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3Pre-Install Preparation
You should complete the following steps before going on-site to perform an installation.
3.1 Configure Your Network in Dashboard
The following is a brief overview only of the steps required to add an MR44-HW to your network. For detailed
instructions about creating, configuring and managing Meraki wireless networks, refer to the Meraki Cloud
Controller Manual (meraki.com/library/product).
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 APs or create a new network.
3. Add your APs to your network. You will need your Meraki order number (found on your invoice if you ordered
directly from Meraki) or the serial number of each AP, which looks like Qxxx-xxxxxxxx, and is found on the bottom
of the unit. You will also need your Enterprise Cloud Controller license key, which you should have received via
email from shipping@meraki.com.
4. Go to the map / floor plan view and place each AP on the map by clicking and dragging it to the location where
you plan to mount it.
3.2 Check and Upgrade Firmware
To ensure your MR44-HW performs optimally immediately following installation, Meraki recommends that you
facilitate a firmware upgrade prior to mounting your MR44-HW.
1. Attach your MR44-HW to power and a wired Internet connection. See p. 19 of this Hardware Installation Guide for
details.
2. The MR44-HW will turn on and the Power LED will glow solid orange. If the unit does not require a firmware
upgrade, the Power LED will turn white within thirty seconds.
* If the unit requires an upgrade, the Power LED will begin blinking orange until the upgrade is complete,
at which point the Power LED will turn solid white. You should allow about an hour for the firmware
upgrade to complete, depending on the speed of your internet connection.
3.3 Check and Configure Firewall Settings
If a firewall is in place, it must allow outgoing connections on particular ports to particular IP addresses. The most
current list of outbound ports and IP addresses can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/y79une3
3.4 Assigning IP Addresses to MR44-HWs
All gateway MR44-HWs (MR44-HWs with Ethernet connections to the LAN) must be assigned routable IP addresses.
These IP addresses can be dynamically assigned via DHCP or statically assigned.
3.4.1 Dynamic Assignment
When using DHCP, the DHCP server should be configured to assign a static IP address for each MAC address
belonging to a Meraki AP. Other features of the wireless network such as 802.1x authentication, may rely on the
property that the APs have static IP addresses.
