Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
General
What is Cisco Spaces?
Cisco Spaces is a cloud platform that uses location, identity, and telemetry signals from Cisco networking infrastructure, collaboration devices, and supported sensors to help organizations understand and operate physical spaces. It provides applications for location analytics, occupancy, asset location, guest onboarding, space utilization, smart workspaces, and integrations with enterprise systems.
How is Cisco Spaces different from Catalyst Center or the Meraki dashboard?
Catalyst Center and the Meraki dashboard are used primarily to deploy, manage, automate, and troubleshoot the network. Cisco Spaces uses the network as a sensor layer and turns location and telemetry data into business and workplace applications. Cisco Spaces complements Cisco network management tools; it does not replace them.
What infrastructure can Cisco Spaces use as a source of location and telemetry data?
Cisco Spaces can use supported Cisco and Meraki wireless infrastructure, supported Catalyst switching infrastructure, Webex collaboration devices, and supported third-party sensors. Available outcomes depend on the infrastructure deployed, the quality of maps and access point placement, the data sources enabled, and the Cisco Spaces license level.
Licensing
Which Cisco Spaces license do I need?
The required license depends on the outcomes you want to enable. Basic location, onboarding, network maps, and selected occupancy capabilities may be available through entry-level packages. Advanced location, sensor, IoT, analytics, API, and workplace capabilities may require higher license levels. Learn more about the Cisco Spaces packages to confirm you requirements for each application and feature. You can also check your existing and active licenses using the license checker tool
Is Cisco Spaces included with Meraki MR licenses?
For supported Meraki licensing models, Meraki MR Enterprise includes Cisco Spaces Essentials and Meraki MR Advanced includes Cisco Spaces Advantage. License behavior can vary by Meraki licensing model, region, and subscription structure, so customers should validate entitlement in the Meraki and Cisco Spaces licensing views or with their Cisco account team.
Are Cisco Spaces licenses available through Cisco wireless subscriptions or enterprise agreements?
Cisco Spaces is available through several Cisco licensing paths, including Cisco wireless licensing, Meraki wireless licensing, and add-on or subscription models. Enterprise Agreement entitlement depends on the products and subscription tiers included in the agreement. Customers should validate coverage with their Cisco account team.
Which license is required for BLE, IoT, indoor navigation, and smart workspace use cases?
BLE, IoT Explorer, sensor integrations, indoor navigation, smart desking, and Smart Workspaces capabilities may require higher Cisco Spaces license tiers than basic onboarding or map-based visibility. Exact entitlements should be checked in the current Cisco Spaces package matrix before design or deployment.
Meraki Integration
How does Cisco Spaces integrate with the Meraki dashboard?
Cisco Spaces integrates with Meraki through the Meraki dashboard integration flow. The integration can exchange organization, network, device, SSID, floor plan, and location data needed to enable Cisco Spaces applications. Cisco Spaces can also configure selected Meraki settings that support location scanning, MQTT, captive portals, and OpenRoaming when those outcomes are enabled.
Does Cisco Spaces replace the Meraki dashboard?
No. The Meraki dashboard remains the primary interface for managing Meraki networks, devices, clients, and operational troubleshooting. Cisco Spaces adds location-aware applications, occupancy analytics, guest onboarding, map-based experiences, and business outcome workflows on top of the Meraki network.
Can floor plans and access point locations from Meraki be imported into Cisco Spaces?
Yes. When the Meraki integration is enabled, Cisco Spaces can use the Meraki location hierarchy, floor plans, and access point placement. Floor plans with accurately placed access points are recommended because they improve the quality of location, occupancy, and map-based outcomes.
Can multiple Meraki organizations connect to the same Cisco Spaces account?
Yes. Multiple Meraki organizations can be integrated with the same Cisco Spaces account when the account and integration design support that model. Use the existing-account integration path when adding another Meraki organization to an established Cisco Spaces account.
Catalyst Integration
Can Cisco Spaces be used with Catalyst access points and wireless LAN controllers without Catalyst Center?
Yes. Cisco Spaces can be used with Catalyst wireless infrastructure without Catalyst Center, but the setup process is different. For best results, import or create accurate maps, place access points correctly, and follow the Cisco Spaces setup guidance for Catalyst wireless onboarding.
When is a Cisco Spaces Connector required?
A Cisco Spaces Connector is used when Cisco Spaces needs an on-premises connection to supported Catalyst or controller-based environments. Meraki integrations use a cloud-to-cloud model and do not require a connector for the standard Meraki integration flow.
Can Meraki and Catalyst networks be used in the same Cisco Spaces deployment?
Yes. A Cisco Spaces account can include both Meraki and Catalyst environments. Each network type must be onboarded through the correct setup flow. For a given physical location, use a clear source-of-truth design for maps, access point placement, and wireless location data to avoid conflicting location models.
Occupancy Analytics
How does Cisco Spaces calculate occupancy?
Cisco Spaces calculates occupancy by interpreting signals from connected network clients, Webex collaboration devices, and supported sensors. The platform applies logic to estimate people counts rather than simply reporting raw device counts. Accuracy depends on network design, identity signals, sensor coverage, map quality, and the data sources enabled.
Does Cisco Spaces count people who are not connected to Wi-Fi?
Floor-level occupancy based on wireless data is strongest when devices are associated to the network. Room-level and area-level occupancy can also use supported collaboration devices, cameras, people-counting sensors, or other IoT sensors. Organizations that need higher visitor attach rates can use onboarding methods such as captive portals, OpenRoaming, or mobile application integrations.
How does Cisco Spaces handle users with multiple devices?
Cisco Spaces can reduce duplicate counts by using available identity, SSID, and device context. For example, an employee laptop and phone may be consolidated when a common identity or reliable policy context is available. If devices cannot be associated with the same person, occupancy estimates may depend more heavily on configuration, filtering, and statistical interpretation.
How does MAC address randomization affect location and occupancy analytics?
MAC address randomization can limit the ability to recognize unmanaged or infrequent visitor devices across visits. Enterprise-managed devices associated to a known SSID often provide more stable identifiers. Organizations can improve consistency through device management, authentication design, SSID strategy, and privacy controls such as hashing or pseudonymization where appropriate.
How quickly does occupancy data update?
Update timing depends on the source of the occupancy signal. Room sensors and collaboration devices can provide low-latency signals, while wireless-client-based occupancy depends on client behavior, network telemetry, and device power-saving behavior. Customers should validate latency against the intended use case during design and pilot testing.
Detect & Locate
What is Detect & Locate used for?
Detect & Locate helps IT and operations teams find wireless devices, identify client locations on maps, support asset recovery workflows, and investigate misplaced or unauthorized devices. Available history, retention, and location detail depend on licensing, data sources, and deployment quality.
Which Cisco Spaces license is required for Detect & Locate?
Detect & Locate availability and history capabilities depend on the Cisco Spaces package and entitlement. Meraki customers may receive selected Cisco Spaces capabilities through bundled MR licensing, while advanced location history or additional features may require a higher package. Confirm the required package in the Cisco Spaces license matrix.
Can Cisco Spaces show the last known location of a device that is offline or powered off?
Cisco Spaces can display the most recent known location when the device was last observed by supported infrastructure. The usefulness of that location depends on the last telemetry event, map accuracy, data retention, and license entitlement. Offline devices cannot provide live updates until they are observed again.
Indoor Maps & Wayfinding
How are building maps created in Cisco Spaces?
Cisco Spaces can use imported network maps, Meraki or Catalyst map data, and supported CAD or drawing files. Rich digital maps may use additional processing to create a navigable indoor experience. The map type required depends on whether the customer needs basic network visibility, location analytics, kiosks, or turn-by-turn navigation.
Does Cisco Spaces provide Wi-Fi heatmaps?
Cisco Spaces provides location, occupancy, and usage visualizations for supported outcomes. It is not a replacement for RF design or survey tools that model wireless coverage and signal quality. Use network design and validation tools when the goal is RF planning, and use Cisco Spaces when the goal is location-aware applications and smart-space outcomes.
Does Cisco Spaces support indoor navigation across multiple floors?
Yes. Cisco Spaces can support indoor wayfinding across floors when the building maps, pathways, points of interest, and required location services are configured. Turn-by-turn wayfinding requires the appropriate map design, mobile or kiosk experience, and Cisco Spaces license entitlement.
Desk & Room Booking
Does desk booking require a Cisco device at every desk?
No. Desks can be represented and reserved in Cisco Spaces without a dedicated Cisco device at each desk. Desk-level devices or sensors can improve real-time utilization and occupancy visibility, but they are not required for every booking workflow.
How does Cisco Spaces integrate with room booking and calendar systems?
Cisco Spaces can use calendar and collaboration integrations to show meeting room availability and occupancy context. Depending on the deployment, this can include Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365, Google Calendar, Webex Hybrid Calendar, and supported collaboration devices.
What is the difference between holding a room and booking a room?
A hold is intended for short, immediate use in the room-finding experience. It is not a substitute for a calendar reservation unless the configured workflow explicitly writes a booking to the resource calendar. Customers should design room booking behavior around the calendar system of record.
Sensors & IoT
What sensors and third-party devices can Cisco Spaces use?
Cisco Spaces can work with supported third-party sensors and partner applications through the Cisco Spaces IoT framework and device marketplace. Common device types include BLE tags, occupancy sensors, environmental sensors, panic buttons, and cameras or camera-based people-counting sensors. Supported devices should be selected from the validated ecosystem for the intended use case.
Can Cisco access points detect BLE or iBeacon advertisements?
Supported Cisco access points can detect BLE signals for IoT and asset use cases when the required services, configuration, and licensing are enabled. BLE performance depends on access point model, placement, radio configuration, tag behavior, and the Cisco Spaces application being used.
Can Cisco Spaces track assets or heavy equipment?
Yes. Cisco Spaces can support asset-tracking workflows using Wi-Fi clients, BLE tags, supported IoT sensors, and partner applications. The recommended design depends on the size of the asset, required accuracy, environment type, refresh rate, and whether the asset already connects to the network.
APIs & Integrations
What APIs are available for Cisco Spaces?
Cisco Spaces provides APIs and data export capabilities for location, presence, telemetry, occupancy, maps, devices, and related events. The Firehose API provides streaming event data for applications that need continuous updates, while supporting APIs and export options can be used for reporting, workflows, and system integration.
Can Cisco Spaces integrate with custom applications or enterprise data platforms?
Yes. Cisco Spaces can share data with custom applications, partner applications, data lakes, badge systems, CRM workflows, and operational platforms through APIs, data export, SDKs, and supported event streams. Customers should design integrations around data privacy, retention, identity handling, and event-volume requirements.
Does Cisco Spaces integrate with Microsoft Places, Microsoft Teams, or Exchange?
Cisco Spaces supports workplace and calendar integrations for room and collaboration workflows, including Microsoft calendar environments where configured. Support for a specific Microsoft application or feature should be confirmed in the Cisco Spaces documentation and with the customer’s Cisco account team.
Authentication & SSO
What authentication options are supported for Cisco Spaces users?
Cisco Spaces supports enterprise authentication options for administrators and end users, including SSO-based access patterns. The exact configuration depends on the Cisco Spaces application, tenant design, identity provider, and user role. Administrators should configure access through Cisco Spaces Admin Management and follow the Cisco Spaces configuration guide.
Why do end-user applications use Microsoft, Google, or Webex sign-in instead of Cisco.com credentials?
End-user applications are intended for broad workplace populations, many of whom do not have Cisco.com accounts. Supporting common enterprise and productivity identity providers makes it easier to provide access to employees, contractors, and workplace users while keeping administrator access and end-user access separated.
MSP Deployments
Can a managed service provider manage multiple customer organizations with Cisco Spaces?
Cisco Spaces can support access to multiple organizations or tenants when the user is entitled to those accounts. For MSP operating models, customers should design tenant ownership, role-based access, data separation, and support processes before deployment. Cisco Spaces does not replace the need for clear operational boundaries between customers.
Can multiple customer domains or Meraki organizations use the same Cisco Spaces account?
Multiple Meraki organizations can be integrated with one Cisco Spaces account when that model matches the deployment design. Multiple identity domains may also be supported for access, depending on the authentication configuration. Customer data separation, delegated administration, and regional requirements should be reviewed before combining organizations.
Troubleshooting
What should I check if Meraki networks do not sync into Cisco Spaces?
Verify that the Meraki administrator has the required permissions, the integration was completed from the correct organization, the intended networks are included, and any IP restrictions allow the Cisco Spaces integration. If the issue persists, open a Cisco Spaces or Meraki support case with the organization, network, and integration details.
Why do devices appear outside the floor plan or in the wrong location?
Incorrect device placement is usually caused by map quality, access point placement, calibration, exclusion or inclusion zone design, or insufficient location telemetry. Review the floor plan, access point coordinates, network design, and location configuration before treating the issue as a platform defect.
How does licensing update after Cisco Spaces is connected to Catalyst Center?
Cisco Spaces licensing is normally activated and updated through the cloud after the connector and related integrations are deployed and communicating correctly. If entitlement does not appear as expected, verify connector status, account association, and licensing records, then open a support case if needed.
Learning Resources
Where can I learn more about Cisco Spaces setup and configuration?
Use the Cisco Spaces Setup Guide, Cisco Spaces Configuration Guide, and Cisco Spaces Runbooks for deployment and operational guidance. These resources cover onboarding, maps, applications, integrations, and common implementation workflows.
Is there a hands-on way to explore Cisco Spaces before deployment?
Yes. The Cisco Spaces Product Tour provides a guided way to explore the dashboard and common use cases. Customers planning a deployment should also review the package matrix and setup guide to understand required licensing, infrastructure, and configuration steps.
Support
How do I contact Cisco Spaces Support?
Customers with an active Cisco Spaces subscription can open a Cisco Spaces support case through the Cisco Spaces support experience or from within the Cisco Spaces dashboard. For Meraki integration issues, customers may also use Meraki support when the issue is specific to Meraki dashboard integration or Meraki network data.
Who should I contact for Cisco Spaces licensing or entitlement questions?
For licensing, entitlement, renewals, or package selection, contact the Cisco account team or open a Cisco Spaces support case. Meraki customers should also review the license information shown after integration in the Meraki and Cisco Spaces licensing views.
Additional Resources
Use these Cisco resources for package comparisons, deployment guidance, technical configuration, API documentation, and support.