We are going to discuss pairing the Meraki MG41 router and Meraki MX75 firewall, and why this makes sense. But first things first: the Meraki MG41 and MG41E are cellular routers. They are identical, except that the MG41E has external antennas. The MX75 is a new, Next-Gen firewall. How do these two technologies complement each other?
Well, it’s really simple. The Meraki MG41 enables high-speed, always-on network connectivity. It’s great for the operations of a hybrid workforce through cellular deployments with fast, gigabit cellular uplinks.
An MG41 means instant cellular connectivity across thousands of sites at once – without waiting on broadband. There’s no need to change your infrastructure at all. You can deliver primary gigabit connectivity with MG41.
Where the Meraki MX75 firewall comes in
Or, you can pair with the Meraki MX and SD-WAN for the best bandwidth management. The thing is, the best location for the you firewall (or other appliance) is not always the best for cellular signal. So pairing up the MG41 with your network expands options greatly because it broadens where you can locate your other appliances. The router becomes their ‘gateway’ to the outside world. And a firewall like the MX75 acts as the big, burly bouncer that keeps out unwanted guests! Reading a little about the use cases for the MG41 will make it easier to envision how it could team up so effectively with the MX75 ((or any MX firewall):
Meraki MG41 use cases
Of course, signal strength is key for cellular performance. With a router like the Meraki MG41, you can use a firewall in locations where cellular signals are stronger than WiFi or other options. The thing is, the best location for the you firewall (or other appliance) is not always the best for cellular signal. The separation of cellular antenna in the MG41, and the firewall expands options for all networks. In other words, it greatly broadens where you can locate your other appliances. The router becomes their ‘gateway’ to the outside world.
Plus, in areas where wired internet services are not available, the MG41 provides a simple, viable option for wireless connectivity. It allows you to quickly add Internet access to kiosks, trade shows, and the like.
Use cases for the MX75 are pretty straightforward. It’s pretty much anytime you have something in your network that needs protecting.
MG41 features
The MG41 has built-in CAT 18 connectivity, and built-in CAT 6 LTE connectivity. It supports two separate downstream router connections. It is a plug-and-play device, and is IP67-rated for use in all kinds of environments.
Meraki MG41 pushes 1.2 Gbps (DL) / 150 Mbps (UL) on Cat 18 integrated cellular. This makes it considerably faster than its’ little brother, the MG21. They have 2x PoE IN, and 2x GbE LAN interfaces, in addition to the 1x CAT 18 integrated cellular interface. And, they can be powered via DC power or PoE.
They are completely, easily manageable from the famous Meraki Dashboard, and are self-configuring, and self-updating.
MX75 features
The Meraki MX75 firewall is a small-branch appliance. It is ideal for small businesses, and also schools, hospitals, and institutional settings. As such, it has features like Content filtering, Google SafeSearch and YouTube for Schools. Plus, there’s Intrusion detection and prevention, Advanced Malware Protection, and Auto VPN™ self-configuring site-to-site VPN.
The Meraki MX75 firewall reaches 1 Gbps Firewall Throughput. VPN Throughput is 500 Mbps, and Advanced Security Throughput is 750 Mbps. The MX75 can support up to 200 users, about 4x more than its’ predecessor, the MX68. The interfaces are 1x GbE SFP and 2x GbE RJ45 WAN ports, and 10x GbE RJ45 (2 x PoE) LAN ports. It has a single USB 2.0 for 3G/4G failover for supported devices.
Legendary ease-of…
Pretty much everything. All Meraki appliances self-provision, automatically pulling policies and configuration settings from the cloud. This auto-pilot personality is typical of all of Meraki’s products. They’re just easygoing, plug-and-play devices that non-IT types feel comfortable with. And it’s one of the big reasons they are so well-loved in the educational, healthcare, and small business sectors.
If you have unanswered questions, we can take them, because we have a team of experienced, certified Meraki specialists who are ready to guide you in the direction that’s best for you. So reach out here, or call Corporate Armor at 877-449-0458. Thanks for reading!