MX85 Series Hardware Installation Guide

Physical Specifications

Accessories 

Front Panel

Back Panel

Please note that the serial number is located on the product label at the back panel of the MX85.

Mounting Recommendations

When installing the appliance, make sure that there is sufficient space between the MX security appliance and other rack mounted devices. Ensure adequate airflow all around the appliance as it is passively cooled. Additionally, ensure the rack mounted enclosure where the appliance is installed has sufficient airflow and cooling to ensure the MX security appliance is operating within the valid operating temperature range.

Safety and Warnings

  Warning: The system must be disconnected from all sources of power and the power cord removed from the power supply module(s) before accessing, installing, or removing system components.

 Caution: The Optical Transceiver product should use UL listed, and Rated Laser Class I, 3.3Vdc.

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 the 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 (overcurrent) 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 your Dashboard Network

The following is a brief overview only of the steps required to add an MX to your network. For detailed instructions about creating, configuring and managing Meraki networks, refer to the online documentation (documentation.meraki.com).

1. Login to http://dashboard.meraki.com. If this is your first time, create a new account.
2. Find the network to which you plan to add your MX or create a new network.
3. Add your MX to your network. You will need your Meraki order number (found on your invoice) or the serial number of each MX, which looks like Qxxx-xxxx-xxxx, and is found on the bottom of the unit. You will also need your Enterprise license key, which you should have received via email.
4. Go to the map / floor plan view and place each MX on the map by clicking and dragging it to the location where you plan to mount it.

Check and Set Firmware

To ensure your MX performs optimally immediately following installation, it is recommended that you facilitate a firmware upgrade prior to mounting your MX.

1. Attach your MX to power and a wired Internet connection.
2. The MX will turn on and the power LED will glow solid orange. 
3. If the unit requires an upgrade, 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 an upstream firewall is already in place, it must allow outgoing connections on particular ports to particular IP addresses. The most current list of outbound ports and IP addresses for your particular organization can be found on the firewall configuration page in your dashboard. 

Setting up a Static IP Address

Do the following to configure basic connectivity and other networking parameters:

1. Using a client machine such as a laptop, connect to one of the LAN ports of the MX.
2. Using a browser on the client machine, access the appliance's built-in web service by browsing to http://setup.meraki.com. (You do not have to be connected to the Internet to reach this address)
3. Click Uplink configuration under the Local status tab. The default credentials use the device serial number as the username, with a blank password field.
4. Choose Static for the IP Assignment option.
5. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway IP and DNS server information.

Setting up a DHCP IP Address

By default all MX devices are configured to DHCP from upstream WAN / ISP servers. Simply plug the MX's WAN / Internet port to your upstream circuit and wait a few minutes for the unit to negotiate a DHCP address.

Setting VLANs

If your WAN uplink is on a trunk port, choose VLAN tagging > Use VLAN tagging and enter the appropriate value for VLAN ID for your network.

Setting up a Secondary WAN Interface on the MX85 

The MX85 comes with four dedicated Internet ports, only two can be used at a time.  They can be configured under Security & SD-WAN > Monitor > Appliance Status in the Uplink tab.

Setting PPPoE

PPPoE authentication may be required if you are connecting MX device to a DSL circuit. You need to know your authentication option and credentials (supplied by your ISP) in order to complete these steps.

• Choose Connection Type > PPPoE.
• Select your Authentication option.
• If you select Use authentication, enter appropriate values for Username and Password.

Web Proxy Settings

These settings take effect if the MX device has to fall back to using HTTP to contact the Cloud Controller. By default, web proxy is disabled. To enable web proxy, do the following:

• Choose Web proxy > Yes.
• Enter values as appropriate for Hostname or IP and Port.
• If you require authentication, choose Authentication > Use authentication, and enter appropriate values for Username and Password.

To configure physical link settings on the Ethernet ports, click Local status > Ethernet configuration. You can enable half duplex, full duplex, and autonegotiation, as well as set 10- or 100-Mbps data rates.