HPE Ethernet Switches and Meraki MS Switches compete in the network switch category. Based on data comparisons, Meraki MS Switches appear to have the upper hand due to their advanced cloud management capabilities and ease of remote network handling.
Features: HPE Ethernet Switches offer affordability, robust feature set including PoE, and a lifetime warranty, making them highly valued. They ensure long-term stability and straightforward configuration ideal for existing infrastructures. Meraki MS Switches provide cloud management, virtual stacking, and scheduled port configurations. Their centralized dashboard offers ease of configuration and operational efficiency, making them suitable for remote network management.
Room for Improvement: HPE Ethernet Switches could enhance scalability and integration with hyper-converged solutions while improving response times for technical support. Users also point out the need for GUI improvements and more intuitive command-line interfaces. Meraki MS Switches could reconsider their licensing model to improve affordability and expand advanced routing and switching capabilities for better local environments performance.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE Ethernet Switches are designed for on-premises deployment with excellent customer service and dependable technical support. Meraki MS Switches, favored for hybrid and cloud deployment, enable easier global management but may face challenges in restricted network environments. Their customer service is well-rated, though technical support could improve response speed.
Pricing and ROI: HPE Ethernet Switches are known for offering a cost-effective solution with a reliable ROI due to their lifetime warranty and lack of ongoing licensing fees. They ensure predictable costs over time. Meraki MS Switches, though more expensive, justify their price with strong functionality and cloud management integration, providing long-term value to businesses investing in this space.
Their customer service and support are quite good.
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.
We had one incident where an electric overload occurred, and it still managed to stay operational.
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.
The control plane is in the cloud, and the data plane is local, allowing manageability from anywhere.
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.
HP has created the most open, integrated and software-defined networking portfolio and ecosystem of its kind – driving simplification with networks that understand, adapt to and protect your business applications in real-time. Only HP extends the momentum of software-defined networking everywhere–from the mobile edge to the heart of data centers.
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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