How to integrate Meraki MX Security appliances with other Switch brands?

Question

2017-06-21T16:13:00Z

Firewalls » Question

How to integrate Meraki MX Security appliances with other Switch brands?

Answered Jul 18, 2017

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.

Meraki MX

Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch Ethernet Switches

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1313 Answers

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39774

it_user582948 (Product Manager at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees)

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 !

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2017-07-18T13:15:44Z18 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39706

it_user605313 (User)

I don't think there is an issue considering Meraki MX understands Trunks and VLANS.

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2017-07-14T20:22:51Z14 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39615

it_user637995 (Network Administrator with 1,001-5,000 employees)

Hi,

The Meraki routers/firewalls technologies interface with any kind of Networking device.

Best regards,
Sadjy SADJAN

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2017-07-13T09:10:22Z13 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39608

EricHe

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.

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2017-07-12T19:06:11Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39598

it_user701874 (President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees)

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.

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2017-07-12T14:40:20Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39593

it_user698622 (Advisory Consultant at SCIS SECURITY)

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.

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2017-07-12T14:05:36Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39588

Alex D

Hi,

How is the network diagram that you have builded to integrate?

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2017-07-12T13:12:49Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39584

it_user627312 (Co-Founder with 51-200 employees)

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.

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2017-07-12T12:54:23Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39576

it_user492771 (Information Security Officer at a financial services firm)

Hi
MX 100 is very easy to configure:
https://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
http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/assets/documents/omniswitch-8-switch-management-guide.pdf
http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/assets/documents/os8_nt_revA.pdf
It depends of switch model.

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2017-07-12T11:27:58Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39569

it_user226269 (EMEA Corporate Business Development Director at a consultancy)

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.

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2017-07-12T10:31:32Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39565

Azadur Sarker

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 ?

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2017-07-12T09:59:56Z12 July 17

https://www.itcentralstation.com/questions/how-to-integrate-meraki-mx-security-appliances-with-other-switch-brands#comment39561

Akshay Balaganur

Hi,

Could you elaborate on your requirement. What do you mean by "integrate" ? What do you intend to do ?

(0)

2017-07-12T09:33:31Z12 July 17

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score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-12T13:56:02Z

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 ...

How to integrate Meraki MX Security appliances with other Switch brands?

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