Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Brocade Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Brocade Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
23rd
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Number of Reviews
91
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Brocade Ethernet Switches is 1.3%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 4.7%, up from 4.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Youssef Ezzerouali - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 22, 2023
Effective range, scalable, and simple implmentation
The most valuable feature of Brocade Ethernet Switches is the good range of access it provides Brocade Ethernet Switches could improve by having better compatibility with web management of older versions. I have been using Brocade Ethernet Switches for approximately three years. The solution is…
Jóhann G. Thorarensen - PeerSpot reviewer
Feb 8, 2022
Reliable and easily accessible switches with a plug and play setup
We used Cisco switches, then we decided to go with Meraki MS Switches for several reasons. One reason was that the Cisco switches were originally set up by a company that was in charge of the whole system, which was run from a company outside the school. Then, we had someone come in to take charge here in our school, then we transferred that responsibility to an outsider. I then came in, and I started learning the system, so the outsider became the backup plan. It turned out, once we started digging into things, that the system was set up in a cumbersome and closed way, much like a banking system, rather than a setup that would be good for a school, that can rely on switches rather than closing the school into units. Another reason was that our switches were getting outdated, so we had to do something. We started looking at various solutions, and we had to decided whether to continue the way we were doing things, which we did not like because it was cumbersome and it had to be done on-site, or if we could do it in a way that would be more accessible both inside and outside the school, while having the level of security and stability we need. For example, we looked at Ubiquiti UniFi which was a cheaper system, but it was less stable, though I know that some schools were using that system. It was really just a question of stability and accessibility, and these were deciding factors in the system that we chose. Even though Meraki MS Switches were more expensive than the other solutions, we ended up with Meraki.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It has good integration with HPE Primera. They have smart zoning in which the administration is very easy. You don't have to do anything. Zoning and other things are done automatically if you just enable the smart zoning. That's one very good thing in HP."
"The reliability of Brocade is the most valuable feature. The solution has been up and running for over ten years without any fail, fixes required, or breakdowns. It is a very strong piece of equipment."
"The switches last for a very long time."
"The technical support is good."
"There's a zone for each server and services in the storage."
"I have not had any issues with our Brocade switches."
"The most valuable feature of Brocade Ethernet Switches is the good range of access it provides."
"It is easy to configure and provides good technical support."
"The initial setup is simple."
"I found the cloud-managed dashboard most valuable in Meraki MS Switches."
"It is easy to set up and easy to monitor. It is also easy to check the status of the switch."
"The most valuable feature is the dashboard because it makes it easy to manage all of the switches. It's easy to turn them up and get it configured."
"The technical support is very good. They offer some of the best support on the market."
"The features are great."
"The initial setup is straightforward. You only need two people for deployment and maintenance."
"The most valuable feature is the granular visibility that they provide with a single pane of glass."
 

Cons

"The solution could be more secure."
"It should be simpler. There are still some things that can be simpler in the Brocade switches."
"No graphical interface."
"Brocade Ethernet Switches need a better interface and centralized management."
"There are some performance issues."
"These switches are no longer supported."
"Brocade Ethernet Switches could improve by having better compatibility with web management of older versions."
"It could be made easier to configure with a graphical interface."
"It can have better security. It needs more security enhancements, and in particular, a zero-trust element. If we could have external and internal users vetted in the same way as a zero-trust network, that will be handy."
"It could be easier to use and easier to implement."
"They could lower the price."
"They tend to have some weird issues with fiber uplinks."
"The solution needs to improve its scalability."
"The product demonstrates poor price per performance when compared with its competitors."
"The switch capacity needs to be improved."
"Sometimes there's a problem with the pricing model they use. They should work to fix this."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Brocade Ethernet Switches is expensive."
"The tool is expensive."
"I rate the price of Meraki MS Switches a two out of ten."
"My company pays for Meraki MS Switches yearly. Pricing-wise, the product is relatively inexpensive."
"The pricing is high and it is where we get the most pushback from customers."
"This product is quite expensive."
"We paid for our switches outright, at a cost of between $15,000 USD and $18,000 USD."
"It's $150 per year for licensing on each 250 switch. The 425 switches are about $500 a year for the enhanced enterprise licenses."
"With the solution that we currently have, I think it costs about 1,200 pounds a year. They bill on a yearly basis."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
9%
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Brocade Ethernet Switches?
The most valuable feature of Brocade Ethernet Switches is the good range of access it provides.
What needs improvement with Brocade Ethernet Switches?
Brocade Ethernet Switches could improve by having better compatibility with web management of older versions.
What advice do you have for others considering Brocade Ethernet Switches?
I would recommend this solution to others. It has been working well in my organization. We have five people for the maintenance of the solution. I rate Brocade Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.
What do you like most about Meraki MS Switches?
The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are their reliability and simplicity.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MS Switches?
The licensing for Meraki MS Switches is good and reasonably priced. While the cost is slightly higher, approximately 5 to 10 percent more than some competitors due to market conditions, it remains ...
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
We prefer Meeraki to be installed only on a local network rather than in a cloud-managed network. Meraki MS Switches are one of our largest categories, with over thirty-five deployed. However, the ...
 

Also Known As

No data available
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Learn More

Video not available
Video not available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Ajubeo, Akquinet AG, Big Data Analytics Provider Boligkontoret Danmark Bristol is Open, CDE Lightband, Cicero School District 99, City and County of San Francisco, Department of Emergency, City of Chattanooga, Cloudscale.sh
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about Brocade Ethernet Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: October 2024.
814,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.