Switch Deployment and Staging
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Zero-touch configuration staging
The cloud architecture provides an incredibly powerful sandbox and staging area without the need to ever unbox a single piece of hardware. This is mainly due to the fact that configuration changes and staging lives in the cloud until the device it is destined for checks in. This provides a broad array of new opportunities for streamlining new switch deployments as well as switch refreshes.
Typical staging scenarios
Enterprise deployment
Typical enterprise networks consist of either one large or several distributed locations, with one being designated as the headquarter location.
Hierarchy
It is recommended that each location has its own network container and that each network container is then created under one organization. For more information on dashboard structure, see Introduction to dashboard .
Recommended staging process
1. Create a new network by selecting "Create a network" from the network drop-down
2. Enter in your order number or device serial number(s) as well as a valid license key if prompted
3. Once the network has been created, configure each of your switches as desired. Leverage the clone feature to quickly configure and clone your desired configuration from one to many like switches in the network.
4. Configure network-wide settings by navigating to Configure > Switch settings and Configure > Alerts & administration.
5. Install and connect your switch(es) in their desired locations, provide power and a connection to the Cisco Meraki cloud.
For more information on switch cloning, please see Switch Cloning
Multi-branch deployment
Branch deployments are typically more simplistic and are often based on a primary template, then repeated for each site. Cisco Meraki switches are ideal for this approach as it is very simple to pre-stage one location and then copy the primary configuration template to other locations. Additionally things like firmware are managed automatically by the Cisco Meraki cloud.
Hierarchy
It is recommended that each site has its own network container and that each network container is then created under one organization. For more information on dashboard structure, see Introduction to dashboard.
Recommended staging process
1. Create a new network by selecting "Create a network" from the network drop-down and call it "PRIMARY"
2. Enter in your order number or device serial number(s) as well as a valid license key if prompted
3. Configure all desired network-wide settings that you would like applied to all branch networks by navigating to Configure > Switch settings and Configure > Alerts & administration (e.g. management VLAN, alerts, etc)
4. Create each branch location's network container by following the instructions in step 1 and name them appropriately. Be sure to select "Clone from network" and select the PRIMARY network you created in step 1
5. Select one switch in the "PRIMARY" network and name it PRIMARY SWITCH
6. Configure the ports on the switch selected in the step above by navigating to Configure > Switch ports and performing a search for switch: "PRIMARY SWITCH"
7. Move all other switches to their respective networks by selecting and using the Move command under Monitor > Switches
It is highly recommended you name each of your switches after this step with a unique identifier for each of your locations or sites.
8. Nagivate to each newly-created branch network, select the switch(es) and choose the Clone option, using the PRIMARY SWITCH configured in step 6 as the clone source
9. Install and connect your switch(es) in their desired locations, provide power and a connection to the Cisco Meraki cloud.
Campus deployment
Hierarchy
It is recommended that all switches reside within one network container and that tags or naming is used on switch ports. If campus deployment size exceeds 5,000 ports, it is recommended that each building resides within it's own network container. For more information on dashboard structure, see Introduction to dashboard.
Recommended staging process
1. Create a new network by selecting "Create a network" from the network drop-down
2. Enter in your order number or device serial number(s) as well as a valid license key if prompted
3. Once the network has been created, configure each of your switches as desired. Leverage the clone feature to quickly configure and clone your desired configuration from one to many like switches in the network.
4. Configure network-wide settings by navigating to Configure > Switch settings and Configure > Alerts & administration.
5. Install and connect your switch(es) in their desired locations, provide power and a connection to the Cisco Meraki cloud.
Deployment examples
| Branch Network |
An example of a typical branch network deployment  |
| Campus Network |
An example of a typical campus network deployment  |