Cisco Meraki MS Series Comparison Guide

Cisco Meraki Switching And Routing

MS Series Overview

The Cisco Meraki MS series switches are designed to deliver enterprise-class performance with simplicity and ease of management. These cloud-managed switches eliminate the complexity and time-consuming nature of traditional switch management by providing an intuitive and centralized dashboard. This approach enables network administrators to spend more time focusing on strategic business needs rather than on tedious configuration tasks.

Meraki MS series switches offer a wide range of models suitable for various deployment scenarios, from compact switches for small offices to high-capacity switches for large campus networks. They integrate seamlessly with other Meraki products, providing unified policies, event logs, and comprehensive monitoring capabilities. The true zero-touch configuration and centralized management significantly reduce operational costs and enhance the scalability of network deployments.

MS Capabilities

Centralized Cloud Management

Meraki MS switches are managed through a single, cloud-based dashboard that offers comprehensive visibility and control over the entire network. This centralized interface simplifies tasks such as configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, enabling administrators to manage multiple sites with ease.

Rapid Deployment and Scalability

The MS series supports zero-touch deployment, allowing switches to be set up quickly without the need for complex configuration scripts. This plug-and-play capability ensures that switches are operational within minutes, making it ideal for large-scale or distributed deployments.

High-Performance Hardware

Meraki switches feature robust hardware with options for fixed and modular uplinks, including 1 GbE, 10 GbE, and 40 GbE ports. They support wire-speed, non-blocking switch fabric, and advanced QoS capabilities, ensuring high performance for voice, video, and data applications.

Energy Efficiency and Low Acoustics

The MS series is designed with energy efficiency in mind, featuring low acoustics and fanless models for quiet operation. This makes theMSuitable for deployment in office environments, classrooms, and other noise-sensitive areas.

Advanced Security Features

Security is a top priority with Meraki MS switches. They include features such as IEEE 802.1x for port-based network access control, MAC-based RADIUS authentication, DHCP snooping, and comprehensive security reporting. These capabilities help protect the network from unauthorized access and malicious activities.

Intelligent Network Management

Meraki MS switches offer built-in monitoring, troubleshooting, and logging tools. Intelligent anomaly detection flags potential issues, while tools like remote cable testing and packet captures help quickly isolate and resolve network problems. The dynamic network topology feature provides a clear view of how devices are interconnected.

Flexible Stacking and Power Management

The MS series supports flexible stacking options, including physical and virtual stacking. Stack power pools power from each PSU in a switch stack, providing redundancy and efficient PoE management. This feature ensures higher availability and better performance in enterprise deployments.

Layer 7 Application Visibility

Meraki switches are unique in their ability to provide layer 7 application visibility. This allows administrators to identify and manage applications running on the network, optimizing resources and ensuring high performance.

Seamless Integration with Meraki Ecosystem

MS switches are part of the broader Meraki ecosystem, ensuring consistent operation and management across all Meraki products. They automatically connect to the Meraki cloud for configuration updates, firmware upgrades, and new feature rollouts, ensuring the network is always up-to-date.

Cisco Meraki MS Series Models Comparison

Meraki Access Switching Models

SpecificationMS120-8MS120MS125
UsageCompactSmall branch and officeSmall branch and office
Interface8x 1 GbE RJ4524/48x 1 GbE RJ4524/48x 1 GbE RJ45
Uplinks2x 1 GbE SFP Fixed4x 1 GbE SFP Fixed4x 10 GbE SFP Fixed
PoE capabilities67W (LP model) 124W (FP model)370W (P, LP models) 740W (FP model)370W (P, LP models) 740W (FP model)
Power configurationExternal PSU (non-PoE, LP model) Internal (FP model)InternalInternal
Stacking capabilitiesVirtual onlyVirtual onlyVirtual only
Routing capabilitiesDHCP relayDHCP relayDHCP relay
ModelsMS120-8-HW, MS120-8LP-HW, MS120-8FP-HWMS120-24-HW, MS120-24P-HW, MS120-48-HW, MS120-48LP-HW, MS120-48FP-HWMS125-24-HW, MS125-24P-HW, MS125-48-HW, MS125-48LP-HW, MS125-48FP-HW

Meraki Access Switching Models (MS130)

Specification MS130 compact MS130 MS130R
Usage Compact Branch and campus Ruggedized (hot/cold/tight environments)
Interface 8/12x 1 GbE RJ45, 6/8x 1 GbE + 2/4x 2.5 GbE RJ45 (in select models) 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45, 18/40x 1 GbE + 6/8x 2.5 GbE RJ45 (in select models) 8x 1 GbE RJ45
Uplinks 2x 1 GbE SFP, 2x 10 GbE SFP+ (in select models) Fixed 4x 1 GbE SFP, 4x 10 GbE SFP+ (in select models) Fixed 2x 1 GbE SFP
PoE capabilities 120 W, 240 W (MS130-12X only) 370 W, 740 W (MS130-48P/X only) Up to 240 W
Power configuration Internal (MS130-8P-I only) External Internal External
Stacking capabilities Virtual only Virtual only Virtual only
Routing capabilities DHCP relay DHCP relay DHCP relay
Advanced capabilities Adaptive Policy Segmentation Adaptive Policy Segmentation Adaptive Policy Segmentation
Models MS130-8-HW, MS130-8P-HW, MS130-8P-I-HW, MS130-8X-HW, MS130-12X-HW MS130-24-HW, MS130-24P-HW, MS130-24X-HW, MS130-48-HW, MS130-48P-HW, MS130-48X-HW MS130R-8P-HW

Meraki Stackable Access Switching Models

Specification MS210 MS225 MS250 MS350 MS355 MS390
Usage Branch and small campus Branch and small campus Branch and campus Campus and multigigabit Branch and small campus High-performance campus and branch
Interface 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45 24/48x 1 GbE RJ451, 8x mGig RJ45 (24 port only) 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45, 8x mGig RJ45 (24 port only) 24/48x 1 GbE RJ45 24/48x mGig RJ45 (in select models)
Uplinks 4x 1 GbE SFP Fixed 4x 10 GbE SFP+ Fixed 4x 10 GbE SFP+ Fixed 4x 10 GbE SFP+ Fixed 2x 40G QSFP+, Fixed 4/8x 10GbE SFP+ 2x 40GbE QSFP+ Modular
PoE capabilities 370W (P, LP models) 740W (FP models) 370W (P, LP models) 740W (FP models) 370W (P, LP models) 740W (FP models) 370W (P, LP models) 740W (24 port, FP models) 740W (24 port, X2 models) 740W (48 port, X2 models) 830W (24 port models) 822W (48 port models)
Power configuration Internal Optional RPS Internal Optional RPS Modular Redundant PSU optional Modular Redundant PSU optional Removable PSU Removable PSU Modular 80 Plus Platinum PSU
Stacking capabilities Compatible with MS225 80G physical + virtual Compatible with MS210 80G physical + virtual 80G physical + virtual 160G physical + virtual 400G physical + virtual Compatible only with MS390 480G physical + virtual
Routing capabilities Static only DHCP relay Static only DHCP relay Static + dynamic1 DHCP server + relay WarMSpare (VRRP) Static + dynamic2 DHCP server + relay WarMSpare (VRRP) Static + dynamic DHCP server + relay Static + dynamic DHCP server + relay
Models MS210-24-HW MS210-24P-HW MS210-48-HW MS210-48LP-HW MS210-48FP-HW MS225-24-HW MS225-24P-HW MS225-48-HW MS225-48LP-HW MS225-48FP-HW MS250-24-HW MS250-24P-HW MS250-48-HW MS250-48LP-HW MS250-48FP-HW MS350-24-HW MS350-24P-HW MS350-24X-HW MS350-48-HW MS350-48LP-HW MS350-48FP-HW MS355-24X-HW MS355-24X2-HW MS355-48X-HW MS355-48X2-HW MS390-24-HW MS390-24P-HW MS390-24U-HW MS390-24UX-HW MS390-48-HW MS390-48P-HW MS390-48U-HW MS390-48UX-HW MS390-48UX2-HW

Meraki Aggregation Switching Models

Specification MS410 MS425 MS450
Usage 1G fiber aggregation 10G fiber aggregation 1G fiber aggregation
Interface 16/32x GbE SFP 16/32x 10 GbE SFP+ 12x 40 GbE QSFP+
Uplinks 2x 10GbE SFP+ (MS410-16), 4x 10GbE SFP+ (MS410-32) 2x 40 GbE QSFP+ 2x 100 GbE QSFP28
Power configuration Modular Redundant PSU optional (sold separately) Modular Redundant PSU optional (sold separately) Modular Redundant PSU optional (sold separately)
Stacking capabilities 160G physical + virtual Front-port 160G + virtual Front-port 160G + virtual
Routing capabilities Static + dynamic DHCP server + relay WarMSpare (VRRP) Static + dynamic DHCP server + relay WarMSpare (VRRP) Static + dynamic DHCP server + relay WarMSpare (VRRP)
Models MS410-16-HW MS410-32-HW MS425-16-HW MS425-32-HW MS450-12-HW

FAQ

What model do I need based on my deployment size?

  • Compact: MS120-8 – Ideal for small offices or home offices where space and power efficiency are crucial.
  • Small Office or Branch: MS120 and MS125 – Suitable for small to medium-sized offices or branch locations requiring robust performance.
  • Branch or Small Campus: MS210 and MS225 – Designed for branch offices or small campuses that need advanced features and scalability.
  • Branch or Campus: MS250 – Perfect for larger branch offices or campus environments needing higher performance and additional features.
  • Campus and Multigigabit: MS350 – Ideal for large campuses requiring multigigabit speeds and extensive feature sets.
  • High-Speed Fiber Aggregation: MS410 and MS425 – Best for high-speed fiber aggregation needs in large enterprise deployments.
I manage data for a school district in the suburbs. What is the best switch for me?

Mid-tier switches like the MS220 and MS225 series are well-suited for managing data in small campuses and school districts. They offer the right balance of performance and scalability to handle the needs of educational environments.

For large corporations with high-demand functions, enterprise-grade switches such as the MS410 and MS425 families are ideal. They provide robust performance, high-speed connectivity, and advanced features necessary for managing extensive global networks.

For small, low-demand operations like a family-owned restaurant, lower-tier switches such as the MS120 and MS125 options are suitable. They offer the necessary performance and ease of management to support digital operations efficiently.

The MS210, MS225, MS250, MS350, MS410, and MS425 series support physical stacking. This feature allows for seamless scalability and improved performance in larger network deployments.

Compact switches are small, efficient, and fanless, making them ideal for single-use deployments like home offices. They connect to an external power supply unless upgraded to the MS120-8 FP model, which offers additional features and flexibility.

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