Problem with adding MR70 to network

[Alex_kiknadze]

Hello guys,

I have a problem with adding MR70 to the network.

On the forum and meraki I've read that you have to turn off NBAR and after that you will be able to add the access point, well I did that and same error still occurs. NBAR is now turned off for 6 months probably.

That network is in the template and I have turned off NBAR on the template (I am unable to turn it off on the network separately).

Do you have any solutions to this issue? I have tried to open a case but support is unable to fix this issue (I have this issue for more than a year).

Thank you in advance!

[Antonis Spanakis]

I am sure I had this issue in the past.

I don't remember how I actually solved it.

I think I removed the network from the template (with keeping settings), added the access point and then reapplied the template to the network.

[Alex_kiknadze]

I thought that too, but the problem is that the network is in production on 24/7 and it is a risk to remove a template. we can take maintenance window but we have to be 100% sure that it will work.

[MerakiGnome]

Any chance you could spin up a Lab Network using an AP from a less important part of the network and test your plans that way before implementing on production?

I’ve had this issue previously with adding APs to networks running NBAR but luckily we weren’t using Templates.

[Alex_kiknadze · Accepted solution]

Yeah that's exactly what I tried to do:

- Added test network to the template (I was not able to add access point there as well);

- I split the network into wireless, switch and appliance;

- Removed only wireless network from the template (just to feel safer);

- Successfully added the access point (apparently there is no NBAR option in separate wireless network); - Added wireless network back to the template and combined the whole network back together.

It worked but just wanted to talk with you guys here to see if there are any other easier solutions that you have found, if there are no other solutions then that's the option I am left with!

[CMR]

@Alex_kiknadze the network disables nbar when you do this, I did quite a lot of testing when nbar first came out to confirm that. As you've seen, the template is the issue. I'm guessing that the client doesn't use nbar and is happy for the whole network to revert to the older category engine?

[Alex_kiknadze]

Yeah, 6 months passed that I have NBAR turned off, no one understood that it was turned off 😄 even I forgot to turn it back on

Can't use it and now it gave us bugs for nothing much. Would be great if they revert that back

[Philip D'Ath]

I think you'll end up investing a lot of time solving this.

Any chance you could just replace the AP? You can re-use the existing licence - so it would be just the cost of the AP. This is also a low-risk option in a 24x7 environment. Minimal changes.

You could consider the MR78 if you want something "low" cost.
https://meraki.cisco.com/product/wi-fi/outdoor-access-points/mr78/

[Alex_kiknadze]

Yeah sadly my client doesn't want to buy a new access point 😞

Life would be so much easier though 😄