topic Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi in Wireless

Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN WiFi?

Tech-Todd — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:52:23 GMT

I’m looking to set up a mesh network for a client using a Meraki MX67W as the gateway and 3 MR36 access points as repeaters. The goal is to broadcast two SSIDs: one for Guest VLAN WiFi and another for Business VLAN WiFi across the entire mesh network.

Before I proceed, I’d like to confirm if the following is possible:

Can the MX67W act as the primary gateway for this mesh setup, with the MR36 APs extending coverage as mesh repeaters?
Is it possible to broadcast both the Guest VLAN and Business VLAN across all the MR36 APs in the mesh, ensuring proper isolation and functionality for both networks?

Any guidance on configuring this, or if there are any limitations with this setup, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

Rasmus Hoffmann Birkelund — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 16:02:09 GMT

An MX with Wireless capability can not act as a mesh gateway, or contribute to Wireless Mesh in any other way.

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

Tech-Todd — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:03:23 GMT

Ok great I was skeptical but can’t test it out. So one AP would need to be directly wired to an mx67. Would the MR 36s be able broadcast two SSIDs over a mesh with another two MR36s

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

ppurroy — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:06:30 GMT

Yes, you can broadcast several SSIDs in a Mesh network. Those can go to the same or to a different VLAN (Mesh supports VLANs since MR28.x).

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

Tech-Todd — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:11:30 GMT

Thanks. I don’t have the equipment to test it and I’m building a network out and didn’t want to assume and spend unwisely.

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

GreenMan — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:45:52 GMT

It's not possible to use a WiFi equipped MX as a gateway for a Meraki mesh, so probably better you change your chosen Solution reply...

For clarity, this is from the Repeaters setion of the Mesh documentation: https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/Wi-Fi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Wireless_Mesh_Networking

"Note: Only Cisco Meraki access points can function as repeaters and gateways. Wireless MX security appliances, Z-Series teleworker gateways, and third-party access points cannot participate in a wireless mesh."

I'd recommend you use a non-WiFi MX and connect your didicated repeater MR (or CWxxxx-M) access point on the LAN side of the MX - then all should be good, provided you have decent wireless connectivity between your repeater and your mesh APs and you don't over-subscribe the inter-AP channels too much.

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

Tech-Todd — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:56:54 GMT

Yes @Rasmus Hoffmann Birkelund actually answered that first. There are two parts to the answer and your response covers both of them. So I should be able to make your answer the true solution

Re: Setting Up Mesh Network with MX67W as Gateway and MR36 as Repeaters - Guest and Business VLAN Wi

Tech-Todd — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:58:41 GMT

Thank you for your help. I'm going to read the whole article in the documentation you provided.