Managing On-Premises Devices via the Cisco Meraki Dashboard For EAs Customers
Overview
This guide provides detailed steps for on-premises focused customers to easily claim devices using the Cisco Meraki Dashboard. It covers logging into the dashboard, creating a network, and setting the network to on-prem management, with images highlighting key steps.
Logging into the Meraki Dashboard
For New Users (Creating a New Account)
- Navigate to https://dashboard.meraki.com.
- Click Create an account.
- Fill in the required information:
- Email address (will be used for login and admin communication)
- Full name
- Password (minimum 8 characters, mix of letters, numbers, special characters recommended)
- Company name
- Optional address for network location defaults
- Click Create account.
- Check your email and click the confirmation link to verify your account. You cannot access the dashboard until verification is complete.
For Existing Users
- Go to https://dashboard.meraki.com.
- Enter your registered email and password.
- Click Sign in to access your dashboard.
Creating a Network
Networks group devices and configurations, typically by physical location.
- Log in to the Meraki Dashboard.
- If prompted, select Register Meraki devices and click Next.
If no prompt appears, navigate to Organization > Configure > Create network in the left pane. - Enter the following details:
- Name: e.g., "NYC - Wireless" or "SF Office"
- Network type: Select device types to be managed (Wireless, Security appliance, Switch, Camera, Combined hardware, etc.)
- Devices (optional): Enter order number or device serial numbers to add devices immediately.
- Click Create network.
Claiming Your Devices
New Devices - Green Field EA's
- Locate your Order Claim Key in the hardware shipment notifications. This key allows you to claim all items from your order at once, regardless of whether the hardware is delivered in multiple shipments.
2. Claim Devices: To begin utilizing a device in the Dashboard, it must be claimed. You can start the claim process from any page where devices can be added.
-
Network-wide > Configure > Add Devices
-
Organization > Configure > Inventory
Note: If your inventory is empty, you will be prompted to enter your Claim Key. If you already have devices in inventory, click the Claim Devices button.
3. Claim Devices:
Upon a successful claim event, you will be prompted with a screen to review the details of your order.
For more information you can go to: Using the Organization Inventory on EAs
Brown Field Devices - Transitioning from A La Carte (ALC) to Enterprise Agreement (EA) Licensing
When transitioning from A La Carte (ALC) licensing to an Enterprise Agreement (EA) for hybrid deployments (On-premises and Meraki Cloud), Please note the following requirements to ensure a seamless migration:
- Centralized Management: Upon transitioning to an EA, the Meraki Dashboard becomes the default controller for both licensing and device management.
- Compliance Requirements: All devices must be registered within the Meraki Dashboard inventory. Devices not present in the dashboard will be flagged as non-compliant.
- Brownfield Deployments: For existing on-premises deployments, all devices must be claimed in the Meraki Dashboard. Once claimed, these devices must be assigned to a network specifically configured for "On-prem" mode to maintain proper management and compliance.
Note: Ensure all on-premises devices are identified and prepared for migration before finalizing the transition to your EA to avoid potential compliance alerts.
When transitioning from A La Carte (ALC) licensing to an Enterprise Agreement (EA) for On-prem only customer, No Meraki Dashboard.
Centralized Management: Upon transitioning to an EA, the EA Workspace becomes the default controller for both licensing and device Consumption.
Brownfield Deployments: For existing on-premises deployments, all devices can stay as they are today.
Setting the Network to On-Prem Management
Customers who manage devices on-premises while still utilizing the Meraki dashboard for your licenses and inventory management will be in a mix mode.
Prerequisite
- Customers need to have their subscription claimed in the Meraki Dashboard. How to Activate an EA Subscription
- Customers need to have their Smart Account / Virtual Account information at hand. Smart Account Administration
1. Log into the Meraki dashboard by going to dashboard.meraki.com and input your Email and Password. Click Log in once you are ready.
2. Once you log in, Click on Network-Wide > Management Mode section. Click on the On-premises managed button.
3. At this point you will be prompted to ensure your wireless LAN controller is configured correctly and have your Smart Account credentials available. When you are ready, click the Get Started button.
4. Proceed to log in to Cisco Smart Software Manager, click the Continue to log in button.
5. Proceed to input the required credentials, click the Submit button.
6. Once you are signed in, you will return to Meraki Dashboard. Select the Smart/Virtual account that you want associated with Meraki Dashboard, click the Submit button.
7. click on Validate to bring your available virtual account.
8. Proceed to choose your Virtual Account.
One Smart Account can be associated to a Meraki Dashboard organization at a time. Networks within the organization can be associated to one Virtual Account each.
9. You will be prompted that this virtual account will allocate licenses to your device managed by CSSM, click Next.
10. To associate APs via discovery Wireless LAN Controller click Next.
11. Click on the Confirm check box and read the Terms & Conditions.
Changing Management Mode from on-prem to cloud management or vice-versa will require a reboot, after which the APs will try to discover the Wireless LAN Controller or the Meraki Cloud.
12. Once you have reviewed the Terms & Conditions, Click on the Confirm
13. You will be prompted that your changes have been saved.
Note: If you have an On-Prem SSM and have not yet assigned your devices to your Meraki Dashboard network, Your devices will be automatically assigned to the Network you configured. Also, your On-Prem SSM must sync each time a new AP is activated to get a license.
Once this hybrid mode is set, log in to Cisco Software Central and click on Manage Licenses under the Smart Software Manager to view the assigned licenses in your CSSM.
15. Navigate to the Smart Software Licensing page and click on the Inventory tab.
16. Navigate to Click on the Licenses tab. The total quantity of licenses sourced externally is displayed under Available to Use in your Networking Cloud Virtual Account. These metrics are incremented by in-compliance device assignments from Meraki Dashboard, and the balance reflects the actual balance of licenses.
You are not able to edit or delete licenses in CSSM Virtual Account while in this mode because licenses are managed in Meraki Dashboard.
Additional Resources