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Cisco Meraki Documentation

Getting Started with IE3500 on Dashboard

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Overview and Purpose  

This article provides first-time setup instructions to get started with your Cisco IE3500 Rugged Switch and begin managing it via the Meraki dashboard. 

Cisco is bringing cloud management to Rugged switches for the first time, extending Dashboard support to environments beyond traditional office spaces. As enterprises expand networks into outdoor and harsh environments, the IE3500 serves as the first cloud-managed Cisco industrial switch, eliminating the need for disparate tools and reducing operational complexity. 

  • Unified Cloud Management: A single platform for all switching across indoor and outdoor environments. 

  • Consistent Policies: Use the same dashboard, policies, and visibility already established for IT networks. 

  • Operational Simplicity: Reduced overhead by managing rugged and carpeted spaces through a common toolset. 

  • Real-time Monitoring: Enterprise-grade visibility and alerts for harsh environment deployments. 

Prerequisites  

Hardware Requirements

IE3500 Rugged Switch

The following switch models are supported: 

Switch models 

  • IE-3500-8T3S 

  • IE-3500-8P3S 

  • IE-3505-8T3S 

  • IE-3505-8P3S 

  • IE-3500-8T3X 

  • IE-3500-8U3X 

Power Supply Options

Product ID 1

Wattage 

Rated nominal input operating range 

PoE/PoE+ support2 

More Details 

PWR-IE50W-AC= 

50W 

AC 100-240V/1.25A 50-60Hz 
or 
DC 125-250V/1.25A 

No 

Click here for more details on these DIN Rail power supplies 

PWR-IE50W-AC-IEC= 

50W 

AC 90-264V 

No 

PWR-IE50W-AC-L= 

50W 

AC 100-240V/1.0A 50-60Hz 

No 

PWR-IE65W-PC-AC= 

65W 

AC 100-240V/1.4A 50-60Hz 
or 
DC 125-250V/1.0A 

Yes 

PWR-IE65W-PC-DC= 

65W 

DC 24-48VDC/4.5A 

Yes 

PWR-IE170W-PC-AC= 

170W 

AC 100-240V/2.3A 50-60Hz 
or 
DC 125-250V/2.1A 

Yes 

PWR-IE240W-PCAC-L= 

240W 

AC 100-240V/2.5A 50-60Hz 

Yes 

PWR-IE480W-PCAC-L= 

480W 

AC 100-240V/5.0A 50-60Hz 

Yes 

 

1See the Power Supply Datasheet for information on which power supplies are certified for Hazardous Locations. 

2The selected power supply must have sufficient capacity to power the switch, the expansion module, and the connected PoE load. Refer to IE3500 datasheet for more information 

Meraki Cloud ID

Determine the Cloud ID to claim on dashboard (ex:  Cloud ID: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX).   

  • The Cloud ID can be retrieved from the sticker affixed to the front of the switch or at the back of the switch. 

 

 

 

 

Grouped object 

Cabling and Port Requirements 

  • Uplink Connection: Any available copper or fiber port on the IE3500. 

  • Upstream Device Configuration: The port on the upstream switch must be configured as a Trunk port allowing all VLANs including management VLAN.

  • Also, we currently only support management VLAN to be from VLANs 1-512 due to STP limitations. If customers have a management VLAN which is a higher than 512, they will need to follow the LSP process to change the upstream VLAN to the management VLAN. 

  • Network Services: 

  • DHCP: Required for the switch to obtain an IP address automatically. 

  • DNS Resolution: The network must provide DNS information, and the switch must be able to resolve DNS to establish a cloud connection. 

  • NTP Server: Make sure the switch is set correctly either by NTP server or manually.  

  • Internet Access: Required for communication with the Meraki Dashboard. 

Installation and Environment 

  • Deployment: Designed for non-carpeted, harsh, or outdoor environments such as parking lots, building perimeters, and campus walkways. 

  • Mounting: Ensure proper mounting and grounding according to industrial hardware standards. 

  • Accessories: Use industrial-grade cabling and connectors appropriate for the specific environmental conditions.  

Software Requirements

  • Firmware: Device must run Cisco IOS XE 26.1.1 or later. 

  • Boot Mode: The Device must be in Install mode. 

  • System Clock: The system clock on the switch must be set to the correct date and time to ensure successful cloud registration and certificate validation. 

  • Dashboard Account: Valid Meraki dashboard account credentials.  

License Requirements 

Meraki Co-term licenses (LIC-IE3500-xxx) are required, or an active DNA subscription for the switch through the DNA Entitlement for Cloud program. 

Getting Started  

Step 1 Claim the Device

  1. Navigate to Organization > Configure >  Inventory, and select Claim devices. 

  2. Select Claim individual devices, enter the cloud ID of the device(s) and select Claim devices.

 

A screenshot of a computer AI-generated content may be incorrect. 

3. Enter the device’s Cloud ID (found on the IE3500 hardware label) in the provided field.

4. Click Claim devices to add the device to your inventory.

 

Step 2 Add to Network

  1. Select the claimed IE3500 in the Inventory and click Add to network, choosing any desired network in your organization. 

 

 

2. Connect Hardware: Connect the IE3500 uplink port to your upstream switch/router. Ensure the upstream port is a Trunk port. 

3. Set the System Clock: Access the switch CLI and ensure the clock is set to the correct current date and time. This is required for secure communication with the cloud. 

4. Verify Connectivity: Make sure you have internet reachability from the IE3500 switch. Also, verify network connectivity and DNS resolution 

5. Register to Cloud: In configuration mode, run the following command: “service cloud-mgmt connect” 

Switch#conf t 
Switch(config)#service cloud-mgmt connect

6. Finalize: Your device will reboot, which could take some time. Once the status of the switch is “Online” on the Meraki Dashboard, it is fully ready to be managed through the dashboard. 

How to Use  

Once the migration is complete, the switch operates entirely under Meraki dashboard  

  1. Access the Dashboard: Log in to the Meraki Dashboard to manage port configurations and monitor traffic. 

  1. Monitoring: Use the dashboard to check:  

  • Port Status and Traffic: See which ports are active and monitor real-time throughput. 

  • PoE Consumption: Monitor power usage for connected rugged devices like outdoor APs or surveillance cameras. 

  • Connectivity History: Review the "Connectivity" graph to identify any historical offline periods. 

  1. Monitor Connected Clients: Navigate to Network-wide > Monitor > Clients to see a unified list of all devices connected to your IE3500, including their MAC addresses, IP addresses, and data usage. 

  1. Configure Layer 3 Routing: Navigate to Switching > Configure > Routing & DHCP to manage your network's Layer 3 interfaces. 

  1. Perform Basic Troubleshooting: Within the switch's Tools tab, you can perform remote actions such as: 

  • Ping: Test reachability from the switch to other network assets. 

  • Cycle Port: Remotely reboot a PoE-powered device without being physically present at the rugged site. 

  • MAC Forwarding Table: Search for specific devices across the switch ports. 

Note that traditional console access is disabled after converting to Meraki Mode. 

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