Getting Started Mako Networks Documentation

Emily Johnson

-Mar 13, 2026, 3:12 PM

getting started mako networks documentation

If you are new to the Mako System, welcome! You can follow this guide to familiarize yourself with some of the first and most common functions you will encounter in the Mako Central Management System (CMS). Let’s get started! You might not need to complete all of these steps in your implementation, so you can skip any steps that do not apply to you. The Mako CMS is where all Mako Devices are controlled and managed. Mako Devices are not able to be configured locally (on-device).

Instead, they are exclusively configured via the CMS. Before you physically connect a Mako Device, it must be set up in the CMS. Out of the box, Mako Devices are preconfigured to request an IP address via DHCP on their primary WAN interface (or port 1 on managed switches). Most Mako Devices with built-in cellular WANs will also try to connect via the cellular network. Once a Mako Device establishes an internet connection, it will communicate with the Mako CMS to retrieve its configuration profile. It will also create an encrypted connection to the CMS so any changes are applied securely within seconds.

None of your data flows through the CMS; it’s there for command and control only. Should your Mako Device require a specific WAN configuration to enable internet connectivity, this is still achieved via the Mako CMS. You can download the device’s configuration profile from the CMS and copy it onto a USB flash drive which is inserted into your Mako Device. The device will then load that config, connect to the Internet and begin communicating with the CMS. There are four major entity types controlled via the Mako CMS: Keep in mind that the Mako Server is developed by using the Barracuda Application Server library and provides the same Lua programming API as the Barracuda Application Server.

The tutorials are designed to be easy to use and require no authentication. The tutorials give you full access, via the browser, to write server-side code, run executables, and many other things that are a no-no for a public server. For this reason, the tutorials must be run on a private network. You can make the tutorials safer by preventing other network computers from accessing the server. Create a mako.conf file in the same directory as the Mako Server executable and add the two following lines: Save the file and start the tutorials.

The Mako Server will now bind to the loopback interface (localhost) and can only be accessed by using a browser on the same machine as where the Mako Server is executing. HTML Forms and LSP for Beginners: In this tutorial, we look into the basics of server-side web scripting and how to use HTML forms to send data from the browser to the server. Modern Dynamic Web Development: Learn how to create dynamic web pages using the Fetch API, Promises, and JSON. This tutorial focuses on building seamless interactions with these techniques, ensuring efficient and user-friendly web experiences. The Quick Start Guides cover basic information about installing a Mako appliance at a site and connecting to the network. Select the appliance you're trying to install, or for more detailed information, request a specific brand guide below.

The Brand Installation Guides cover detailed network connection information for brands including BP, Chevron, Citgo, Gilbarco, Marathon, Sinclair, Sunoco, Valero and Verifone. Copyright © 2026 Mako Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Welcome to the Mako Networks Documentation web site, an online hub for resources related to the Mako System, including Mako Devices and the Mako Central Management System (CMS). How To Guides walk you through some of the most common processes and situations you will encounter when using the Mako System. If you do not see the specific scenario you need here or elsewhere in the documentation, please contact Mako Networks for assistance.

Visit Release Notes to find documentation from Mako CMS software updates. This online user manual for the Mako CMS describes all features of the Mako System. Use the How To Guides listed below to get up and running quickly, to clarify any points of confusion, and to get the most out of the Mako System. If you do not see the specific scenario you need here or elsewhere in the documentation, please contact Mako Networks for assistance. Familiarize yourself with some of the first and most common functions you will encounter when using the Mako System. Prepare your company to deploy Merchant PCI services to Mako devices at distributed merchant locations using the Mako CMS.

Deploy Merchant PCI services to a Mako device at a distributed merchant location using the Mako CMS. To fast-track your Mako Server development, follow these simple steps: Although the server can be installed as a background process (aka service), you'll find starting and stopping the server using the command line during web application development much more convenient. We assume you have sufficient experience in running command-line programs. We also assume that you have experience in using text editors such as Notepad on Windows and some experience in HTML and CSS design. You do not need to know how to design or create server-side Lua web applications.

All you need to learn to get started with Lua and LSP is included in the Lua and LSP tutorial. You can start the Mako Server from the command line as soon as you have unpacked the server. The image slideshow below shows how to start the Mako Server on Windows and Linux. Mac users should use the Linux commands. The server will automatically use alternative port numbers if the server is unable to open the default HTTP port number 80 and HTTPS port number 443. The center image above shows the server using alternative port numbers.

All Rights Reserved. Welcome to the Mako Networks Orders Portal, a secure web application for procurement of Mako Networks products. This Customer User Manual focuses on basic functions and common scenarios that most users will encounter, such as logging in, placing new orders, and searching for orders. Contact your Orders Portal administrator if you have any questions regarding advanced use. Start by getting familiar with how to access and navigate the Orders Portal. User accounts are managed by Orders Portal administrators.

You should have received an email to reset your password when your user account was created. If not, contact your administrator. Note: The password reset link expires after 30 minutes. If you need a new link, click Forgot Your Password on the login page and follow the instructions there. You will be redirected to the login page. Enter Username and Password, then click Submit.

The Mako Deployment Support website is a resource for installation technicians performing on-site Mako appliance installations. This includes self-service options and live support options. We have recently made changes to reduce hold times and to minimize the need for contacting live support. We will continue to evaluate our processes and make additional changes, if needed. We are 100% committed to eliminating any excessive delays. Thank you for your patience.

Click here for more info. Need more information for an installation? If you are performing a new installation or site upgrade, check out the quick install guides to make sure you have everything you need to make it go smoothly. Specific brand installation guides are available for more detailed information and configurations. Look through our troubleshooting guide FAQs to see if your question has been asked before. The exceptional quality of Mako Networks’ 24/7 support has been equally as important as the technological innovations of the Mako System in establishing our solid reputation.

We understand that excellent customer service is the foundation of our solution. In addition to our experienced US-based support team, we offer several self-service options that might provide the information you need immediately. If you need assistance with the Mako CMS, you can review the Mako CMS Documentation web site for detailed information and instructions. If you need information regarding a specific model of Mako device, look for the appropriate Quick Start Guide here. If you need the latest release notes for Mako CMS cloud application releases, CPE firmware releases, and Managed Switch firmware releases, you can download them from the release notes archive. Use any of the following methods to contact Mako Support.

Getting Started Mako Networks Documentation

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