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

H3C Ethernet Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

H3C Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
17th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
9
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 H3C Ethernet Switches is 2.3%, up from 1.3% 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

SherifHanna - PeerSpot reviewer
Connects wired devices such as computers, laptops, routers, servers, and printers to a LAN
We find it helpful. The only challenge is understanding Chinese speakers, but this is a common issue even with Cisco and HP support when dealing with Chinese-speaking representatives. As for local support, we provide support locally in the UAE, and they have a Middle East office, offering excellent support, especially for Arabic speakers.
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 Another reason was that our switches were getting outdated, so we had to do something.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

"H3C Ethernet Switches is a cheap solution."
"The best feature of H3C Ethernet Switches is their reliability."
"Network performance is very good, suggesting that stability has not been an issue."
"A good high-performance solution."
"Offering a five-year warranty, compared to competitors' one-year warranties, is a unique advantage of H3C switches."
"H3C Ethernet Switches have a fast delivery time."
"The IMC feature is valuable."
"To date, it has proven to be highly reliable. We have encountered no issues or challenges with it thus far."
"Meraki MS Switches have a very user-friendly dashboard and the policies are straightforward for sending them to the devices and blocking sites."
"I have found the solution to be stable."
"The switch supports various automation testing tools, and it's quite helpful for network troubleshooting as well."
"The most valuable feature about Meraki is the console. The second most valuable feature, to me, is the technical support and the infrastructure behind the console."
"I like the support, and basically, that's why I'm using Meraki by Cisco."
"It is easy to work with."
"I found the cloud-managed dashboard most valuable in Meraki MS Switches."
"We are using the MS425 series. We like the ease of use, ease of administration, and central dashboard. Meraki also has fantastic documentation and community. With its central dashboard, we can deploy a generic configuration across hundreds of switches, rather than doing it in the old school way where an individual or a group of engineers would log onto each device via CLI, which takes a long time. So, everything is connected."
 

Cons

"GUI needs to merge with CLI."
"The only improvement needed is the significantly better lead time for delivery compared to other American products. In terms of technology, there isn't much difference, especially since X3 is a subsidiary of XP, and they use the same technology. However, the delivery time is notably better."
"H3C Ethernet Switches could improve by widening their product range."
"To enhance H3C switches for the next release, improving the user interface is crucial."
"There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized."
"There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"There should be more public tools for configuration and comparing products."
"They tend to have some weird issues with fiber uplinks."
"The biggest area that they fall short on is comparing the performance."
"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."
"The pricing needs to be more competitive with other products on the market."
"We had issues with the stability, issues with the pricing, and the total cost of ownership."
"It could be easier to use and easier to implement."
"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."
"They're definitely missing some of the higher end data center Cisco features."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is very affordable, making it a not-so-expensive choice. On a scale from one to ten, where one is expensive and ten is cheap, I would rate it a seven."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are reasonably priced."
"H3C Ethernet Switches is targeted for SMBs because it's cheaper compared to Huawei switches."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are priced at around $500 per unit, which is very cheap and one of the most competitive prices out there."
"They can get the price down for small businesses. The way I bought it, I paid hardly anything, and I got all my licensing with it. The firewall appliance is around $900, and the switches are around $150. This is for the device itself. For licensing, I signed at $70 or something like that for the switch. Technical Support is included in this."
"The tool is expensive."
"We paid for our switches outright, at a cost of between $15,000 USD and $18,000 USD."
"When you compare it to other switches like HP, Juniper, and Ruckus, Meraki MS Switches are cheaper."
"The price of Meraki MS Switches is high."
"Extreme switches are more cost-effective than Cisco Meraki Switches."
"One key challenge often encountered is the perception that strategic products like Cisco and Meraki tend to be more expensive than alternatives like Aruba."
"We don't use standard licensing. Most of the time, we use the advanced security model. If there is a drawback to Meraki, it is the cost, but you also have to evaluate it based upon the other factors that you do get. Their support is really good; their hardware is really good. The ease of configuration and deployment is really good, but it is more expensive than most."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
8%
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 needs improvement with H3C Ethernet Switches?
There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized.
What is your primary use case for H3C Ethernet Switches?
The primary use case is about managing network infrastructure. The H3C Ethernet Switches are used internally as switches in the system.
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

No data available
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Learn More

Video not available
Video not available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Ying Wa College, Centro Digital Pictures
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about H3C Ethernet Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.