Cisco Meraki MX Series Comparison Guide
Cisco Meraki Routers & SD-WAN
Meraki MX Series Overview
The Cisco Meraki MX series is a versatile line of cloud-managed security and SD-WAN appliances designed to provide comprehensive network protection and performance optimization. These devices are ideal for a wide range of use cases, from securing small branch offices to managing the connectivity of large enterprise campuses and data centers. With the MX series, organizations can ensure secure and efficient connectivity to various locations, including public and private cloud environments, thanks to its advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities.
Fully cloud-managed, the MX series offers zero-touch deployment and remote management, making it an excellent choice for distributed networks. The integrated suite of security and assurance features, such as application-based firewalling, content filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, and Advanced Malware Protection (AMP), eliminates the need for multiple appliances. This all-in-one approach simplifies network management while enhancing security and performance.
Meraki MX Benefits and Capabilities
Advanced Security Features
The MX series has a powerful suite of security features designed to protect your network from threats. These include a next-gen layer 7 firewall for identity-based security policies, Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) with sandboxing and file reputation-based protection, and a SNORT®-based intrusion detection and prevention system. Additionally, granular content filtering and SSL decryption/inspection ensure comprehensive protection.
Intelligent Site-to-Site VPN
Meraki MX appliances support Auto VPN, which allows for automatic VPN route generation using IKE/IKEv2/IPsec. This feature is available on both physical MX appliances and virtual instances in public and private clouds, ensuring secure and seamless connectivity. The MX series also supports policy-based routing, dynamic VPN path selection, and MPLS to VPN failover, providing robust and flexible VPN solutions.
Unified Cloud Management
The Meraki dashboard provides a unified interface for firewall, switching, wireless LAN, and mobile device management. This intuitive, web-based dashboard offers template-based settings for easy scalability from small deployments to thousands of devices. Role-based administration, configurable email alerts, and detailed summary reports help streamline network management and enhance visibility.
High-Performance Hardware
MX appliances are built with enterprise-grade hardware, offering options for fixed and modular uplinks, including 1 GbE, 10 GbE, and 40 GbE ports. Features like wire speed, non-blocking switch fabric, and advanced QoS capabilities ensure high performance for voice, video, and data applications. Additionally, the MX series supports PoE, PoE+, and UPoE for powering connected devices.
Agile SD-WAN Capabilities
The MX series provides advanced SD-WAN features, including active/active VPN, policy-based routing, and application-layer performance profiles. These capabilities ensure optimized resource access, whether hosted on-premises or in the cloud. The MX also supports transport independence, allowing the use of multiple uplinks, including MPLS, broadband, fiber, and cellular, with automatic failover.
Simplified Deployment and Management
The cloud-managed architecture of the MX series allows for zero-touch provisioning and remote management. This simplifies the deployment process and reduces the need for on-site IT expertise. The Meraki dashboard also offers advanced troubleshooting tools, such as remote packet capture and dynamic network topology visualization, to help quickly isolate and resolve network issues.
Scalable and Flexible Licensing
The MX series offers flexible licensing options to meet various needs. There are three license tiers: Enterprise, Advanced Security, and SD-WAN Plus. These licenses can be mixed within an organization to provide the necessary functionality where it’s needed most. Additionally, Meraki subscription licensing offers a simple, hardware-agnostic purchasing model with term lengths ranging from 1 to 10 years.
Cisco Meraki MX Series Comparison
Desktop and All-In-One Models
Rack-Mount Models
Virtual Appliance Models
Meraki switches include all of the traditional Ethernet features found in modern enterprise access switches, including:
FAQ
What if I’m on the cusp of the client maximum for the model I’m considering?
If your client count is approaching the maximum capacity for a particular MX model, it’s recommended to size up to ensure optimal performance. MX devices should not consistently operate above 85% utilization. For example, if your office has 53 clients, opting for an MX84 rather than a smaller MX64-68 model would be prudent to avoid capacity issues.
Do I need the Advanced Security License?
All Meraki MX products come with a powerful stateful firewall. However, for enhanced protection, the Advanced Security License adds significant features such as content filtering, Google SafeSearch, YouTube for Schools, intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS), and Advanced Malware Protection (AMP). This license is essential if security is a top priority for your organization.
How important is web caching?
Web caching is crucial for networks with limited bandwidth, as it accelerates the loading of frequently accessed content. MX models 84 and above include web caching capabilities, which can significantly improve performance for clients frequently accessing heavy multimedia web content. If your network bandwidth is relatively low, upgrading to a model with web caching is recommended.
What do the W, C, and CW designations mean?
- W: Indicates models with integrated wireless capabilities.
- C: Indicates models with cellular failover and PoE capabilities.
- CW: Combines both wireless and cellular failover features, such as the MX67CW and MX68CW models, offering a comprehensive solution in a single unit.