How to integrate Meraki MX Security appliances with other Switch brands?
We would like to integrate Meraki MX100 with Alcatel switches (which use command-line for configuration). Is it complicated? If you're experienced in Meraki MX solutions, please contact me soon. Thanks & Cheers.
Ingeniero Especialista TI at a consumer goods company with 10,001+ employees
Vendor
Jul 12, 2017
With a good diagram and keeping in mind the whole routing part, it is really simple configuration, I have no knowledge on Alcatel switches but you will not have any problems for compatibility ...
Product Manager at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Vendor
Jul 18, 2017
I did some investigation with our partners at Cisco Meraki and received the following response:
The Meraki MX firewall will work with Alcatel Lucent as the Meraki MX leverages standard VLAN technologies and 802.1q trunks. There is no integration between the two so they will be managed separately, but will work together.
The disconnect would be the management and the visibility as this would require two management screens.
Meraki MX + Meraki MS switching together will provide a single view and a single management platform as well as capabilities to use group policies across the FW and the switches, and will cut down on troubleshooting time with tools like Meraki Auto Topology, Cable testing .. etc.
President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Consultant
Jul 12, 2017
To further simplify, the Meraki line, in addition to the MX series includes Wifi access points, switches, surveillance cameras and VoIP telephone. All of the above (as components can be used alone or mix-and-match) are managed through a single "pane of glass" web interface. It is a very productive way to completely manage all of your network infrastructure in an intuitive GUI that helps rather than hinders your ability to monitor, troubleshoot and remedy issues. The Business Analytics that are generated, help you explain to management exactly what is going on in the network, and provide the security and policy administration you need to be consistent.
It's the same networking stack concepts across. The only difference is Meraki has a GUI and your switches, I guess don't. I'm assuming by integrate you're probably looking at some form of VLAN extending and assigning management IP's, Just ensure everything matches the VLAN ID tags in general. I'm not sure what else you need-- ether channeling perhaps? More detail is required as Akshay says.
We haven’t implemented the Meraki security appliances to date although I can’t imagine this being too daunting a task. We have been a large advocate for the Meraki Wi-Fi solutions. I would highly recommend engaging CISCO directly to ensure your colleague understands how the integration would work. We will happily assist if he is interested in our help, but we’d be learning this solution together; having said that we would also do this service at a reduced rate because of the learning curve associated with the deployment.
EMEA Corporate Business Development Director at a consultancy
Consultant
Jul 12, 2017
I would personally recommend that you look at a company called Zscaler who offer cloud based security internet gateway. Provides the users with the benefit of reduction in latency to cloud based apps, you get the identity security you require, you don't require an app, they are situated in 100 DC worldwide, so you have no backhauling through MPLS requirements. I can point you to the Head of Technical services there, who is a great chap and he can discuss your issue with you in more detail. Just let me know.
Deputy Manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 20
Jul 12, 2017
The Meraki MX100 is an enterprise security appliance designed for distributed deployments that require remote administration. It is ideal for network administrators who demand both ease of deployment and a state-of-the-art feature set. This security appliance provides the following new features:
Two GbE SFP connections (requires optional Meraki SFP-1GB-SX transceiver).
USB port, to support approved 3G/4G cards for failover to cellular networks.
1TByte cache storage for WAN acceleration.
LAN 2 port can be configured to be a LAN or WAN connection, allowing support up to 2 WAN connections.
Dedicated management port.
Front-panel rack mounts.
Now want to know about your issues. Is it a deployment factor with Alcatel switches ?
Firewalls serve as essential network security devices designed to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic, establishing a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks to protect against cyber threats. Firewalls, critically important in IT infrastructure, offer a range of security features that include packet filtering, stateful inspection, and proxy service. They are used extensively to define policies that allow or block traffic, playing a crucial role in preventing unauthorized access....
With a good diagram and keeping in mind the whole routing part, it is really simple configuration, I have no knowledge on Alcatel switches but you will not have any problems for compatibility ...
I did some investigation with our partners at Cisco Meraki and received the following response:
The Meraki MX firewall will work with Alcatel Lucent as the Meraki MX leverages standard VLAN technologies and 802.1q trunks. There is no integration between the two so they will be managed separately, but will work together.
The disconnect would be the management and the visibility as this would require two management screens.
Meraki MX + Meraki MS switching together will provide a single view and a single management platform as well as capabilities to use group policies across the FW and the switches, and will cut down on troubleshooting time with tools like Meraki Auto Topology, Cable testing .. etc.
Hope this helps !
I don't think there is an issue considering Meraki MX understands Trunks and VLANS.
Hi,
The Meraki routers/firewalls technologies interface with any kind of Networking device.
Best regards,
Sadjy SADJAN
Meraki MX is a firewall which is compatible with any switches. it is managed via the Meraki cloud make it more convenient to configure and manage.
To further simplify, the Meraki line, in addition to the MX series includes Wifi access points, switches, surveillance cameras and VoIP telephone. All of the above (as components can be used alone or mix-and-match) are managed through a single "pane of glass" web interface. It is a very productive way to completely manage all of your network infrastructure in an intuitive GUI that helps rather than hinders your ability to monitor, troubleshoot and remedy issues. The Business Analytics that are generated, help you explain to management exactly what is going on in the network, and provide the security and policy administration you need to be consistent.
It's the same networking stack concepts across. The only difference is Meraki has a GUI and your switches, I guess don't. I'm assuming by integrate you're probably looking at some form of VLAN extending and assigning management IP's, Just ensure everything matches the VLAN ID tags in general. I'm not sure what else you need-- ether channeling perhaps? More detail is required as Akshay says.
Hi,
How is the network diagram that you have builded to integrate?
Hi,
We haven’t implemented the Meraki security appliances to date although I can’t imagine this being too daunting a task. We have been a large advocate for the Meraki Wi-Fi solutions. I would highly recommend engaging CISCO directly to ensure your colleague understands how the integration would work. We will happily assist if he is interested in our help, but we’d be learning this solution together; having said that we would also do this service at a reduced rate because of the learning curve associated with the deployment.
Hope this helps somewhat.
Hi
MX 100 is very easy to configure:
documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z/Installation_Guides/MX100_Installation_Guide
Alcatel Omniswitch AOS is also easy to configure but you meed to have network skills to configure properly
enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/assets/documents/omniswitch-8-switch-management-guide.pdf
enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/assets/documents/os8_nt_revA.pdf
It depends of switch model.
I would personally recommend that you look at a company called Zscaler who offer cloud based security internet gateway. Provides the users with the benefit of reduction in latency to cloud based apps, you get the identity security you require, you don't require an app, they are situated in 100 DC worldwide, so you have no backhauling through MPLS requirements. I can point you to the Head of Technical services there, who is a great chap and he can discuss your issue with you in more detail. Just let me know.
The Meraki MX100 is an enterprise security appliance designed for distributed deployments that require remote administration. It is ideal for network administrators who demand both ease of deployment and a state-of-the-art feature set. This security appliance provides the following new features:
Two GbE SFP connections (requires optional Meraki SFP-1GB-SX transceiver).
USB port, to support approved 3G/4G cards for failover to cellular networks.
1TByte cache storage for WAN acceleration.
LAN 2 port can be configured to be a LAN or WAN connection, allowing support up to 2 WAN connections.
Dedicated management port.
Front-panel rack mounts.
Now want to know about your issues. Is it a deployment factor with Alcatel switches ?
Hi,
Could you elaborate on your requirement. What do you mean by "integrate" ? What do you intend to do ?