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Cisco Meraki MS switches are easy to manage and provide core switching features and functionality
September 14, 2022

Cisco Meraki MS switches are easy to manage and provide core switching features and functionality

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Modules Used

  • MS120-8FP
  • MS120-24P
  • MS210-24P

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Meraki MS

We use our Cisco Meraki MS switches in two ways:
1. As a shared office space simple PoE switch to provide connectivity to our end users, wifi AP connectivity, and to uplink to our firewall
2. As a wireless PoE switch to provide wireless connectivity to our headquarters employees and guests across multiple floors as well as to provide wifi and wired guest access at our branch offices
  • Easy to manage
  • Easy to configure
  • Provide features typically found on classic managed switches, such as the Cisco Catalyst line
  • Provide more detailed logging
  • Lower price, given the basic feature set

Do you think Cisco Meraki MS delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Cisco Meraki MS's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Meraki MS live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco Meraki MS go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco Meraki MS again?

Yes

  • Minimal management so ROI is positively impacted due to operational efficiency
  • Atypical or advanced functionality requires significant knowledge and workaround techniques, so that can negatively impact ROI
We have benefited from Meraki's ease-of-use and ease-of-management, as we delegate some functionality to our desktop services team, rather than have our network engineers perform all tasks, such as we do with our Cisco Catalyst line. There is a GUI interface and all management is in the cloud. Security is simple as well, as firmware upgrades are either done automatically or with a few clicks.
We pair our Meraki MS switches with the Meraki MR access points, taking advantage of the single-pane dashboard and cloud management, as well as the PoE capabilities of the switch. We send logs to our Sumo Logic SIEM as well as poll Meraki via LogicMonitor's API. We also uplink to Cisco Catalyst 9200-series switches in our HQ, for upstream Internet connectivity via our Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, which provide DHCP, NAT, and security.
Operationally, it does scale well across business units, as switching needs are generally simple; however, if more advanced functionality is required, flexibility is impacted, in my opinion, to avoid management complexity. This is a constant trade-off, not just with Meraki, but with a lot of technologies. I wish Meraki dug a little deeper and provided more logging and features, but for a simpler network that needs network connectivity and GUI management, it is a great choice.
Meraki MS provides the sweet spot between manageability and functionality, though not at a significantly lower cost. Desktop support engineers can manage it day-to-day and sometimes that is the most important factor, especially in our case, as a layer 2 switching solution that can also provide PoE to the Meraki MR WAPs.
Great for a small office or for organizations that have minimal IT resources or needs. If you need a secure, easy-to-manage, set it and forget it solution, Meraki is definitely worth a look, though I would not consider it low budget. Be careful if you need layer 3 advanced features, DHCP server functionality, etc., as these features are found in the "higher-end" models.