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Cisco Meraki Documentation

MX and Z-Series Wireless Settings

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To enable 802.11 wireless networking on your device, click Security & SD-WAN/Teleworker Gateway > Configure > Wireless settings and toggle the SSID status to Enabled. You will need to choose a name for each SSID, a VLAN assignment (if VLANs are enabled on your appliance) and the wireless authentication method. Some things to note about wireless settings:

  • All SSIDs are in bridge mode.
  • Any additional functionality such as traffic shaping, DHCP service, splash page, or content filtering should be configured on the VLAN that the SSID is assigned to.
  • Open, WEP, WPA2-PSK, and WPA2-Enterprise are the supported Authentication methods. WPA2-Enterprise can use either Meraki Cloud authentication or RADIUS server authentication. If RADIUS is selected, click Add a server to configure the RADIUS server settings.
  • SSIDs can be advertised publicly or hidden for administrative purposes. More information on SSID visibility can be found here.

 

The MX60W and Z1 support 802.11a/b/g/n wireless settings. The MX64W and MX65W also support 802.11ac wave 1. The Z3, Z3C, MX67W, MX68W, and MX68CW support 802.11ac wave 2.

 

WPA2-Enterprise with Meraki authentication is not supported for wireless MX or Z-series models when in a combined network. In order to use this feature you will need to split the wireless MX or Z-series device into a standalone network.

Wireless is not supported when the MX/Z is in Passthrough/VPN Concentrator mode.

Channel settings

All wireless MX and Z-series models support simultaneous use of 2.4 and 5 GHz radios except for the MX60W. The MX60W can either operate on the 2.4 GHz or the 5 GHz band, but cannot operate on both simultaneously. You can select the wireless channel and adjust transmit power under Channel Settings.

NOTE: Wireless MX's and Z-series devices leveraging the WiFi 5 channel settings page do not support the manual configuration of DFS (UNII-2 and UNII-2E) channels, but will use these channels when leveraging Auto Channel.

  1. Navigate to Security & SD-WAN/Teleworker gateway > Configure > Wireless settings
  2. Under Channel settings, use the Channel field to adjust the channel the indicated radio will operate on, and Transmit power to indicate what power level to use. For the 5 GHz radio you can also adjust the Channel width.mx wireless channel settings2.PNG

  3. Click Save Changes.

  4. Clients will be disconnected briefly when you change channels or channel widths.

In order to remain compliant with your local RF regulatory body, ensure that you visit the Network-wide > Configure > General page on Dashboard and choose the proper Country/Region under the Network Location section. There will be a brief disconnection for clients as the radio makes adjustments to the new setting once changes are saved.

 

When using "Auto" option, MX and teleworker devices will choose the best channels on boot, or when you press the "Update auto channels" button. "For more information about the auto channel and power settings, consult our article "Meraki Auto RF: Wi-Fi Channel and Power Management."

Adding a Z-Series or Wireless MX to a Wireless Network or Mesh

The Meraki Z-Series and wireless MX (MX64W, MX65W, MX67W, MX68W, etc.) units will not mesh with any Meraki wireless products or third party devices. The wireless function of the Z-Series and MX is designed to act as a standalone infrastructure base station in a small office or home office (SOHO) site. 

 

MX and Z-Series WiFi 6 Wireless Settings

MX and Z devices that support WiFi 6 will have the next generation of Wireless Settings page. This page allows for WiFi 6 options to be configured, which includes the following: 

 

 

For more information about WiFi 6, please consult the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Technical Guide.

 

WiFi 6 Channel Settings

WiFi 6 MX and Z devices will continue to support the selection of 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands, but with the addition of Band Steering capabilities. The channel configurations can be configured as such: 

 

  1. Navigate to Security & SD-WAN/Teleworker gateway > Configure > Wireless settings

  2. Under the General tab, you will have the option to Enable/Disable each SSID, along with the 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands and band steering

 

  1. The 2.4 GHz Radio section allows for adjustments to the Radio transmit power, Minimum Bitrate, enabling/disabling WiFi 6 features, and channel selection.

 

  1. The 5 GHz Radio section contains the same configuration options as the  2.4 GHz radio section with the addition of Channel Width.


 

WiFi 6 SSID Configurations

The configurations for SSIDs 1-4 have now been moved to their own tabs on the new Wireless Settings page. Click on the SSID number tab to change the SSID configuration.



 

Note: Meraki Authentication is not supported with WPA3 levels of encryption. If Meraki Auth is configured with WPA3, the SSID will not be broadcast.