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
Meraki Access Switching Models (MS130)
Meraki Stackable Access Switching Models
Meraki Aggregation Switching Models
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.
I am the CIO for a multi-billion dollar corporation. We have thousands of servers and routers all over the world. Which hardware best fits our infrastructure? 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.
I run a family-owned restaurant business with 2 locations not too far away from each other. We are transitioning to digital operation. What should we use to start out? 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.
Which families support physical stacking? 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.
What constitutes a compact switch? 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.