Cisco Meraki MR56

Basic Information

• Model: Cisco Meraki MR56
• Version: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
• Release Date: The product was featured in an unboxing video in October 2020, indicating its availability around that time.
• Minimum Requirements: Requires a valid Meraki cloud license and Power over Ethernet (802.3at compliant) or a 12V DC power input.
• Supported Operative Systems: Supports client devices running Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and is backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi standards.
• Latest Stable Version: Firmware updates are automatically managed and delivered via the Meraki cloud.
• End of Support Date: August 7, 2030.
• End of Life Date: The End-of-Sale date for the MR56-HW was announced as August 7, 2025, with the product being discontinued and replaced by the MR57-HW.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Firmware updates are seamless and automatic through the Meraki cloud as long as the device has a valid license and is within its support lifecycle.
• License Type: Requires a Meraki MR Enterprise License for operation, with optional Advanced and Upgrade tiers available.
• Deployment Model: Cloud-managed.

Technical Specifications

• Processor: Not specified in publicly available documentation.
• RAM: Not specified in publicly available documentation.
• Storage: Not specified in publicly available documentation.
• Display: None.
• Ports: 1x 100/1000/2.5G/5G BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45) with 802.3at PoE+ support; 1x DC power connector (5.5 mm x 2.5 mm, center positive).
• Operating System: Meraki OS (cloud-managed firmware).
• Dimensions: 12.83” x 5.54” x 1.76” (32.6 cm x 14.079 cm x 4.47 cm), not including deskmount feet or mount plate.
• Weight: 35.27 oz (1 kg).
• Radios:
  • 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n/ax client access radio (4x4:4 MU-MIMO).
  • 5 GHz 802.11a/n/ac/ax client access radio (8x8:8 MU-MIMO).
  • Dedicated 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz dual-band WIDS/WIPS, spectrum analysis, & location analytics radio.
  • 2.4 GHz Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio with Beacon and BLE scanning support.
• Antennas: Internal omnidirectional antennas (5.4 dBi gain at 2.4 GHz, 6 dBi gain at 5 GHz).

Analysis of Technical Specifications

The Cisco Meraki MR56 is a high-performance Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point engineered for demanding, high-density environments. Its quad-radio architecture, including dedicated radios for WIDS/WIPS and Bluetooth, enhances both wireless performance and network security. The multi-gigabit Ethernet port facilitates high-speed data transfer, and Power over Ethernet Plus (PoE+) simplifies installation. The internal omnidirectional antennas are designed for optimal indoor coverage. While specific processor, RAM, and storage details are not publicly disclosed, this is common for network devices where performance is primarily driven by specialized wireless chipsets and cloud-based management.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: Firmware updates are automatically delivered and managed through the Meraki cloud.
• OS Support: Compatible with client devices supporting Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and maintains backward compatibility with older Wi-Fi standards (802.11a/b/g/n/ac).
• End of Support Date: August 7, 2030.
• Localization: Supports country-specific frequency bands and power adapters (e.g., US/EU/UK/AU options). The Meraki cloud dashboard offers multi-language support.
• Available Drivers: Not applicable, as firmware is automatically updated via the cloud.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

The MR56 benefits significantly from Cisco Meraki's cloud-managed ecosystem, which provides automatic firmware updates, centralized management, and 24x7 enterprise support with RMA services as part of the licensing model. The extended end-of-support date of August 7, 2030, indicates a long lifecycle for continued support, despite the product reaching its End-of-Sale status. Its comprehensive backward compatibility ensures seamless integration into existing wireless network infrastructures.

Security Status

• Security Features:
  • Integrated Layer 7 firewall with mobile device policy management.
  • Real-time WIDS/WIPS (Wireless Intrusion Detection/Prevention System) with automated RF optimization and automatic rogue AP containment via Air Marshal.
  • Flexible guest access with device isolation and one-click guest isolation.
  • VLAN tagging (802.1q) and tunneling with IPsec VPN.
  • PCI compliance reporting.
  • Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) & Mobile Device Management (MDM) integration.
  • Cisco ISE integration for Guest access and BYOD Posturing.
  • Physical security options include a security screw and Kensington lock hard point.
  • Concealed mount plate with anti-tamper cable bay.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Not explicitly detailed in general product overviews; however, automatic firmware updates via the Meraki cloud are designed to address potential vulnerabilities.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable for this type of network access point.
• Certifications: Compliant with various standards including AS/NZS 2772, AS/NZS 4268, CB 60950, CB 62368, CISPR 22, CSA, EN 300.
• Encryption Support: WEP, WPA, WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X, WPA3-Personal, WPA3-Enterprise, and WPA3-Enhanced Open (OWE). Supports TKIP and AES encryption. WPA3 provides enhanced password-based authentication (SAE) and 192-bit cryptographic strength for enterprise environments.
• Authentication Methods: EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-MSCHAPv2, EAP-SIM, 802.1X, and native Active Directory integration.
• General Recommendations: Integration with Meraki Systems Manager provides context-aware security. Regular monitoring and automatic updates are crucial for maintaining a strong security posture.

Analysis on Overall Security Rating

The Cisco Meraki MR56 offers a robust suite of enterprise-grade security features. Its integrated Layer 7 firewall, real-time WIDS/WIPS (Air Marshal), and comprehensive support for modern encryption standards, including WPA3, provide strong protection against a wide range of wireless threats. The cloud-managed nature ensures continuous security updates and simplifies compliance reporting, such as PCI. Physical security measures further contribute to the overall security posture of the device.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Specific numerical benchmark scores are not publicly provided.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Maximum 5.9 Gbps aggregate frame rate with concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios.
  • Up to 4,804 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 1,147 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
  • 8x8:8 MU-MIMO (5GHz) and 4x4:4 MU-MIMO (2.4GHz) 802.11ax for efficient multi-client communication.
  • OFDMA support for efficient transmission to multiple clients.
  • Enhanced transmit power and receive sensitivity to support higher client density.
  • Application-aware traffic shaping and optimizations for voice and video.
• Power Consumption: Maximum 30W (802.3at required). Operational power consumption is cited as 22W.
• Carbon Footprint: Information not publicly available.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: The MR56 is designed for next-generation deployments and high-density environments, offering superior throughput and efficiency compared to typical enterprise-class access points. As a Wi-Fi 6 device, it represents an advancement over previous Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) devices. Its successor, the MR57-HW, supports Wi-Fi 6E.

Analysis of Overall Performance Status

The Cisco Meraki MR56 delivers exceptional wireless performance, particularly in high-density environments, leveraging its Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) capabilities. Key features like 8x8:8 MU-MIMO and OFDMA contribute to an impressive aggregate throughput of up to 5.9 Gbps, ensuring high-speed connectivity for a large number of concurrent users and bandwidth-intensive applications such as voice and high-definition video. Its advanced RF optimization and application-aware traffic shaping further enhance network efficiency and overall user experience.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback generally highlight the Cisco Meraki MR56's strengths in high throughput and efficiency, enterprise-grade security, and the simplicity of its cloud-managed platform. Users appreciate the automatic firmware updates and robust performance in high-density environments. The ease of deployment and integrated features like WIDS/WIPS and Bluetooth are also frequently praised. The centralized management via the Meraki dashboard for configuring guest Wi-Fi, content filtering, and security is a significant advantage.

A notable weakness is the requirement for a valid Meraki license to operate, which represents an ongoing operational cost. Additionally, the product is now End-of-Sale, meaning newer models like the MR57-HW are available as replacements.

Recommended use cases for the MR56 include offices, schools, hospitals, retail establishments, and hotels, especially in high-density deployments or environments with bandwidth-intensive applications. It is also considered suitable for K-12 educational settings due to its enhanced coverage and security features.

Vulnerabilities

• CVE-2020-26141
  Published: 2021-05-11 - Updated: 2022-04-22 - CVSS: 6.5 - EPSS: 0.28%
  An issue was discovered in the ALFA Windows 10 driver 6.1316.1209 for AWUS036H. The Wi-Fi implementation does not verify the Message Integrity Check (authenticity) of fragmented TKIP frames. An adversary can abuse this to inject and possibly decrypt packets in WPA or WPA2 networks that support the TKIP data-confidentiality protocol.
• CVE-2020-26140
  Published: 2021-05-11 - Updated: 2022-09-03 - CVSS: 6.5 - EPSS: 0.34%
  An issue was discovered in the ALFA Windows 10 driver 6.1316.1209 for AWUS036H. The WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 implementations accept plaintext frames in a protected Wi-Fi network. An adversary can abuse this to inject arbitrary data frames independent of the network configuration.
• CVE-2020-26139
  Published: 2021-05-11 - Updated: 2022-09-30 - CVSS: 5.3 - EPSS: 0.41%
  An issue was discovered in the kernel in NetBSD 7.1. An Access Point (AP) forwards EAPOL frames to other clients even though the sender has not yet successfully authenticated to the AP. This might be abused in projected Wi-Fi networks to launch denial-of-service attacks against connected clients and makes it easier to exploit other vulnerabilities in connected clients.
• CVE-2020-24588
  Published: 2021-05-11 - Updated: 2023-04-01 - CVSS: 3.5 - EPSS: 0.51%
  The 802.11 standard that underpins Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) doesn't require that the A-MSDU flag in the plaintext QoS header field is authenticated. Against devices that support receiving non-SSP A-MSDU frames (which is mandatory as part of 802.11n), an adversary can abuse this to inject arbitrary network packets.
• CVE-2020-24587
  Published: 2021-05-11 - Updated: 2023-04-01 - CVSS: 2.6 - EPSS: 0.42%
  The 802.11 standard that underpins Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) doesn't require that all fragments of a frame are encrypted under the same key. An adversary can abuse this to decrypt selected fragments when another device sends fragmented frames and the WEP, CCMP, or GCMP encryption key is periodically renewed.

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Summary

The Cisco Meraki MR56 is a powerful, cloud-managed Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point specifically engineered for demanding, high-density enterprise environments. It offers exceptional wireless performance, boasting an aggregate frame rate of up to 5.9 Gbps, facilitated by advanced 8x8:8 MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies across its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios. The device's quad-radio architecture, which includes dedicated radios for real-time Wireless Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (WIDS/WIPS) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), significantly enhances both network efficiency and security.

The MR56 integrates robust, enterprise-grade security features, such as a Layer 7 firewall, comprehensive WPA3 encryption support, and advanced authentication methods. All these features are seamlessly managed through the intuitive Meraki cloud dashboard. This cloud-centric approach not only simplifies deployment and monitoring but also ensures continuous automatic firmware updates, keeping the network secure and up-to-date.

While the product has reached its End-of-Sale status (August 7, 2025) and has a defined End-of-Support date (August 7, 2030), its strong performance, comprehensive security, and ease of management make it a reliable choice for organizations seeking a high-capacity wireless solution. The ongoing requirement for a Meraki license is a key consideration for the total cost of ownership. The MR56 is particularly well-suited for offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and retail spaces that demand high-performance, secure, and easily manageable wireless connectivity.

Note: The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.