Meraki MS Switches and MikroTik Cloud Router Switches are strong contenders in network infrastructure solutions. Meraki seems to have the upper hand in complex environments with its advanced cloud management, while MikroTik holds an advantage in cost-sensitive setups with its competitive pricing.
Features: Meraki MS Switches offer centralized management, integrated security, and easy deployment with cloud-based control, which provides incredible ease of use and global access without the need for onsite management. The rich visibility and troubleshooting capabilities are highly valued. MikroTik Cloud Router Switches provide essential functions and flexibility, emphasizing simplicity and cost-effectiveness. They are known for their affordability and basic functionality, suitable for smaller-scale deployments.
Room for Improvement: Meraki users mention high licensing costs and dependence on stable internet for cloud services as drawbacks, alongside a need for better scalability and system integration. MikroTik could enhance security features like IDS/IPS, improve documentation and support, and optimize the OS for more complex setups.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Meraki's deployment is praised for its cloud-centric model, allowing remote management and configuration, though it requires consistent internet access. Customer service receives mixed reviews with some citing good support and others noting response delays. MikroTik focuses on cost-effectiveness with on-premises and public cloud deployment capabilities. Customer service feedback is favorable, highlighting quick resolutions and satisfactory support, despite being simpler in scope.
Pricing and ROI: Meraki MS Switches come with premium pricing, justified by their extensive features and global management capabilities, often seen as high-value investments due to reduced operational costs. However, the licensing model can be a concern for tighter budgets. MikroTik Cloud Router Switches offer significant savings and tangible ROI for smaller businesses or budget-focused organizations, standing out for their affordability and lack of recurring subscription fees.
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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