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PeterJTyler
PeterJTyler
New Member
January 28, 2026
Question

Legacy Meru Access points in a domestic setting

  • January 28, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 257 views

I have the possibility of deploying approx 5 or 6 Meru AP832i Access points at my home as a slight upgrade to my current Wi-Fi setup. They are units that were deployed at the school I work at and were taken out a couple of years back and left in a cupboard doing nothing. I understand I will need some sort of controller software to run these as they won't work as a standalone set, which I can deploy in a Proxmox VM system.

My question is: will I need or can I get a licence to run this system, given that the Ap's are now legacy and no longer supported. Or am I basically on a hiding to nothing here?

3 replies

Stephen_G
Moderator
Stephen_G
Moderator
January 30, 2026

Hello PeterJTyler,

 

Thank you for using the Community Forum. I will seek to get you an answer or help. We will reply to this thread with an update as soon as possible.

Stephen_G - Fortinet Community Team
Stephen_G
Moderator
Stephen_G
Moderator
February 3, 2026

Hello,

 

We are still looking for an answer to your question.

 

We will come back to you ASAP.

Stephen_G - Fortinet Community Team
sdebnath
Staff
sdebnath
Staff
February 5, 2026

Hello PeterJTyler,
Thank you for using the Community Forum.

I have reviewed your requirements regarding the use of the Meru Access Points and added some relevant information along with a quick reference for clarity. I hope this addresses your question.

  • Meru Access points AP832i units must be managed by a Meru or FortiWLC controller as they do not have a built-in standalone-AP mode like general AP UniFi or may be Meraki. They are infrastructure APs designed to be centrally managed by a Fortinet Wireless Lan controller or the old Meru Controller / VM.
    #REF: https://community.fortinet.com/t5/Cybersecurity-Forum/AP832i-Setup/m-p/235138 
  • As you mentioned, for using Proxmox which is a hypervisor, you would still need a controller VM inside Proxmox for these Access points.
  • Regarding your question about the licensing--> Yes, a proper controller and AP licenses are required by the controller software to manage the APs, but these licenses are no longer available from Fortinet anymore, as they are associated with legacy appliances.
  • Additionally, the Meru appliances have no longer been supported by Fortinet since 2023.
    #REF: https://support.fortinet.com/support/#/lifecycle

    Thanks.
    Subarnadip Debnath - LIsbon TAC.


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