Cisco MERAKI MX250 User manual

MX250 Installation Guide
This document describes how to install and set up the MX250 security appliance. Additional reference documents are
available online at: www.meraki.com/library/products.
MX250 Overview
The Meraki MX250 is an enterprise security appliance designed for distributed networks that require remote
administration. It is ideal for network administrators who demand both ease of deployment and a state-of-the-art feature
set. The MX250 appliance provides the following new features:
• Two dedicated uplink SFP+10GbE ports
• Support for eight configurable GbE(RJ45), eight GbE SFP and eight 10GbE SFP+ connections
• USB port, to support approved 3G/4G cards for failover to cellular networks
• 128GB (SSD) cache storage
• Dedicated management port
• Front-panel rack mounts
Package Contents
In addition to the MX250, the following are provided:
MX250 Front Panel
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Ports and Status Indicators
The MX250 uses LEDs to inform the user of the device's status. When the device powers on, all the Internet LEDs flash
twice. Additional functions are described below, from left to right.
Item Function LED Status Meaning
1 Power Solid orange Power is applied
Shifting colors Unit is attempting to
contact the Cloud
Flashing white Operation is in progress
Solid white Fully operational
2 USB connectivity Off During boot or USB link
Solid orange Initial link
Flashing orange Internet connectivity not
complete
Green USB connection detected
3 HA status Off No HA available
Orange Initial link
Flashing orange High availability not
complete
Green HA available
MX250 Back Panel
Please note that the serial number is located on the product label at the back panel of the MX250-HW.
Reset button
Insert a paper clip if a reset is required.
A brief, momentary press: To delete a downloaded configuration and reboot.
Press and hold for more than 10 seconds: To force the unit into a full factory reset.
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Mounting Hardware
The mounting hardware includes four sets of standard slot-head rack screws and nuts. The additional screws and nuts
are for use with optional rear brackets if rear support is required. When installing the appliance, make sure that there is
sufficient space between the rear of the rack and other obstacles to ensure adequate airflow.
Safety Guidelines
Warning: The system must be disconnected from all sources of power and the power cord removed from
the power supply module(s) before accessing the to install or remove system components.
Caution: The Optical Transceiver product should use UL listed, and Rated Laser Class I, 3.3Vdc.
Connecting to WAN
All Meraki MX devices must have an IP address. This section describes how to configure your local area network before
you deploy it. A local management web service, running on the appliance, is accessed through a browser running on a
client PC. This web service is used for configuring and monitoring basic ISP/WAN connectivity.
Setting up a Static IP Address
Do the following to configure basic connectivity and other networking parameters:
1. Using a client machine such as a laptop, connect to the management port of the MX.
2. Using a browser on the client machine, access the appliance's built-in web service by browsing
to http://setup.meraki.com. (You do not have to be connected to the Internet to reach this address)
3. Click Uplink configuration under the Local status tab. The default credentials use the device serial number as
the username, with a blank password field.
To ensure that the client PC is redirected to the local web service in the following step, you must disable all
other network services (ex: wi-fi) on your client machine.
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4. Choose Static for the IP Assignment option.
5. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway IP and DNS server information.
Setting up a DHCP IP Address
By default all MX devices are configured to DHCP from upstream WAN / ISP servers. Simply plug the MX's WAN /
Internet port to your upstream circuit and wait a few minutes for the unit to negotiate a DHCP address.
Additional Settings
Setting VLANs
If your WAN uplink is on a trunk port, choose VLAN tagging > Use VLAN tagging and enter the appropriate value
for VLAN ID for your network.
Setting PPPoE
PPPoE authentication may be required if you are connecting MX device to a DSL circuit. You need to know your
authentication option and credentials (supplied by your ISP) in order to complete these steps.
• Choose Connection Type > PPPoE.
• Select your Authentication option.
• If you select Use authentication, enter appropriate values for Username and Password.
Web Proxy Settings
These settings take effect if the MX device has to fall back to using HTTP to contact the Cloud Controller. By default,
web proxy is disabled. To enable web proxy, do the following:
• Choose Web proxy > Yes.
• Enter values as appropriate for Hostname or IP and Port.
• If you require authentication, choose Authentication > Use authentication, and enter appropriate values
for Username and Password.
When the WAN connection is fully enabled, Internet LED will turn green.
Please note that all these settings below are accessible only via the local management console.
To apply all configuration settings to the appliance, be sure to click Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
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Configuring Physical link settings
To configure physical link settings on the Ethernet ports, click Local status > Ethernet configuration. You can enable
half duplex, full duplex, and autonegotiation, as well as set 10 or 100-Mbps data rates.
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