Set up for MX65 with Windows dhcp server

RobertDitusa
Comes here often

Set up for MX65 with Windows dhcp server

Hello guys. I am relatively new to meraki products. I currently got a new MX65 in the office. The office currently is using an old fortinet firewall. We are looking at changing this out with the mX65. We have a a separate Windows DHCP server in house. I have never set this up on the MX65 and just wondering if anyone can help me out.

 

From what i know, usually you need to set up a DHCP relay for this? Is this correct?

I am not sure who set up the old system here i was not here for that.

 

From what I can see they it goes from the cable modem > Firewall > 48 port switch > Windows DHCP Server.

 

If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be great as I am relatively new.

10 REPLIES 10
NolanHerring
Kind of a big deal

What your probably looking to do is a DHCP Relay (assuming your using different VLANs etc.)

https://documentation.meraki.com/MX/DHCP/Configuring_DHCP_Relay

Nolan Herring | nolanwifi.com
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On the old firewall we were not using VLANs. Everything was set up on the domain using through the DHCP windows server. Our dhcp range for this office was 10.140.100.11 - 10.140.100.254.
I guess we wouldn't need a vlan for this location. If its easier to set up then thats fine. From what I read it looks like you need 2 vlans. One of them needs to be pointed to the DHCP Server Ip address.

If you only have 1 VLAN then DHCP should work.

DHCP-Discover is a broadcast, so if your windows server is on the same VLAN as your client, then it will hear it and send a response
Nolan Herring | nolanwifi.com
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So it should just pick up the broadcast. Do i shut off the dhcp server on the MX65 though? Or can i keep that just running?

If its the same VLAN i would disable it because you don't want two DHCP servers fighting each other
Nolan Herring | nolanwifi.com
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Right that is what i was thinking. I will need to wait till after hours to test this out. So it should just pick up the broadcast from the DHCP server. Do I need to select anything in the mx65 dashboard? Or just plug it in and it should start working from there.

Thanks for your help.

Well I would imagine you've done your due diligence to ensure that the MX65 config matches Fortinet for the basics. IP scope etc. I would check the IP table on the old gear, see if there are any hidden gems that you might have missed etc.
Nolan Herring | nolanwifi.com
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That's my issue here. Unfortunately the person I took over for left. I can not access the firewall right now. It was a mess here. It works still but can not access it. I am trying to cover my basics here. I am not going to remove the old one till i can get this one up and working correctly. I know the ip range and subnets and the dhcp server ip. But like you said I don't know if there is an hidden gems in there.

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Nolan Herring | nolanwifi.com
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I know. I will not get rid of the old firewall till i know everything is working correctly with this MX65.
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