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Meraki Wireless Enterprise Architecture: Best Practices Guide

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This article provides a comprehensive guide to best practices for configuring and deploying Meraki Wireless networks in large-scale enterprise environments. It covers key aspects like switching architecture, roaming domains, network services, SSID configuration, 6 GHz WPA3 design, VLAN planning, QoS guidelines, and infrastructure management. The article emphasizes the importance of seamless and fast roaming, VLAN segmentation, and secure network access, offering practical recommendations and considerations for optimizing Meraki Wireless deployments.
  • main points
  • unique insights
  • practical applications
  • key topics
  • key insights
  • learning outcomes
  • main points

    • 1
      Provides a detailed and comprehensive guide to Meraki Wireless best practices for large-scale enterprise deployments.
    • 2
      Covers a wide range of topics, including switching architecture, roaming domains, network services, SSID configuration, and infrastructure management.
    • 3
      Offers practical recommendations and considerations for optimizing Meraki Wireless deployments for performance, security, and scalability.
    • 4
      Includes helpful diagrams and examples to illustrate key concepts and configurations.
  • unique insights

    • 1
      Discusses the importance of VLAN segmentation for optimizing broadcast domain size and reducing security risks.
    • 2
      Explains the different roaming domain configurations and their impact on client connectivity and performance.
    • 3
      Provides detailed guidance on configuring 6 GHz WPA3 security for enhanced network protection.
    • 4
      Offers insights into the use of AP tags for segmenting and managing groups of access points.
  • practical applications

    • This article provides valuable insights and practical guidance for network administrators responsible for designing and deploying Meraki Wireless networks in large enterprise environments. It helps ensure optimal performance, security, and scalability for wireless deployments.
  • key topics

    • 1
      Meraki Wireless Best Practices
    • 2
      Enterprise Wireless Network Design
    • 3
      Switching Architecture
    • 4
      Roaming Domains
    • 5
      Network Services
    • 6
      SSID Configuration
    • 7
      6 GHz WPA3 Design
    • 8
      VLAN Planning
    • 9
      QoS Guidelines
    • 10
      Infrastructure Management
  • key insights

    • 1
      Provides a comprehensive guide to Meraki Wireless best practices for large-scale enterprise deployments.
    • 2
      Offers detailed insights into optimizing roaming domains, VLAN segmentation, and 6 GHz WPA3 security.
    • 3
      Includes practical recommendations and considerations for various aspects of Meraki Wireless network design and deployment.
  • learning outcomes

    • 1
      Understand best practices for configuring and deploying Meraki Wireless networks in large-scale enterprise environments.
    • 2
      Gain insights into optimizing roaming domains, VLAN segmentation, and 6 GHz WPA3 security.
    • 3
      Learn practical recommendations for various aspects of Meraki Wireless network design and deployment.
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Introduction

Cisco Meraki is a cloud-managed network solution that combines RF excellence with simplicity and scalability. This document provides best practices for configuring and deploying Meraki Wireless networks in large-scale enterprises, focusing on common settings that apply to most wireless network implementations.

Large Campus Design for Meraki Wireless

For large campus deployments, Meraki Wireless is recommended to be deployed with at most 800 APs and 10K clients per Meraki Network. It uses a distributed data plane approach, where MR access points locally switch all wireless traffic. This design requires careful planning of roaming domains and switching architecture. Key considerations include configuring trunk ports for APs, designing distribution layer switches, and planning for Layer 2 or Layer 3 roaming.

Network Services Guidelines

This section covers guidelines for RADIUS, DHCP, DNS, and firewall configurations. For RADIUS, it's recommended to summarize AP management subnets and consider using load balancers for large deployments. DHCP scope sizing should account for all possible devices, with lease times aligned to average dwell times. DNS and firewall configurations should be optimized for performance and scale.

SSID Configuration

Meraki Wireless SSIDs can be configured in three modes: Tunneled, Distributed, and Remote Worker. It's recommended to use no more than 3 SSIDs per AP, with a maximum of 15 SSIDs per Meraki Network. Bridge Mode SSIDs are recommended for large-scale deployments. For 6 GHz WPA3 design, three migration paths are suggested: 'All-In', 'Multiple SSIDs', and 'One SSID' options.

Quality of Service Guidelines

QoS plays a crucial role in prioritizing and reliably delivering certain types of data. Guidelines include setting SSID priorities, matching DSCP values across the network, and applying consistent policies between sites. Traffic shaping should be done per client and per application, rather than as a top-down enforcement for the entire SSID.

Access Point Radio Configuration

This section covers client load balancing, wireless mesh networking, and AI-Powered Auto RF. For high-density deployments, it's recommended to turn off Client Balancing. Auto RF should be enabled to optimize radio settings in real-time, with AI Channel Planning enabled to maintain an optimal channel avoid list.

Infrastructure Management

Firmware management is simplified through Meraki's cloud-based dashboard. Best practices include running the same MR version within a roaming domain, avoiding beta firmware on production networks, and designating test areas for new firmware validation. The firmware upgrade strategy should consider whether clients need to stay connected during the upgrade process.

 Original link: https://documentation.meraki.com/Architectures_and_Best_Practices/Meraki_Wireless_for_Enterprise_Best_Practices_-_Architecture

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