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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Swit...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
12th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
75
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
8th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
94
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches is 3.5%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 4.6%, up from 4.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Hakan Pehlivan - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced broadcast management with trusted support and intuitive interfaces
Cisco is the best on the Metro Solution side and also strong in the broadcast sector. Cisco and Arista support the IP standard, which is more in demand nowadays for TV broadcasting. Cisco is trusted by most broadcast customers for data centers due to their experience and knowledge. Cisco Linksys switches offer ease of management and experience, especially for engineers holding CCNA certificates. The functionalities and measurements are similar across switches, but Cisco offers a useful web interface.
Jóhann G. Thorarensen - PeerSpot reviewer
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 Another reason was that our switches were getting outdated, so we had to do something.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

"The most valuable features are virtualization and micro-segmentation."
"For a home or small business, the solution offers a very good web interface."
"The installation is easy."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco routers is that they are robust."
"I like the firewall. It integrates with AWS. I can use the Cisco product on an AWS server."
"It is very stable. Performance is very good."
"The solution is stable."
"The deployment of the solution is quite fast."
"The initial setup is easy."
"The top feature of Meraki MS switches for me is Layer 7 application visibility. Another positive in general is that you don't need to set up a console to the switch itself; it dials in to a single dashboard where you can completely manage all your network devices."
"The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are ease of use, and we can find technical knowledge easily."
"The most valuable features are ease of use and configuration. It has a cloud-based configuration that makes it easy."
"The most valuable features are the cloud and throughput visibility, the ease of configuration, and being able to implement them into our umbrella DNS solution."
"I like the support, and basically, that's why I'm using Meraki by Cisco."
"The features are great."
"Easy to set up, stable switches with good accessibility that makes it quicker to identify problems, find solutions, and fix problems."
 

Cons

"The licensing could be simplified."
"We'd prefer if the product, in general, was easier to use. It can be a bit difficult."
"Its scalability can be better. It is not suitable for enterprises. It is for small and medium businesses. It also needs system improvements. It needs new technology to improve the system."
"They need to develop better UI. Other products have a nice GUI."
"Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches’s stability and pricing needs improvement."
"Integration is not easy since the device component is separate."
"It would be ideal if, for private users that are not companies, the solution could be made even cheaper."
"The solution's support can use improvement because they are not very good at following up."
"On the switches, I don't know a whole lot that I would change. Different levels of switches have different layer 2 and layer 3 functionality. It's always nice to have layer 3 functionality across the board if you can, but that drives up the cost. They've got different lines for different amounts of layer 3 functionality. However, on their models that do include full layer 3 access, when you choose to use layer 3 on a switch, it doesn't have the full functioning routing capabilities of an MX firewall. It can be limiting in some of those aspects."
"The documentation could be more extensive. For example, it could describe more scenarios. It would be great if they could incorporate AI engines into the switching infrastructure and firewall so you can configure it to prevent intrusion. They have intrusion prevention and detection, but they could enhance it by incorporating AI into their firewall."
"There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved."
"The firewall is not very powerful. The other week, one of the switches only gave one gigabit of output. It's become a concern for our customers."
"We had some dashboard licensing issues, maybe because their method of collecting data from the user needs to be more streamlined."
"This solution is too simple for some cases, and there should be more configuration options."
"Meraki MS Switches do not offer as many features as their competitors, so we are quite limited in what we can configure on the switches and firewalls."
"There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is an expensive solution."
"It is cheap."
"They are cheaper than Cisco Catalyst Switches."
"The product is reasonably priced."
"There is not a license to use the solution but we have a license for support."
"Licensing cost has not been much for the last five years. We have the same license working for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches."
"The price of Linksys products is pretty reasonable."
"Cisco can be quite costly, especially if you're looking to implement more advanced or unique configurations. When keeping things relatively straightforward, they are positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. However, it's worth noting that Cisco offers excellent support, a strong global presence, a robust operating system, and highly skilled professionals in the field of networking infrastructure. These advantages come at a premium, and there's a price associated with all these benefits."
"The tool is expensive."
"It would be better if they had a one-time purchase option instead of a subscription model."
"Its price is definitely competitive."
"When you compare it to other switches like HP, Juniper, and Ruckus, Meraki MS Switches are cheaper."
"This product is more than the competition, but you get what you pay for."
"Meraki MS Switches is a pricey product. You have to get a license for each product annually. It would have been perfect if there were product bundles."
"Extreme switches are more cost-effective than Cisco Meraki Switches."
"The pricing is overvalued in relation to the product's performance."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
Educational Organization
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
Pricing can be high when compared to other solutions in the market. Despite this, most broadcast customers prefer Cisco due to trust, experience, and manageability. However, some are also consideri...
What needs improvement with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
There should be an improvement in Cisco's response time and overall competence. They should be more easily reachable in Turkey for technical support.
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 solution is a bit expensive as it is on the high end. The cost depends on the model and the number of years of usage.
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
 

Also Known As

Linksys Ethernet Switches
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Learn More

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.