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OpenWrt does not support the Cisco Meraki MS220 series. A separate community project, meraki-builder, lists several MS220 models as firmware build targets, but that is not an official OpenWrt port or proof of complete, ready-to-install firmware. The most detailed public example is a 2020 experiment on the MS220-8P: it reached SSH access to the management CPU after configuration changes, while networking had initially failed between the switching ASIC and that CPU.
Is there OpenWrt for the Meraki MS220?
No supported OpenWrt port is established for the MS220. The OpenWrt Wiki entry for the model labels it “Not supported.” The Wiki page is marked under construction, so its hardware details should be treated as reference information rather than a verified specification for every MS220 variant.
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There is community firmware-building work, but it is a separate project. Hal Martin’s meraki-builder repository provides scripts and tools for assembling images for Meraki switches and MX routers. Its presence does not make the firmware an OpenWrt release, a vendor-supported option, or a demonstrated turnkey replacement.
Which MS220 models does the community project list?
The repository lists these MS220 targets:
- MS220-8 and MS220-8P
- MS220-24 and MS220-24P
- MS220-48, MS220-48LP, and MS220-48FP
For MS220 builds, its instructions call for a RedBoot loader binary, a kernel built from the linked switch-11-22-ms220 source, and a Buildroot-derived SquashFS root filesystem. These are build components, not evidence that a finished image can be installed through a supported upgrade path or that each listed switch operates correctly.
#1 Best Overall
- 8 port gigabit Ethernet,2 × SFP for 1G uplink, non-shared
- Voice and Video QoS, Low noise, fanless, Non-blocking switch fabric
- Visibility and control over thousands of ports, Built-in multi-site management
- Zero touch provisioning, Email and text message alerts
- Requires cloud license (sold separately) POE (Power over ethernet)
What has actually been demonstrated on an MS220-8P?
In a post dated June 24, 2020, developer Hal Martin described a custom firmware experiment for the MS220-8P. The reported setup used RedBoot without CRC or kernel-size checks, Linux kernel 3.18.123 with xz compression, and a BusyBox userspace based on Buildroot 2020.02.1, with several Meraki kernel modules loaded at boot. These are details of that historical development configuration, not a current release recommendation.
The post reports that networking was not functioning: the switch sent DHCP requests, but traffic was not passing between the switching ASIC and the management CPU. Martin later said that starting switch_brain and changing Click filters to “allow all” enabled SSH access to the management CPU. He described further Click configuration work as a remaining goal. A shell on the management CPU does not demonstrate that normal switching, all ports, cloud management, or PoE work.
Rank #2
- 24 port gigabit Ethernet, 4 × SFP for 1G uplink, shared
- Voice and Video QoS, Non-blocking switch fabric
- Cloud Management with zero touch provisioning
- Monitoring and diagnostics for connectivity and message alerts
- Includes 370W with Power Over Ethernet (poE) Requires Cloud license (sold separately)
This account is the developer’s report from 2020, not an independent current test. The MS220-8P development post does not establish a stable current release or complete functionality.
Can you use an MS220-8P without a Meraki license?
The available evidence does not establish that this community firmware provides a complete, practical way to use an MS220-8P without a Meraki license. Cisco’s MS220-8 datasheet describes the switches as connecting to Meraki cloud management when connected, while the custom project is a separate firmware-building effort. The reviewed material does not show that it retains Meraki cloud features or provides equivalent local management.
Rank #3
![Cisco Meraki MS220-8P-HW 8-Port PoE Managed Gigabit Ethernet Switch [Unclaimed & No License] (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31iOPqocFvL._SL160_.jpg)
- Gigabit Access switching with 8 x 1GbE RJ45 ports and optional PoE/PoE+
- 2 x 1G SFP uplink interfaces on all models
- Integrated power supply and fanless operation
- Non-blocking switch backplane with 20 Gbps bandwidth support
- 124 watt PoE budget with PoE+ support and dynamic power allocation for powering APs, phones, cameras, and other PoE-enabled devices
If your goal is to put a switch into reliable service, treat the community work as an experiment rather than a license workaround. Neither the build instructions nor the reported SSH access proves that the unit will perform ordinary switching or provide the expected management and PoE behavior.
How does community firmware compare with official Meraki firmware?
| Question | Official Meraki firmware | Community build effort |
|---|---|---|
| Support status | Vendor firmware is documented by Cisco Meraki. | OpenWrt lists MS220 as “Not supported”; meraki-builder is an independent build project. |
| Management model | The MS220-8 datasheet describes cloud management when connected. | Local firmware-building work is documented, but parity with Meraki cloud management is not established. |
| Functional evidence | Cisco publishes firmware restriction documentation; check the applicable current restriction for the specific unit and network. | The detailed MS220-8P report describes failed ASIC-to-CPU networking followed by SSH access to the management CPU. |
| Model evidence | Consult vendor documentation for the specific device. | The repository lists multiple MS220 variants, but the detailed functional report is for the MS220-8P. |
| Operational confidence | Vendor-documented firmware path. | Experimental work; a current stable release and complete operation are not established. |
What official firmware versions can an MS220 run?
Cisco Meraki’s firmware restriction pages conflict on the MS220 upper boundary. The page updated May 5, 2026 says MS220 devices can run through MS 16.9 and that MS 17 is unavailable; a separate Cisco Meraki page lists MS 17.2.2 as the maximum for a group that includes MS220. Because the published entries differ, do not assume one version applies to every unit. Check Cisco’s Product Firmware Version Restrictions and the separate restrictions page for the specific switch and network before planning an upgrade.
Rank #4
- Interface: - 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet RJ45. - 4x SFP for 1GbE uplink. - Auto negotiation and crossover detection (auto-MDIX crossover)
- Idle/Full Load Power: 49/903 W
- Switching Capacity: 104 Gbps
- Weight: 10.9 lb (4.94 kg)
- Physical Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.74 x 19.1 x 14.17 inches
What to check before attempting a build
- Match the exact model suffix. MS220-8, MS220-8P, MS220-24P, and MS220-48FP are not interchangeable proof points. The detailed functional report covers only the MS220-8P.
- Distinguish build instructions from an install guide. The repository specifies components used to assemble images; the material does not establish a supported installation or recovery path.
- Do not infer hardware behavior from a boot or shell. The 2020 report itself documents a gap between reaching the management CPU and getting traffic through the switch.
- Avoid production use based on this evidence. Complete port operation, PoE behavior, and safe use on a production network have not been established.
The OpenWrt Wiki’s indexed hardware excerpt identifies a Vitesse VCore-III VSC7425, MIPS architecture, 128 MB RAM, 16 MiB flash, Gigabit Ethernet, USB, serial, and JTAG. Since the page is under construction and those details are not verified for every model, confirm hardware against the exact unit rather than treating them as series-wide specifications.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet RJ45, Layer 2 switching
- 4x SFP for 1GbE uplink, Voice and Video QoS, rack mountable
- Non-blocking switch fabric, Zero-touch provisioning
- Cloud management, monitoring and diagnostics
- 370W PoE output, Internal power supply, Cloud licensing required (sold separately)
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