Please introduce yourself [Aug 2017 - Feb 2019]

[CarolineS]

UPDATE: We've archived this post and created a new space for introductions here.

Welcome to the Meraki Community. We are excited to provide this forum as a place for our customers and partners to interact with us and with each other. We’d love to get to know you.

Reply to this thread to let us know who you are, what you do, what expertise you have to share, what you may be looking for in this community, your hobbies… anything you’d like. Just hit that first big green "Reply" button below to get started.

Pro tip: when replying, you may wish to UNCHECK the "Email me when someone replies" checkbox (screenshot below). This thread is popular and you might not want an email each time someone posts on it!

We look forward to meeting you!

[CarolineS]

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@Jim-Norcross wrote:

Hello everyone!...  my name is Jim and I'm a Network Administrator for city in the North Texas region.  I retired about 4 years ago from the Public Safety field and decided to pursue a second career in I.T. (I was only 43 when I retired).  So I taught college during the day, and attended the Cisco CCNA academy at night.  I've been working in the field for 3 years now (1 year as a Support Tech; 1 year Jr NetAdmin; 1 year NetAdmin), and I'm realizing that I should have done this a long time ago. 

@Jim-Norcross - welcome to the Meraki Community! Congrats on finding your second career — most impressive. It's hard enough to find just one.

 I'm married and have 2 kids that are grown (Empty Nester!).  I have a B.A. in Criminal Justice, Master of Public Admin, and I'm working on my second Masters in Information Systems.  I have my CCNA R&S; studying for my CCNP R&S, and CCDA...

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Sounds like you should get your Meraki CMNO too! Here's more info about the CMNO program. 

Have a great day!

- Caroline

[Jim-Norcross]

Thank you Caroline, but I got that too a few months ago!

Jim

[SheenaPros]

Hey Everyone! 🙂

I’m Sheena from Verizon. I am part of the team that worked on Meraki Installs (Security App, Switches, AP) on all American Red Cross sites across the country. The project is still on going though and very challenging. 

Thrilled to be here. 🙂

[CarolineS]

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@SheenaPros wrote:

I’m Sheena from Verizon. I am part of the team that worked on Meraki Installs (Security App, Switches, AP) on all American Red Cross sites across the country. The project is still on going though and very challenging. 

Thrilled to be here. 🙂

---

Hi @SheenaPros and welcome to the Meraki Community! I'm sure you have some stories to tell - feel free to share any anecdotes in the Off the Stack board. Or share your expertise by chiming in on the unanswered topics.

Cheers!

[maishida]

Hey everybody, i am Marcello, Global Systems Engineer at cisco. I am based out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am a big meraki fan, i took the CMNA training in 2015 and since then i have been trying to follow all that happens at Meraki. Maybe one day will have an opportunity to join Meraki's team 😉 

[CarolineS]

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@maishida wrote:

Hey everybody, i am Marcello, Global Systems Engineer at cisco. I am based out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am a big meraki fan, i took the CMNA training in 2015 and since then i have been trying to follow all that happens at Meraki. Maybe one day will have an opportunity to join Meraki's team 😉 

---

Hi @maishida and welcome to the Meraki Community! It's always great to have folks from our extended Cisco family here. Cheers!

[HelloAlex]

Hey, folks, it's Alex!

I work as CIO in a materials testing institute. We are an SME with 80 employees spread over 5 locations in Switzerland. I am very IT affine and I am also very much occupied with technology and everything new which there is to discover.
Our existing network infrastructure is very inhomogeneous, we use many manufacturers such as HP, Sophos, Netgear, Intel and Zyxel. As part of a consolidation project, we are converting everything to cisco meraki. We expect better availability, fewer support cases, easier manageability and a better overview of the network and the processes in it, which finally saves us money even though the equipment is more expensive. I am here to learn and on the other hand to contribute my knowledge to the community.

Have a nice day!
Alex

[CarolineS]

---

@HelloAlex wrote:

I work as CIO in a materials testing institute. We are an SME with 80 employees spread over 5 locations in Switzerland. I am very IT affine and I am also very much occupied with technology and everything new which there is to discover.
Our existing network infrastructure is very inhomogeneous, we use many manufacturers such as HP, Sophos, Netgear, Intel and Zyxel. As part of a consolidation project, we are converting everything to cisco meraki. We expect better availability, fewer support cases, easier manageability and a better overview of the network and the processes in it, which finally saves us money even though the equipment is more expensive. I am here to learn and on the other hand to contribute my knowledge to the community.

---

@HelloAlex - Hello! Welcome to the Meraki Community.  Your consolidation project sounds GREAT! If technical or design questions do come up as you're going through the conversion, please feel free to post them in the relevant product board in the Product & Technology Discussions. Cheers!

[Larry_Rose]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Larry and I'm new to the community.

I am a Senior Network Engineer at Henry Ford Health System in Southeastern Michigan.  Our company has just started using the Meraki Z3 product for our At-Home agents to provide remote support for our Health System clients.

Regards,

Larry

[CarolineS]

---

@Larry_Rose wrote:

I am a Senior Network Engineer at Henry Ford Health System in Southeastern Michigan.  Our company has just started using the Meraki Z3 product for our At-Home agents to provide remote support for our Health System clients.

Hello @Larry_Rose and welcome to the Meraki Community. I hope the Z3 works really well for you and that it's the beginning of a Meraki full-stack journey 😄

[william-payton1]

Hello Everyone. I am happy to become part of the Community and look forward to learning more about the products and management tips as we are now deploying to small and home offices across the Globe. I think this will be a great forum for all of us Newbies. Thanks, Bill

[CarolineS]

---

@william-payton1 wrote:
Hello Everyone. I am happy to become part of the Community and look forward to learning more about the products and management tips as we are now deploying to small and home offices across the Globe. I think this will be a great forum for all of us Newbies. Thanks, Bill

---

Hi @william-payton1 and welcome to the Meraki Community! Please feel free to ask all of your newbie questions here (in the relevant product board in the Product & Technology discussion area) - we're a friendly bunch. Cheers!

[abreath]

Hello Everyone.

I'm Anthony, I live in Orlando and working towards my CCNA!  I completed the CMNO and excited to earn more certs.

[CarolineS]

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@abreath wrote:

I'm Anthony, I live in Orlando and working towards my CCNA!  I completed the CMNO and excited to earn more certs.

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Welcome, @abreath and congrats on your CMNO and your future CCNA. We're glad you've joined us!

[Myt]

Hello everybody,

My name is Mayte, System Admin at Johnvince Foods. Looking forward to learn more from this community as well as share my experience.

I like to learn, laugh and spend time with my family.

Thank you Caroline and nice to meet you all

Happy Friday☺

[CarolineS]

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@Myt wrote:

My name is Mayte, System Admin at Johnvince Foods. Looking forward to learn more from this community as well as share my experience.

I like to learn, laugh and spend time with my family.

---

Welcome to the community, @Myt! Please feel free to ask any technical questions you may have in the Product & Technology Discussions, and stay tuned for contests and other announcements in Community Announcements (You should enter our video challenge!). Cheers!

[stevieb]

Hello Guy's and Girl's

My Name is Steve Brown and I have worked on everything from AS400 to now Power Shell and other Server and other devices. I just recently got introduced to Meraki when my job bought two MS225 and I had to implement them into our Network. I saw the CMNO class and figured what do i have to loose by taking it well i passed and here I am.

I am new to the Cisco world and would like to get to know more about it. I have a MS220  Switch, A MX64, and a MR33. I have Comcast cable and would like to know if anyone can help me setup the equipment so I can have two separate networks one with Comcast and one for testing which will not inter fer with my Comcast network.

I look forward to talking and learning more over the Meraki world with you guy's and girl's.

Thank You Steve

[CarolineS]

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@stevieb wrote:

My Name is Steve Brown and I have worked on everything from AS400 to now Power Shell and other Server and other devices. I just recently got introduced to Meraki when my job bought two MS225 and I had to implement them into our Network. I saw the CMNO class and figured what do i have to loose by taking it well i passed and here I am.

I am new to the Cisco world and would like to get to know more about it. I have a MS220  Switch, A MX64, and a MR33. I have Comcast cable and would like to know if anyone can help me setup the equipment so I can have two separate networks one with Comcast and one for testing which will not inter fer with my Comcast network.

---

Great to meet you, @stevieb! Congratulations on your CMNO (your profile badge will appear shortly!). I'm sure there are many members here who can help you with your two-separate-networks question over in the Product and Technology Discussions - please ask there.

Cheers!

[Yonas]

Hi Everyone

I'm Yonas and I work as an IT Assistant at Oxfam GB in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa office i am here to share ideas with the Meraki community and to know more about the technology.

Thanks 

[CarolineS]

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@Yonas wrote:

I'm Yonas and I work as an IT Assistant at Oxfam GB in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa office i am here to share ideas with the Meraki community and to know more about the technology.

---

Hi @Yonas and welcome to the Meraki Community! You may well be the first member from Ethiopia! Please feel free to ask any technical questions you may have in our Product & Technology Discussions. 

Have a great day!

[Yonas]

Thanks @CarolineS

[-jb]

I install/maintain/troubleshoot installations w/meraki devices as well as mixed in with other network vendors - for several years. Mostly SMB market, and the occasional 'large' install - outdoors, 100+ APs, apartment complex, 2000+ residents and multiple gig circuits.

Quick tip - if you need to place APs farther than the normal 100 meters (328 ft) - you'll need to review ethernet "extension" technologies - consider Adtran ActivReach - it's PoE (vendor says 1200ft - we've had working installs at 1600ft w/meraki APs). There are 2 models of switches, and are very similar to cisco via CLI - I just wish it could do GigE w/ActivReach - limit is 100Mb).

I always wondered for the southwest USA where there is a lot of sunshine, that perhaps incorporating solar cells would help w/powering the APs - just a thought...

[CarolineS]

---

@-jb wrote:

I install/maintain/troubleshoot installations w/meraki devices as well as mixed in with other network vendors - for several years. Mostly SMB market, and the occasional 'large' install - outdoors, 100+ APs, apartment complex, 2000+ residents and multiple gig circuits.

Quick tip - if you need to place APs farther than the normal 100 meters (328 ft) - you'll need to review ethernet "extension" technologies - consider Adtran ActivReach - it's PoE (vendor says 1200ft - we've had working installs at 1600ft w/meraki APs). There are 2 models of switches, and are very similar to cisco via CLI - I just wish it could do GigE w/ActivReach - limit is 100Mb).

I always wondered for the southwest USA where there is a lot of sunshine, that perhaps incorporating solar cells would help w/powering the APs - just a thought...

---

Hi @-jb and welcome to the Meraki Community! Fun fact - Meraki did have solar once upon a time. Googling "Meraki Solar" will bring you to this PDF from 2008! But the next Google result is the EOL announcement. Please feel free to make some wishes about that via Dashboard, or post a thread here on the community (in the Wireless LAN board) to gain support via kudos.

Cheers! 

[ksteed94]

Hey Everyone,

My name is Kendric, I'm a Technology Support Specialist for the County of Franklin local government. I support most facilities that are funded by Franklin County. There's a few facilities that decides to chose other options so far as Information Technology. Things I support are desktop applications, network infrastructures, workstation hardware, and servers along with the hardware as well.

[CarolineS]

---

@ksteed94 wrote:

My name is Kendric, I'm a Technology Support Specialist for the County of Franklin local government. I support most facilities that are funded by Franklin County. There's a few facilities that decides to chose other options so far as Information Technology. Things I support are desktop applications, network infrastructures, workstation hardware, and servers along with the hardware as well.

---

Hi @ksteed94 and welcome to the Meraki Community! It's great to have you here!

[chrisg925]

YO YO YO WASSA HAPPENING MERAKI.

That was my attention getter. <-- which by the way "getter" is not a word.

Anyways, my name is Chris, I am fairly new to Meraki, in the fact that I have not used Dashboard until this year. I find that it is useful in certain aspects, but where there is positive, there is usually an equal negative. Sadly, I can't pin point any cons, hehehe ( I ain't no snitch ).. jk

I hope to find this forum/community useful in answering my questions about Meraki and the Meraki Dashboard.

But here is a question for you the community, it's kind of trivial,

Ready?

If you can answer this question right ( 1st person ), I'll buy you a pair of socks ( no not a double punch to the face )

Who does Meraki use for their SSL cert ? how can you verify it ? and how can you be sure ( or bs ) it if you're doing ssl forwarding ?

Chris

I buy socks from the flea market.

[PhilipDAth]

Well @chrisg925, for the main public web site they use a certificate from "Hydrant ID ISL IGA G2".

For the Dashboard Meraki use a certificate from "Go Daddy".

You can verify this (in Chrome) by click on the "Secure" text to the left of the URL, and then clicking "certificate".

The headers for the Dashboard say that nginx is being used - so almost certainly ssl forwarding is happening.  The public web site says it is using cloudflare.

[CarolineS]

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@chrisg925 wrote:

If you can answer this question right ( 1st person ), I'll buy you a pair of socks ( no not a double punch to the face )

Who does Meraki use for their SSL cert ? how can you verify it ? and how can you be sure ( or bs ) it if you're doing ssl forwarding ?

---

Hi @chrisg925 - I think you owe @PhilipDAth a pair of socks!! 🙂

Welcome to the community! 

[Narith]

Hello everyone,

My name Naith Nget, I am an Infrastructure lead and really happy to join this community.  As everybody may know that since we had the Cisco Meraki appliances in our work place it saves time a lot for us to manage the network.  In the means time it also requires us to learn more because it is new product.

Thanks ans regards,

[CarolineS]

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@Narith wrote:

My name Naith Nget, I am an Infrastructure lead and really happy to join this community.  As everybody may know that since we had the Cisco Meraki appliances in our work place it saves time a lot for us to manage the network.  In the means time it also requires us to learn more because it is new product.

Hi @Narith and welcome to the Meraki Community! Thanks for joining us. Please don't hesitate to ask any technical questions you may have in our Product and Technology discussion area. Cheers!

[PhilBorg]

Hi I'm Philippe and I am a network administrator/support officer at the Casey Cardinia Libraries in the South-East of Victoria, Australia! I have 25 years of IT experience but just started getting back into networking and have just taken the CMNO training with a view to become a CCNA specialising in Wireless infrastructure.

[CarolineS]

---

@PhilBorg wrote:

Hi I'm Philippe and I am a network administrator/support officer at the Casey Cardinia Libraries in the South-East of Victoria, Australia! I have 25 years of IT experience but just started getting back into networking and have just taken the CMNO training with a view to become a CCNA specialising in Wireless infrastructure.

---

Hi @PhilBorg and welcome to the Meraki Community! Congratulations on your CMNO. As you get more acquainted with Meraki, please don't hesitate to ask any technical questions you may have in our Product and Technology discussion area. Cheers!

[MBJ_dk61]

Hi everyone

I'm a 2. level Technical supporter from Denmark and supporting the largest Meraki installation in DK - will end up with about 1.000 networks (supermarkets/grocery shops). I'm CMNO & CMNA and have been working with Cisco products for many years. 

I think the Community is a great place for sparring and information and troubleshooting.

[CarolineS]

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@MBJ_dk61 wrote:

Hi everyone

I'm a 2. level Technical supporter from Denmark and supporting the largest Meraki installation in DK - will end up with about 1.000 networks (supermarkets/grocery shops). I'm CMNO & CMNA and have been working with Cisco products for many years. 

I think the Community is a great place for sparring and information and troubleshooting.

---

Welcome, @MBJ_dk61! Congratulations on your CMNO & CMNA! Please don't hesitate to ask any technical questions you may have in our Product and Technology discussions. Cheers!

[Anant]

Hi Everyone,

Myself Anant, Network Security Engineer, Dimension Data, worked on router, switches, firewall, DLP, SIEM & Python Scripting. Meraki brought revolution in cloud networking. I think this community would be great platform to learn something new about Meraki as well as showcase our skill.

Thanks

Anant

[CarolineS]

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@Anant wrote:

Myself Anant, Network Security Engineer, Dimension Data, worked on router, switches, firewall, DLP, SIEM & Python Scripting. Meraki brought revolution in cloud networking. I think this community would be great platform to learn something new about Meraki as well as showcase our skill.

---

Hi @Anant! Welcome to the Meraki Community. You might particularly enjoy our Solutions & API board, if you're a Python coder. @DexterLaBora has recently posted some interesting new API-based solutions there. Cheers!

[5pyhunter007]

Hi everyone,

My name is Ernie and IM happy to be part of the community. 

[CarolineS]

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@5pyhunter007 wrote:

My name is Ernie and IM happy to be part of the community. 

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Hi Ernie and welcome to the Meraki Community!

[Julio]

Hello, Everyone!
I'm Julio from Brazil and I'm very excited to participate in meraki community.

[CarolineS]

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@Julio wrote:

Hello, Everyone!
I'm Julio from Brazil and I'm very excited to participate in meraki community.

---

Hi @Julio! Welcome; thanks for joining us. Please feel free to ask any technical questions you may have in the relevant board within Product & Technology Discussions. And, if you're not sure where to put your question, just ask!

[Prapankorn]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Prapankorn.  I am Cisco SE and Meraki Champion based on Thailand. Nice to meet you all.

[CarolineS]

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@Prapankorn wrote:

Hello Everyone,

My name is Prapankorn.  I am Cisco SE and Meraki Champion based on Thailand. Nice to meet you all.

---

Hi @Prapankorn and welcome to the Meraki Community! We're always glad to have our Cisco brethren join us here. 

[NateM]

Hey Everyone! I'm Nathan Mueller a Sr Sales Engineer for CenturyLink and a University Of Central Florida Computer / Electrical Engineering alumni.   

[CarolineS]

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@NateM wrote:

Hey Everyone! I'm Nathan Mueller a Sr Sales Engineer for CenturyLink and a University Of Central Florida Computer / Electrical Engineering alumni.   

---

Hi @NateM & thanks for joining us! Please don't hesitate to ask any technical questions you may have in our Product & Technology Discussions. And stay tuned for upcoming contests in Community Announcements.

Cheers!

[Alexander-David]

Hi,

I'm Alexander, I am a Presales Engineer at Logicom Romania, a large distributor of Cisco covering multiple countries. I am focused on Cisco solutions, mainly Meraki and Collab. I am passionate about running, cycling and technology.

I love to be here and share my experience with you!

[CarolineS]

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@Alexander-David wrote:

I'm Alexander, I am a Presales Engineer at Logicom Romania, a large distributor of Cisco covering multiple countries. I am focused on Cisco solutions, mainly Meraki and Collab. I am passionate about running, cycling and technology.

---

Welcome, @Alexander-David! Thank you for joining us; we're looking forward to your questions & insights in the Product & Technology Discussions. 

We have a lot of runners & cyclists here @ Meraki too. Here's a pretty fantastic video from Chris Dell, one of our senior sales directors, about fighting Parkinson's disease through Ironman training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7qO2In4pv8. And me? I just bike commute four miles each way, but that makes me happy too.

Cheers!

[Niksutar]

Hi,

My name is Niketan. I work as a Network Analyst. I have spent fair time of my career working with wireless and security and am glad to be a part of this community.

Looking forward to more interaction.

[CarolineS]

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@Niksutar wrote:

My name is Niketan. I work as a Network Analyst. I have spent fair time of my career working with wireless and security and am glad to be a part of this community.

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Hi @Niksutar and welcome to the Meraki Community! Please feel free to dive right in and ask any technical questions - or lend your expertise - on our Product & Technology boards. Cheers!

[MeMirek]

Hello Everybody,

My name is Mirek. I work as a presales engineer in telecom. I'm honred joining This Society.

Thanks for sharing Your experience 🙂

[CarolineS]

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@MeMirek wrote:

My name is Mirek. I work as a presales engineer in telecom. I'm honred joining This Society.

---

Hi @MeMirek and welcome to the Meraki Community!

[kargente]

Hello Everyone, My name is Kevin and I am based in the DMV area working for Georgetown University. Recent CMNO.

[CarolineS]

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@kargente wrote:

Hello Everyone, My name is Kevin and I am based in the DMV area working for Georgetown University. Recent CMNO.

---

Hi Kevin and welcome to the Meraki Community! Please don't hesitate to ask any technical questions in our Product & Technology Discussions, and stay tuned for contest announcements (a couple fun ones are coming up soon!) in the Community Announcements.

Cheers!

[Jb_thompson1]

My Name is James. I am an engineer for Verizon.

[CarolineS]

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@Jb_thompson1 wrote:

My Name is James. I am an engineer for Verizon.

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Hi @Jb_thompson1 and welcome to the Meraki Community! 

[Heretic]

Hello, everyone!

I'm Anton, data centre engineer from Ideal. Dealing with anything UCS/Nexus/VMware/NetApp-y over here in Brighton, UK. 

Suse the MX-cat.

[CarolineS]

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@Heretic wrote:

I'm Anton, data centre engineer from Ideal. Dealing with anything UCS/Nexus/VMware/NetApp-y over here in Brighton, UK. 

---

Hi @Heretic! That's one effective looking security cat. Welcome!!

[Heretic]

Systems Manager automation at it's finest 😄

[CarolineS]

P.S. @Heretic - I shared the picture of Suse with the MX product team and they were quite amused. 😄

[yohcheffena]

My name is Yohannes Gebresellasie, as far as  Meraki is concerned I am CMNO.

looking to actively participate and with the community.

I am new to Meraki.

thanks everyone.

[Jb_thompson1]

James worked as an engr

also CNMO and new to meraki community

[CarolineS]

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@yohcheffena wrote:

My name is Yohannes Gebresellasie, as far as  Meraki is concerned I am CMNO.

looking to actively participate and with the community.

I am new to Meraki.

---

Hi @yohcheffena! Welcome to the Meraki Community! Please don't hesitate to jump right in to our product & technology discussions. Cheers!

[Jose]

Hello everyone. I'm Jose, from Spain. 

[CarolineS]

---

@Jose wrote:

Hello everyone. I'm Jose, from Spain. 

---

Hello and welcome, @Jose! Thanks for joining us!

[GregB]

Hi, I'm Greg and I just completed the CMNO certification. One of the many things I do for my company is configure, install and maintain Meraki switches. I enjoy running, hiking and riding my bike.

[CarolineS]

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@GregB wrote:

Hi, I'm Greg and I just completed the CMNO certification. One of the many things I do for my company is configure, install and maintain Meraki switches. I enjoy running, hiking and riding my bike.

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Hi @GregB and congratulations your CMNO! Please do feel free to ask any switching questions - or lend your expertise - in our Switching board. What kind of biking do you do? I commute on my bike most days (it's just 4 miles), and it's such a great way to start and end my work day. Cheers! 

[Jb_thompson1]

Just a question the CNMA, was this released first before CNMO? because I only saw the CNMA 2 weeks ago. Would like to know the difference as well.

[CarolineS]

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@Jb_thompson1 wrote:

Just a question the CNMA, was this released first before CNMO? because I only saw the CNMA 2 weeks ago. Would like to know the difference as well.

---

Hi @Jb_thompson1 - CMNA was indeed launched before CMNO; the first CMNA certifications were given in 2012 whereas CMNO was launched in 2016. CMNA is specifically for pre-sales engineers at qualified Meraki partners. The technical content between CMNA and CMNO is similar; CMNA has additional sales-related content.

Hope that answers your question; if you have more questions about Meraki training do feel free to ask them in our Off the Stack (General) board.

Cheers!