We typically use the solution at the client site.
Senior IT Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Easy to configure and manage with one easy-access dashboard
Pros and Cons
- "They're easy to update."
- "Technical support hold times seem to be getting longer."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
All switching technologies are pretty much the same. The best thing I could say is that I like how I can see everything on one dashboard along with the access point in MX. I prefer how you see everything in the dashboard easily, with no command-line interface. It makes it easy to check in to Meraki and easy to configure.
They're easy to update. Everything seems to be stable with Meraki switches the last couple of years.
We support clients and we do a lot of stuff remotely, and we can easily see everything remotely. You don't need to be a network engineer to support Meraki.
The setup is easy. It's pretty plug-and-play.
What needs improvement?
A while back, there were some update problems.
Pricing is higher than other options.
Technical support hold times seem to be getting longer.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been working with the solution for about four or five years or so. It's been a while.
Buyer's Guide
Meraki MS Switches
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Meraki MS Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the solution is very good. Currently, there are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable and the performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable, however, it depends on which model you buy. We usually buy one that's stackable, in case we need to add more. We can easily stack them when we need to expand.
How are customer service and support?
You don't need to be a network engineer to support Meraki. We often support our clients and can do it remotely, which is helpful.
Technical support directly from Meraki is very friendly and they are knowledgeable folks. As of late, however, since maybe the last year or so ago, the hold time seems a bit longer. That said, the support personnel, the knowledge, it's all top-notch to me. It's just the time being on hold, it's getting longer and longer.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not difficult or complex. We find it to be very, very easy. A company shouldn't have any issues with the initial setup.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While the pricing is a bit high and a bit of a drawback, its ease of use makes the price almost worth it.
What other advice do I have?
I'm a consultant.
If you don't have a dedicated network engineer, I would highly recommend Meraki.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. The switch is great. The price, however, is a bit high.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Security & ICT Product Manager at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees
Easy to configure and deploy but is expensive
Pros and Cons
- "The interface is great. It's easy to understand for the customer."
- "Sometimes there's a problem with the pricing model they use. They should work to fix this."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution to connect access points.
How has it helped my organization?
We are Cisco partners, so we are using this product in order to provide services to our customers. As a Cisco partner, we get support from Cisco and that's why we are using and selling this product.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to configure and to deploy.
The interface is great. It's easy to understand for the customer.
What needs improvement?
The solution doesn't offer anything different from any other solution. It's not a unique product.
Sometimes there's a problem with the pricing model they use. They should work to fix this.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We primarily use the solution for small and medium customers, so we don't deal so much with scalability. For our purposes, a couple of switches are enough, in most cases.
How are customer service and technical support?
We've never had to contact Cisco's technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We didn't previously use a different solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. Deployment takes a few days. For us, it took five days. It's more internal processes than the complexity of this solution that makes it take the amount of time it does.
What other advice do I have?
We use the on-premises deployment model for small and medium-sized businesses.
In terms of advice to others, I'd suggest they push very hard for a discount. Other solutions are working really well, so discussion about discounts in relation to approaching customer-based projects is a good idea.
I'd rate it seven out of ten. I'd rate it higher, but the pricing isn't great. From a technical perspective, however, it meets all my needs.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
Buyer's Guide
Meraki MS Switches
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Meraki MS Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
MD and CEO at Aster Networks
Easy to manage remotely and the SD-WAN features are good
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is cloud management."
- "I don't think that the cost is a problem, but sometimes the price requires convincing the customer of the value."
What is our primary use case?
We are a system integrator and Meraki MS Switches are one of the network infrastructure products that we implement for our clients. My goal is to give the proper service and proper ideas. Our customers for this product include educational institutions, manufacturing plants, and banks.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is cloud management. In particular, if you are required to manage the switch remotely then this is a good solution.
The SD-WAN features are very good.
What needs improvement?
I don't think that the cost is a problem, but sometimes the price requires convincing the customer of the value.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with Meraki Switches for the past 10 to 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability-wise, I have not had a bad experience in the past and none of my customers are complaining.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability has not been a problem.
How are customer service and technical support?
The Cisco technical support is good and we have had no problem at all. When we require help then they are excellent.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I work with and promote many different switches including the standard Cisco and Meraki products.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy to complete.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, this is a good product and I am actively promoting it.
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Sales Manager at Quadratech
Easy to deploy and the cost is reasonable
What is our primary use case?
I am a reseller of Meraki MS Switches.
What is most valuable?
The solution Is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
The subscription model could be improved.
How was the initial setup?
Deployment is very easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price isn't high, and they offer discounts. The delivery time is much better than other traditional products.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Director at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
A stable solution with easy installation and good tech support, but could have better scalability and integrative abilities with on-premises systems
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is stable."
- "The scalability and integrative abilities with on-premises systems could stand improvement."
What is most valuable?
I find administration management and the cloud to be valuable features.
What needs improvement?
The scalability and integrative abilities with on-premises systems could stand improvement.
I am talking about the monitoring features and those directly concerning the internal management systems. The stock switches should be more reliable.
The solution is a bit on the pricey side.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability could be better.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is fine.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup and deployment are easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price could be lower.
What other advice do I have?
We are satisfied with the solution when it comes to that concerning a small environment.
I use the solution in my company.
I rate Meraki MS Switches as a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
User-friendly and stable with a fast responding technical support team
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is straightforward. You only need two people for deployment and maintenance."
- "The solution could be simplified a bit."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for testing.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
The solution could be simplified a bit.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for nearly two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
For our purposes, the solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution isn't scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I've had to contact technical support a few times and they have always been helpful. How long they take to respond depends on the time of the call. If I'm calling at off-office hours I can get answers quickly, but during actual office hours, there is a little bit of a delay.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used HPE. We switched because we received a gift voucher after attending an IT Expo.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. You only need two people for deployment and maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of the solution is fair. The licensing is paid on a yearly basis.
What other advice do I have?
We use the MS 250 and 425 series.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. Switches wise, I'm really happy with the product. It is more user-friendly than competitors and I can do everything myself. That's why I prefer it.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IT Infra Head at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
User friendly dashboard, simple configuration, and effective site blocking
Pros and Cons
- "Meraki MS Switches have a very user-friendly dashboard and the policies are straightforward for sending them to the devices and blocking sites."
- "The traffic reporting should be better in Meraki MS Switches. We want to be able to see all the traffic and where it is going. Additionally, detailed device utilization information would be very helpful for the security personnel."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Meraki MS Switches as a network device in our organization.
What is most valuable?
Meraki MS Switches have a very user-friendly dashboard and the policies are straightforward for sending them to the devices and blocking sites.
What needs improvement?
The traffic reporting should be better in Meraki MS Switches. We want to be able to see all the traffic and where it is going. Additionally, detailed device utilization information would be very helpful for the security personnel.
The solution VPN is based on Windows features. They have to come up with their own solution because of what is happening, sometimes it is connecting and sometimes not. If they had their own tool, these types of issues can be mitigated.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Meraki MS Switches for approximately six months.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Meraki MS Switches an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
A cloud-managed simplicity with strong security features, and user-friendly support
Pros and Cons
- "It offers a compelling solution due to its cloud management capabilities and strong security features."
- "It might be perceived as more of a niche product, partly due to its name, as it's still not entirely recognized by the market."
What is our primary use case?
The primary goal is to assist the customer, and in some cases, it may be necessary to recommend Meraki when they have limited assistance or staff available to manage the infrastructure effectively.
What is most valuable?
It offers a compelling solution due to its cloud management capabilities and strong security features. In specific sectors like healthcare and hospitality, reliability is paramount, and customers demand reputable brands with a long track record in security and support.
What needs improvement?
One key challenge often encountered is the perception that strategic products like Cisco and Meraki tend to be more expensive than alternatives like Aruba. It might be perceived as more of a niche product, partly due to its name, as it's still not entirely recognized by the market.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with it for ten years.
How are customer service and support?
The support provided is truly impressive. They are offering excellent assistance and a product lineup that stands up to the big brand names.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial installation was easy, and the support team was readily available.
What other advice do I have?
The suitability of Meraki switches depends on the specific needs of customers, especially in industries like hospitality and healthcare where multiple units are involved. It requires a bit more effort to familiarize customers with its offerings. Overall, I would rate it eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Meraki MS Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: January 2025
Product Categories
Ethernet SwitchesPopular Comparisons
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Aruba Switches
MikroTik Routers and Switches
NETGEAR Switches
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches
Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access
Arista Networks Platform
D-Link Ethernet Switches
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches
Huawei Ethernet Switches
HPE Ethernet Switches
NVIDIA Mellanox
MikroTik Cloud Router Switch
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Meraki MS Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- Can I use Meraki MS125-24 Layer 2 switch' SFP port for 10Gb NAS (as a simple connection)?
- Juniper vs Cisco ethernet switches: Which one is better?
- When evaluating Ethernet Switches, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- Which Ethernet switch do you use? Why?
- What are your recommended Layer 2 and Layer 3 network switches if the main consideration is performance?
- Does anyone have statistics on how often a fire occurs in a computer room?
- Why does Cisco dominate the ethernet switching market?
- Juniper EX4600 vs. Cisco 3850
- What's your number one piece of advice for someone looking to purchase an Ethernet switch?
- User question: which of the following is the best Ethernet Switch?