Meraki SD-WAN vs VMware NSX comparison

The compared Cisco and VMware solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #1 in SDN , with an average rating of 8.8, and holds a 24.0% mindshare in the category. VMware is ranked #2 in NV , with an average rating of 7.7, and holds a 46.5% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of VMware users who would recommend it.

Meraki SD-WAN

Read 77 Meraki SD-WAN reviews

1,624 Views
1,063 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

VMware NSX

Read 102 VMware NSX reviews

1,011 Views
674 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Meraki SD-WAN

VMware NSX

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Meraki SD-WAN and VMware NSX based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Software Defined Networking (SDN) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Meraki SD-WAN vs. VMware NSX Report (Updated: May 2020).

Buyer's Guide

Meraki SD-WAN vs. VMware NSX

May 2020

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Helped 839,422 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Meraki SD-WAN

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Defined Networking (SDN) (1st)

VMware NSX

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

Network Virtualization (2nd), Cloud and Data Center Security (3rd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (7th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (9th), Network Automation (5th), Microsegmentation Software (1st)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Enterprise Networking solutions, they serve different purposes. Meraki SD-WAN is designed for Software Defined Networking (SDN) and holds a mindshare of 24.0%, up 23.7% compared to last year.
VMware NSX, on the other hand, focuses on Network Virtualization, holds 46.5% mindshare, up 45.8% since last year.

Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Network Virtualization

Q&A Highlights

Paul Wright

Head of Infrastructure Services at a construction company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jul 06, 2020

What is the biggest difference between VMware NSX and Meraki SD-WAN?

We are currently reviewing various SD-WAN vendors for our infrastructure and what I found lacking with Cisco Meraki is that you cannot use Active/Active HA with two MX devices. Only HA is available with one device which introduces a single point of failure for any network. There is also up to 5 minute failover time for Active/Active circuits which in my opinion is quite long compared to other solutions which are nearer instant.

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Featured Reviews

Martyn Walker

Business development manager at Virgin Media

Enables productivity in terms of users and has ease of management

Scalability could be improved. Yes, you can add more than 300 or 400 sites onto it, but because it's not a true SD-WAN and, effectively, it's just a Multi-VRF, it's all hub and spoke at that point. That's the nature of the design, but that's what keeps it simple to administer. So, it's a trade off.

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DanielBass

Senior IT Strategy Consultant at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Improves network security with micro-segmentation but setup is complex

I value the ability to dynamically configure our network on the fly using VMware NSX. This flexibility is a huge advantage because it allows us to avoid static configurations that come with traditional hardware setups. Additionally, the micro-segmentation feature is beneficial for adhering to strict security regulations from our security department.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature of Meraki SD-WAN is the Auto VPN."

"The most valuable features of this solution are load balancing and the security possibilities you have."

"The auto VPN feature is important because it automates many tasks, making things simpler and faster. It helps with setting up devices and changing configurations without manual effort."

"Meraki SD-WAN is scalable."

"The solution is pretty easy to configure."

"The solution has a great UI."

"The dashboard is user-friendly. It's very simple to use."

"A lot of our customers really enjoy the Meraki Dashboard."

More Meraki SD-WAN pros

"From a security standpoint, the customer was able to better secure critical workloads while routing L2/L3 worked normally, giving them more confidence that they would be ready for any potential security incident mitigation or outage (DR)."

"I value the ability to dynamically configure our network on the fly using VMware NSX."

"NSX gives us the ability to put our network, NSX, onto any network there is, which allows us not to have to go to the network team to create networks our VLANs for networks."

"I really like the management dashboard, the tailor-made assurance, the telemetry, and the ease of integration with all other solutions of VMware, such as vSphere."

"VMware NSX's overlay network is its most valuable feature, as it aligns with any network philosophy and allows for efficient addressing mechanisms. Additionally, the ability to extend the on-premise network into the provider space is beneficial. There are many features provided."

"Overall, I would say the solution has been quite stable."

"We are happy with the scalability."

"The interface is intuitive enough."

More VMware NSX pros

Cons

"Some systems use some applications with the wrong data application. It bypasses the network, and you need to block that application on Meraki. We first try to put in passwords to do it and the network is not really safe. It's not 100%, the network can be bypassed."

"The interface in the VPN management system can be a bit complex for users to understand."

"We have had some problems doing the implementation."

"Meraki offers the client basic security, it is not the same as what FortiGate is offering."

"Meraki is lagging behind in using a single pipe from service providers. That is, it would be good if they could use both the internet leased line and broadband connectivity."

"From the vice perspective, they just are not as robust as some of the other vendors. They have limitations in throughput and the number of circuits that they can support on a wide area network. Their higher-end security is all cloud-based. They have some capability with the premise-based solutions, but the higher ends are all cloud-based, and that's via Cisco Umbrella."

"Technical support could be more knowledgeable and responsive."

"Perimetral security for new requirements on financial networks and DRP systems, like SAP."

More Meraki SD-WAN cons

"We have been satisfied with the technical support. They were able to solve our problems. However, they could be faster."

"It isn't easy to deploy."

"There could be an improvement in regards to security."

"The engineering team has room for improvement. They should have have more of a Knowledge Base about different case studies and should develop more advanced features. These kinds of improvements will change the way things get done."

"The support from VMware NSX could improve."

"Their licensing model should make it easier to purchase licenses."

"VMware NSX could improve by having more compatibility with other none Window-based operating systems."

"They need to enhance their technical support."

More VMware NSX cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The tool is costly. I rate the tool's price as a ten out of ten since it is very expensive."

"This solution is more expensive than competitors."

"Our clients pay Meraki an annual licensing fee and the pricing is not too bad when compared to other products in the Cisco portfolio."

"The pricing is reasonable and we can choose the software or the feature."

"The solution's pricing is in line with what we expected."

"The pricing is fair, but if they can make it less it would be even more attractive."

"Meraki's pricing is on the higher side, which may limit who can afford to use them."

"I am not aware of the licensing fees."

More Meraki SD-WAN pricing and cost advice

"The pricing is higher than other options from Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Cisco because it is sold in a bundle."

"The subscription is on a yearly basis."

"You can scale NSX if you have the resources, but it's usually expensive and complex to scale up."

"The pricing model for VMware NSX is good."

"We haven't had to hire a dedicated network engineer because NSX handles 90 percent of it. The reduced overhead in terms of managing networks has been the biggest plus."

"The price could be better. We pay for the license every three years. The last time I checked, it cost around three million pesos in the Philipines. Most of the expense will go towards implementation and renovation."

"VMware has always been geared towards enterprise and their pricing options are a bit high. Their price is higher than other options in the market."

"It is an expensive product, but cheaper than some competing solutions."

More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice

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Answers from the Community

Paul Wright

Head of Infrastructure Services at a construction company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jul 6, 2020

What is the biggest difference between VMware NSX and Meraki SD-WAN?

2 out of 6 answers

GaurangPatel

Technical Director at Allot Group

Mar 12, 2020

Well, both products are very good but if you are looking for only SD-WAN Feafure than Cisco Meraki is the perfect solution: it's easy to manage, easy to deploy and deep insight at the packet level. VMware NSX is the complete package of comprehensive features like Application Load Balancing, routing, switching, micro-segmentation and many more but at a cost! It's very easy to manage from a single pane of glass. in a nutshell, if you want Application-Aware Load balancing and wan optimization which should be easy to manage and deploy than Cisco Meraki is the right product and if you are looking for a fully integrated solution and have a deep pocket then you should choose VMware NSX.

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Denis FERRAND

Head of EMEA Strategic Alliances at Arrow Electronics, Inc

Mar 12, 2020

VMware NSX is all about Software Defined Networking ie virtualizing the 7 layers of switches/routers that we know in the physical HW world. VMware is very successful with this technology acquired from NICERA. SD-WAN stands for Software-Defined WAN which is about networking but NOT at the local level, it is a wide area network. For this VMware made another acquisition which is VeloCloud. Cisco Meraki SD-WAN and VeloCloud are both in the magic quadrant and therefore competing.

Read full answer

See all 6 answers

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Meraki SD-WAN?

The auto VPN feature is important because it automates many tasks, making things simpler and faster. It helps with setting up devices and changing configurations without manual effort.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki SD-WAN?

The price is a little bit higher than local vendors, for example, Huawei ZTE or H3C. However, some customers require the best quality and performance, thus needing solutions and products from Cisco.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Meraki SD-WAN?

They have to ask us many questions about configurations. It could be improved with some automation to trigger, for example, telemetry data, so we can determine the state of the deployment as of day...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...

See all answers

What do you like most about VMware NSX?

The product has valuable features for security and network extension.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Meraki SD-WAN

Compared 22% of the time

Omada Cloud SDN vs Meraki SD-WAN

Compared 20% of the time

VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN vs Meraki SD-WAN

Compared 16% of the time

Prisma SD-WAN vs Meraki SD-WAN

Compared 13% of the time

Cradlepoint NetCloud vs Meraki SD-WAN

Compared 10% of the time

More Meraki SD-WAN Competitors

Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX

Compared 21% of the time

Illumio vs VMware NSX

Compared 21% of the time

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco ACI vs VMware NSX

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX

Compared 8% of the time

More VMware NSX Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Meraki SD-WAN

February 2025

Download Meraki SD-WAN product report

Buyer's Guide

VMware NSX

February 2025

Download VMware NSX product report

Also Known As

No data available

VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender

Overview

Software-defined WAN is a new approach to network connectivity that lowers operational costs and improves resource usage for multi-site deployments, allowing network administrators to use bandwidth more efficiently and ensure the highest possible level of performance for critical applications without sacrificing security or data privacy. For more information on deploying and configuring SD-WAN on the Meraki MX Security Appliance, see the Meraki SD-WAN Deployment Guide.

Cisco

VMware NSX is a sophisticated solution utilized for micro-segmentation, network security, software-defined networking, and private cloud construction. It aids in the transition from physical to virtual infrastructure, ensuring efficient network virtualization and security of production workloads.

VMware NSX empowers organizations to manage network functions, implement distributed firewalls, and enhance security within virtual environments. Crucial for disaster recovery and load balancing, it supports cloud-native application development and enterprise clients. Its ease of use, scalability, and seamless integration with existing VMware solutions ensure streamlined network management and swift deployment. Despite its extensive features, areas like pricing, routing functionality, and compatibility with certain platforms require attention.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?

Ease of Use: Simplifies network management with an intuitive interface.
Scalability: Adapts to growing infrastructure needs seamlessly.
Micro-Segmentation: Enhances security by dividing networks into smaller, manageable segments.
Integration: Seamlessly works with existing VMware solutions and third-party applications.
Dynamic Routing: Optimizes network traffic efficiently.
Security Options: Offers robust firewall features and security measures.
Automation: Facilitates quick deployment through comprehensive automation capabilities.
High Bandwidth: Ensures high-performance network operations.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Enhanced Network Security: Superior protection for virtual environments.
Efficient Disaster Recovery: Reliable support for business continuity.
Reduced Deployment Time: Fast implementation and configuration.
Improved Network Management: Centralized and streamlined control of network resources.

VMware NSX is widely implemented across industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Organizations in these sectors utilize it to bolster security, enhance network efficiency, and support cloud-native applications. By extending on-premise networks into provider spaces and managing virtual access networks, VMware NSX significantly optimizes infrastructure operations.

VMware

Sample Customers

École Jeannine Manuel

City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis

Buyer's Guide

Meraki SD-WAN vs. VMware NSX

May 2020

Free Report: Meraki SD-WAN vs. VMware NSX

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