is required to have a minimum of 5 Client APs for every Server AP in the network.
Example: For a deployment of 100 APs there must be 5 Server APs that are able to download the firmware file and distribute to reminaing APs in cluster.
Configuration
The firmware Pre-download setting is enabled by default when network upgrades are scheduled or rescheduled from the network-wide page.
- Navigate Network-wide > Configure General > Wireless Network Settings
Organization Firmware Upgrades
Dashboard will display the option to enable or disable image pre-download for all networks in an organization configured with the minimum firmware version.
1. Navigate Organization > Firmware Upgrades > Schedule upgrades > Schedule upgrades
Note: For all of the available networks in a organization, Dashboard displays the current firmware version running and the supported Pre-download version that it can be upgraded to.
Note: Dashboard will display the following message if some of the selected networks current firmware versions do not support Pre-download.
API
Using the API - /wireless/settings
curl -L --request PUT \
--url https://n1003.meraki.com/api/v1//net...eless/settings \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--data '{
"meshingEnabled": true,
"ipv6BridgeEnabled": true,
"locationAnalyticsEnabled": true,
"ledLightsOn": true,
"regulatoryDomain": {
"name": "FCC",
"countryCode": "US",
"permits6e": true
},
"upgradeStrategy": "minimizeUpgradeTime",
"predownloadFirmware": true,
"namedVlans": {
"poolDhcpMonitoring": {
"enabled": false,
"duration": 5
}
}
}'
Using the API - /firmwareUpgrades
curl -L --request PUT \
--url https://api.meraki.dev.ikarem.io/api...rmwareUpgrades \
--header 'Authorization: Bearer <API_KEY>' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--data '{
"timezone": "GMT",
"products": {
"wireless": {
"nextUpgrade": {
"time": "2025-04-23T14:11:00Z",
"toVersion": { "id": "1004354" }
},
"predownloadFirmware": true
}
}
}'
Network Wireless Settings
Fetch and update the network-wide firmware Pre-download setting.
GET /networks/{networkId}/wireless/settings
PUT /networks/{networkId}/wireless/settings
Network Firmware Upgrades
Allows network admins to get network firmware information and update (schedule/reschedule) firmware upgrades (only handles upgrades to newer versions, not downgrades).
GET/networks/{networkId}/firmwareUpgrades
PUT /networks/{networkId}/firmwareUpgrades
Network Firmware Upgrades Rollback
API allows network admins to create or schedule firmware rollbacks to older firmware.
POST /networks/{networkId}/firmwareUpgrades/rollbacks
createNetworkFirmwareUpgradesRollback
Monitoring
The event logs of an AP can be referenced to ensure the image was successfully download from Dashboard and is stored within the AP.