In this article, Sam Clements discusses the evolution of Meraki and its suitability for enterprise deployment. He highlights that over the years, Meraki has addressed various concerns, such as external antennas, firmware update controls, RF profiles, high gain antennas, and operating temperature. He also notes that with the integration of the Catalyst portfolio, Meraki now offers monitoring and insights for Catalyst 9800 WLCs through the dashboard, hinting at a potential future for configuration capabilities. Clements suggests that those who may have previously had reservations about Meraki should reconsider, as the platform continues to evolve and align with enterprise requirements.
Cisco Introduce a Directional WIFI 6E Low Power Indoor (LPI) Access Point
Cisco introduced the Catalyst 9166D1 access point that delivers the required performance for high-density environments with its internal directional antenna feature, unlike the omnidirectional antenna access point provided by current regulation policies for Wi-Fi 6e deployment. The access point gives the same coverage pattern as previous products using a 6 dBi directional antenna but with fewer bulky cables and accessories, providing a more aesthetically pleasing solution for WLAN installations. Read this article by Mario Gingras to learn more!
Announcements From Cisco Live
In this episode of the Gestalt IT Rundown, Stephen Foskett and Jeff Ton discuss significant developments in the IT sector, including the recent Cisco Live event, which unveiled several new solutions for network management, Secure Service Edge, observability, and Panoptica, which offers end-to-end lifecycle protection for cloud native applications.
Safe and Sound at Security Field Day 9
Security Field Day 9 promises to showcase how security companies and teams are addressing ever-evolving cybersecurity threats to keep users safe. A lineup of prominent security companies will present their innovative solutions to reduce security risks, ensuring a better and secure user experience. Broadcasting live on June 28 and 29, we will see presentations from Commvault, HashiCorp, NetAlly, Cisco, Cribl, and Noname Security, highlighting their approach to enhancing data security and protection focused on critical areas such as backups and disaster recovery, multi-cloud defense, and Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Learn more about Security Field Day in this video featuring Tom Hollingsworth!
Cisco Wireless and a Common Management Strategy With Meraki Dashboard
The Meraki Dashboard provides Cisco with high levels of observability into its clients’ networks, giving the company access to data from 12 million online Meraki devices. Designed to be as automated as possible, the platform can perform sophisticated comparisons and assist in making predictive analyses while allowing the company to troubleshoot numerous networking issues easily. With its new business unit, Cisco Wireless, Cisco is focused on having a common management strategy, allowing it to deliver a more comprehensive and seamless experience across the Meraki and Catalyst wireless platforms. Read about the transition of the Meraki Dashboard through the years at Gestalt IT or watch the demo on the website.
Cisco Does the “AFC Side Step” With the CW9166D1
In this post, Troy Martin discusses the new Cisco CW9166D1 access point shown at Mobility Field Day. A redesign of the CW9166i front end, the CW9166D1 features an integrated directional antenna and some new tricks related to AFC. The integrated antenna enables directional focused antennas to be implemented without additional hardware costs. The CW9166D1 is capable of running in dual 5GHz mode and waiting to enable the 6GHz radio once client support reaches critical mass.
“So I Put the Directional Antenna IN the AP.”
Cisco’s Mobility Field Day 9 saw the unveiling of its 9166D1 directional antenna, which can substitute for traditional external antennas in almost any indoor application. The antenna design proves the company’s RF design skills, with additional features such as easier connectivity for Cat 6A patch cables. Fred Niehaus, TME at Cisco, highlighted the company’s 9166D1 as a simple, feasible solution for 6GHz and Wi-Fi 6 antennae, which eliminates the need for external antennae in most indoor applications and can be an affordable resource to resolve issues of connectivity, capacity and coverage. Read on for Field Day delegate John Kilpatrick’s thoughts on Cisco’s new access point design.
Excitement in the Air With Tech Field Day Extra at Cisco Live US 2023
Tech Field Day Extra returns to Cisco Live US 2023, featuring presentations from Cisco as well as Opengear and BackBox, streaming live on June 6 and 7. Tuesday begins with Opengear, followed by Cisco Enterprise, ThousandEyes, and Security. Wednesday features a presentation from BackBox and more presentations Cisco focused on IoT, Cloud and Compute, and Secure Policy. Check out the live stream on LinkedIn and the Tech Field Day website!
Mobility Field Day 9 – Quick Recap
Mohammad Ali shares his thoughts on Mobility Field Day 9, which featured presentations and discussions from vendors and delegates from different parts of the world. Juniper Networks, Fortinet, Arista, Cisco, Celona, NetAlly, and Ruckus Networks made significant announcements around cloud NAC, access assurance, analytics, IoT, Wi-Fi 7, security, and more. The event also included a roundtable discussion on the challenges of moving services to the cloud, providing a platform for delegates to discuss the impact and challenges of the new technology trends.
New Cisco Meraki MREye for Wi-Fi Performance Monitoring
At Mobility Field Day 9, Cisco introduced MREye, a new feature that provides Wi-Fi performance monitoring to enhance Proactive Wi-Fi Service Assurance, to be released in the second half of 2023. MREye allows connected APs to perform continuous connectivity and experience monitoring with neighbouring APs so that WLAN practitioners can proactively monitor their WLANs 24/7, monitor connectivity or performance issues, and reduce time to resolution. The new solution does not require any overlays as it leverages your existing AP and cloud investment, providing WLAN Practitioners with better perspective to focus on root cause issues.
MFD9 Day2 Recap
This Wireless Pubcast podcast episode focused on day 2 of Mobility Field Day 9, featuring presentations from Cisco, NetAlly, and Ruckus. Cisco showcased positive developments in their integration of engineering teams, consolidation of wireless product oversight, and new AP capabilities. NetAlly introduced the CyberScope, expanding their network testing tools with Nmap functionality. Ruckus discussed their IoT platform, enhancements to Adaptive Intelligent Radio Management, and briefly touched on Wi-Fi 7 features. They also introduced a rebranded firewall. Listen in as Chris Reed and Raymond Hendrix dive deep into Mobility Field Day 9 day 2 on the Wireless Pubcast podcast!
Cisco Live 2023- Tech Field Day Extra- Event Preview
Girard Kavelines is getting excited for an in-person Cisco Live event, not to mention that Tech Field Day will be there. The event will include two-action-packed days, with presentations and demos from a host of well-known vendors. These will include Opengear and BackBox, both of whom will present their latest products and services to delegates. And of course there will be hours of deep dives into the latest from Cisco!
Making Mobility Magic at Mobility Field Day 9
Mobility Field Day 9 is May 17-19 in Silicon Valley, bringing together the top technology minds and experts in wireless and mobility to share their innovations and contributions to the field. With presentations from Arista, Celona, Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper Networks, NetAlly, and Ruckus Networks, attendees can expect updates on advancements in AI networking, SASE, and cybersecurity, among others. The presentations will be streamed live on our online platforms and feature roundtable discussions from our Field Day delegates. Watch this video for more information!
Cisco Live 2023- Lets Go to Vegas Baby!
Girard Kavelines shares his excitement and anticipation for Cisco Live 2023, an event that he describes as “Disneyland for IT professionals.” This post highlights the possibilities this event presents for networking and connecting with talented individuals from all around the world, in-person learning opportunities and access to sessions and presentations, community engagement, and the Tech Field Day exclusive event. He also discusses the personal significance of attending the event as a symbol of his own professional and personal growth. Girard encourages others to register for the event, pack up, and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Can Emerging Technologies Create Self-Healing Networks?
Zoë Rose is intrigued by the idea of self-healing networks. In this article, Rose explores the concept of self-healing networks and how technologies like AI and machine learning can enable them. With insights into the latest advancements in network management technology, this article is an essential read for IT professionals looking to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations.
Creating 5G Connected Experiences at Cisco Live Tech Field Day Extra With Cisco Meraki
In this article, Martin Duggan gives his thoughts on the Meraki presentation, where they unveiled the new 5G MG51 & MG51E Cellular Gateways. Read the full article on Gestalt IT’s website, and watch the full presentation on Youtube.
Making Buildings Smart With Intelligent Automation and Lower Energy Footprints With Cisco
Sulagna Saha takes a closer look at the Cisco Smart Building solution. Powered by the Cisco Catalyst 9000 Series, and Cisco Spaces for visibility and insights, the stack delivers significant cost cuts, automation and an indoor experience that is signature of smart buildings. To read her article, head over to Gestalt IT, or check the presentation here at Tech Field Day.
Managing IoT Assets in Industrial Networks With Cisco
Cisco recently released several new features for the Cisco IoT Operations Dashboard. In this article, Sulagna Saha takes a closer look at two of those innovations, and offers a walk-though of the dashboard’s capabilities. Read her article at Gestalt IT or check out Cisco’s demo on the Tech Field Day website.
Tech Field Day eXtra at Cisco Live EMEA 2023: Cisco Secure Firewall 3100
Arjan Timmerman does a deep dive into The Cisco Secure Firewall 3100, calling it an “excellent choice.” Check out his article on the TECHunplugged website and watch Cisco’s full presentation on the Tech Field Day Website!
Predicting Network Problems With Cisco
In this article, Sulagna Saha takes a closer look at Cisco Predictive Networks. Predictive Networks enables operators to prevent potential issues in the network, by providing predictive intelligence on network behavior and troubleshooting recommendations. Read her article at Gestalt IT or watch the live demo here at Tech Field Day.