topic Re: CW9166i in Wireless

CW9166i

tejes1234 — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:55:20 GMT

I recently started to learn about the Meraki wifi and was going to learn it and deploy it. I went online and purchased a brand new CW9166i assuming that it will work on the Meraki dashboard. After a lot of technical support calls they told me that it was in the DNA mode and I will need a 9800 series controller to convert it to the Meraki dashboard. I was hoping that in this day and age a company like cisco would have a cloud based controller than a physical WLC to convert it. I hope one you fine people can help me go down the right path. Also on a separate note the AP is getting an IP address but I am not able to use the browser to login to its UI. Is that normal or do I need a special port number to login.
Anil Vijay

Re: CW9166i

jagan.chowdam — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 22:46:43 GMT

Hi Vijay,

If you have Virtual environment, you can download Cisco 9800-CL controller and install it on your VM infrastructure.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/technical-reference/c9800-cl-dg.html

Download link: https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286322605/type/282046477/release/Dublin-17.12.3

Once you setup your C9800-CL controller, follow the document given below to convert them to Meraki persona.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/migrating-dna-to-meraki-mgmt-mode.pdf

Without C9800-CL or physical appliance, you have to RMA the AP and get the correct Meraki persona AP.

The part number for Meraki persona AP is : CW9166I-MR

And you also need a Meraki MR license for this AP to work with Meraki Cloud like LIC-ENT-1YR/LIC-ENT-3YR/LIC-ENT-5YR

Jagan Chowdam

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Re: CW9166i

tejes1234 — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 23:19:13 GMT

Jagan

If this works you are a life saver. I will owe you a strong drink of your choice. Working on setting this up now.

Re: CW9166i

Haydn Andrews — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 22:13:28 GMT

I believe the WIFI 7 APs are getting rid of this requirement, but currently if the SKU is DNA mode you need to join it to a 9800 first then can convert. If you want to go from the Meraki persona to DNA you need to log a Meraki support ticket.

Re: CW9166i

bussimulatorid — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:43:26 GMT

That’s normal — the CW9166i is in Catalyst (DNA) mode, so it needs a 9800 WLC for conversion. You can’t manage it via browser directly. If you want Meraki dashboard support out-of-the-box, you’d need the CW9166-MR model.