Cloud Management with IOS XE
Explore Cloud Management with IOS XE offering options for device and cloud configuration. Learn more about each option, including supported models, to determine the best fit for your needs.
Cloud Management with IOS XE unlocks the powerful capabilities of IOS XE, enabling organizations to simplify operations, enhance efficiency, and improve network performance from access to core networking. With this release, we are beginning an exciting transition from a container-based architecture to (container-less) IOS XE architecture with support for Meraki cloud management.
We are introducing a brand new onboarding experience for C9000 switches as they transition to the cloud. This enhances how the Meraki dashboard manages C9000 switches, offering increased flexibility in switch management that enables customers to onboard their C9000 switches based on either configuration source – cloud or device:
Configuration Source
Cloud
With cloud configuration, switches are managed via the cloud-based dashboard. This capability also offers a read-only Cloud CLI terminal you can use to view the entire running configuration or perform advanced troubleshooting using IOS XE show commands. Learn more about this option and its supported switch models here.
NEW! Experience the power of IOS XE 17.18.1 (beta) for Cloud Management with Cloud Configuration. This release expands more C9000 switching platform support (such as C9200/CX, C9300LM, and selected C9500H) and packs with power capabilities. Learn more.
Device
Cloud management with device configuration represents a significant evolution of Cloud Monitoring for Catalyst, which has enabled users to integrate their C9000 series switches into the Meraki dashboard to view switch statistics, configuration details and troubleshooting tools. Building on this foundation, cloud-managed IOS XE switches with device configuration allow the choice to access to the Cloud CLI from dashboard, empowering users to leverage the benefits of cloud management, while maintaining access to all of the capabilities of the underlying IOS XE firmware.
In addition, cloud management with device configuration provides a streamlined onboarding experience for your switches, removing the need to use the local onboarding application required with Cloud Monitoring. Learn more about this option and its supported platforms here.
Cloud management with device configuration enters public beta and is an evolution of what was previously known as Cloud Monitoring.
Table 1: Configuration source comparison: cloud vs. device
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Configuration: Cloud (formerly cloud management) |
Configuration: Device (formerly cloud monitoring) |
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Exclusively managed by dashboard |
Management flexibility |
| Perform configurations with the dashboard | Perform configurations with Cloud CLI terminal |
|
Configurations are stored in the cloud and synced to the switch |
Configuration remains local to the device with cloud backup |
| Read-only CLI support | Read and Write CLI support |
|
Supports the following C9000 series switches:
Refer to the full supported models list for cloud configuration here. |
Supports the following C9000 series switches:
Refer to the full supported model list for device configuration here. |
Related Documentation:
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Overview Cloud Management with IOS XE Overview Cloud Management with IOS XE FAQs Onboarding Cloud-Managed C9000 switches to Meraki Dashboard |
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Cloud Configuration |
Device Configuration |
Cloud CLI
Cloud CLI is an early access feature available for all cloud management with IOS XE switches starting in version 17.15.3. The cloud CLI is an interactive CLI terminal hosted in the Meraki dashboard for your cloud managed C9000 switches and wireless controllers. When launching the cloud CLI terminal, the dashboard will initiate a secure direct terminal session inside the Meraki Tunnel to your device, similar to opening a direct SSH or console session. Learn more here.
Cloud CLI offers slightly different functionality depending on the configuration source:
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Device configuration supports Cloud CLI in both read-only and configuration modes, depending on dashboard user roles.
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Cloud configuration supports Cloud CLI in only read-only mode.
