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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

Customer Service

Sentiment score
3.5
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches' customer service is generally reliable, but some customers experience delays and complicated processes.
Sentiment score
8.5
Meraki MS Switches are praised for strong support and convenience, though some desire more senior engineers and improved communication.
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.
 

Room For Improvement

Sentiment score
4.6
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches face challenges in pricing, interface design, stability, support, and require better automation and cloud options.
Sentiment score
4.7
Meraki MS Switches face pricing and cloud dependency issues, needing better licensing, scalability, security, and technical support features.
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.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.7
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer scalability for SMEs, with features like stacking and cloud control, but face large enterprise limitations.
Sentiment score
7.9
Meraki MS Switches offer scalability for SMBs and cloud environments but lack features and options for large enterprises.
 

Setup Cost

No sentiment score available
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are affordable for small enterprises but pricing varies; users should evaluate needs for best value.
Sentiment score
3.4
Meraki MS Switches are costly but valuable for features and support, with complex licensing. Some see it as competitive.
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.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.4
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are praised for reliability but face occasional issues compared to competitors like Juniper in heavy traffic.
Sentiment score
8.6
Meraki MS Switches offer stable performance, reliability, and ease of use, with minor issues resolved quickly in complex environments.
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.
 

Valuable Features

Sentiment score
8.1
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer ease of use, reliability, security, scalability, and simple configuration with robust support and integration.
Sentiment score
8.4
Meraki MS Switches offer centralized cloud management, robust security, and scalability, making them ideal for efficient, distributed network operations.
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.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Swit...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
12th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
74
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 November 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches is 3.6%, up from 2.9% 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

Rohit Ghorpade - PeerSpot reviewer
Along with the solution being scalable and the performance being accurate, the tool also provides flexibility
The setup is a small set. Basically, we have branches near about 50 to 100 users using the solution. The L2 switches are installed in the access layer, and further, it is connected to our Citrix SD-WAN box, and Citrix SD-WAN terminates the appliance. So this is the setup. This is a small setup. It will not take much time to deploy it. It can be done in five to ten minutes. One just needs to unbox Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches, terminate the power supply, and connect to the Citrix router. Seven or eight of our resources, with one person as their leader, are involved in managing Citrix to look after the deployments and maintenance of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches. Speaking about the rest of the resources and the organization structure we have, one person is involved in technical follow-up, and three are involved in the technical part.
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.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
Government
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?
Cisco and Huawei have the same licensing models, as both migrated from perpetual to subscription-based licensing models. Cisco and Huawei are presenting their devices with the subscription based li...
What needs improvement with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
Cisco can do better as it can modify the OS to be able to handle the Python script from CLI. As I was reading about the features of Huawei, I saw that Huawei has a feature with which we can write a...
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?
Compared to other products in the market, it is always expensive.
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
The GUI can be improved for a better comfort level.
 

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: October 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.