Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches and Meraki MS Switches both compete in the networking switches category, catering to different market segments. Meraki appears to have an advantage due to its advanced features and cloud management capabilities.
Features: Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches provide basic networking functionality, reliability, and affordability. They are suitable for small to medium businesses due to their cost-effectiveness and stability. In contrast, Meraki MS Switches offer cloud management, ease of configuration, and advanced features such as Layer 7 visibility. This makes them appealing for organizations seeking comprehensive management and security.
Room for Improvement: Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches could benefit from better warranty plans, improved scalability, and rugged options for diverse environments. Enhancements in software-defined networking and integration with other networks have also been suggested. For Meraki MS Switches, improvements in pricing, offline configuration capability, and advanced management features are needed. Users seek flexibility beyond cloud dependencies and better integration with existing infrastructures.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer a straightforward on-premises setup, though technical support consistency could improve. Meraki MS Switches provide flexible on-premises and cloud deployment options, enhancing management and scalability. While Cisco's technical support is highly regarded, the integration of third-party solutions presents challenges, especially in Meraki deployments.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are competitively priced, making them a cost-effective choice for small businesses, offering good ROI with upfront payments. Meanwhile, Meraki MS Switches are considered expensive due to their subscription model, which may burden smaller organizations. Despite the costs, users report strong ROI from Meraki's advanced features, which can justify the premium pricing over time.
If the devices are licensed, the support team will assist you depending on the severity level of the case.
Cisco's tech support is pretty good, and I would rate it an eight out of ten.
Meraki should also consider improvements in stacking features, particularly in the lower-end models like NS130, where stacking isn't supported, unlike with Cisco traditional switching.
There are compatibility issues with certain Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices, which we would like to see resolved.
Most people are familiar with the Cisco commands, and it would be beneficial if the switch could be accessed by GUI configuration and by normally accessing the console.
Meraki pricing is a little premium compared to other vendor products.
Pricing is affordable, and licenses for the cloud need to be purchased every three to five years.
If something happens to the device or hardware, Cisco will automatically change the device by the next business day.
We faced issues following firmware updates, which we now handle by performing updates outside of working hours.
The most valuable feature is the ability to access devices from anywhere in the world through the cloud.
One of the most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches is its precise traffic analytics capabilities, allowing us to query the system for any place at any time.
The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.
Meraki MS Switches are first-line cloud-managed access and aggregation switches that combine the benefits of cloud-based centralized management with a reliable access platform. With cloud management, thousands of switch ports can be configured and monitored instantly over the web.
Meraki MS Switches Features
Meraki MS Switches have many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Meraki MS Switches Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Meraki MS Switches. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Meraki MS Switches is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are its accessibility, application visibility, and flexibility features.
Jóhann T., IT Manager at Sund Upper Secondary School, says, “Accessibility is what I find most valuable in Meraki MS Switches, because I'm able to check things and see if they're working, without being on-site at all times.”
A Senior Network Engineer at a tech services company mentions, "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 into a single dashboard where you can completely manage all your network devices."
John M., user at Baseline Consulting, LLC, comments, "I like the flexibility of the Meraki firewall. It gives you the ability to lock things down. Having multiple VLANs is helpful for the switching infrastructure and firewall. It's crucial when you have a public-facing VLAN, a private-facing VLAN, and a secure VLAN."
PeerSpot user William M., Consulting Engineer at IV4, expresses, "It is easy to deploy, maintain, and update. It has been trouble-free so far. I am still a Cisco command-line bigot, but the web interface makes it a lot easier for our help desk to interact with a client. When the clients call in and say that they aren't able to connect, it takes the help desk 10 minutes or less to look at everything in the enterprise or location. They can look at the firewall, switches, or access points in the dashboard. That's why I like the dashboard."
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