Big Switch Networks vs Meraki SD-WAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Big Switch Networks
Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)
5th
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
Network Packet Broker (NPB) (4th)
Meraki SD-WAN
Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
61
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2024, in the Software Defined Networking (SDN) category, the mindshare of Big Switch Networks is 2.8%, down from 5.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki SD-WAN is 36.1%, up from 27.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Defined Networking (SDN)
Unique Categories:
Network Packet Broker (NPB)
5.6%
No other categories found
 

Featured Reviews

Jason Best - PeerSpot reviewer
Sep 12, 2022
A flexible solution that can be integrated with third-party solutions whilst maintaining its automated nature
I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation. Meaning, having an active-active data center with multiple entrance-exit points. I think that feature could be improved to provide a kind of anycast gateway solution into the functionality that would make it a lot more flexible and versatile. Maybe also making the solution a bit more like the NSX-T from VMware, more on the logical part of the solution, like micro-segmentation and the ability to have a distributed firewall across the whole solution, to implement it in an easier way than they currently do with the security aspect of the solution.
CS
Feb 20, 2024
Offers an effective, user-friendly solution that's particularly well-suited for small business deployments
It is effective and easy to set up, although a bit expensive, but it gets the job done with a simple configuration. However, Meraki isn't as flexible for more unique needs but works excellently within its defined scope. I'd like to see improvements in the client VPN area. Currently, we use L2TP over IPSec, which, while widely supported, can be buggy on Windows due to Microsoft's implementation, not Meraki's. Cisco's AnyConnect is an alternative, but it's proprietary. An open-source option like WireGuard or TailScale, especially WireGuard for compliance reasons, would be a valuable addition to Meraki's offerings. WireGuard would be a perfect fit due to its simplicity and set-and-forget configuration

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"What I liked about the solution is the quick and easy way you can build a network data center fabric."
"Meraki SD-WAN is user friendly."
"The solution is pretty reliable."
"What I found most valuable in Meraki SD-WAN is its simplicity. I also like its manageability."
"The solution is very stable."
"The solution has a great UI."
"The features of SD-WAN are very appealing because you have a centralized dashboard and multiple options to terminate. You have an internet leased line, which means that you can connect your broadband and 3G and 4G cellular networks on the same router. This makes it easy for us to manage everything on a single dashboard. That is, you can integrate multiple stacks in such a way that you do not have to maintain any other dashboard. You get single-pane-of-glass accessibility with Meraki."
"This is a high availability solution that is easy to configure and has a nice GUI."
"Meraki makes you believe that anything is possible."
 

Cons

"I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation."
"The solution could be improved if it added more features, especially monitoring and reporting features."
"There could be more options for integration between other devices — sort of being able to more easily make everything integrated in one solution."
"I think they should enhance the security."
"Meraki is more or less intelligent load balancing, although a lot of features are missing that our SD-WAN solutions will have."
"The solution needs to enact more advanced protections."
"The solution needs a multi-use provider portal."
"I would like improved stability in Meraki SD-WAN."
"I'm not too familiar with the Meraki environment, but I suppose more automation is always a good thing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost depends on the number of switches that are going to be licensed to run the software."
"The solution is a bit expensive when compared to other products."
"The price of Meraki SD-WAN could improve, it is expensive when compared to other solutions on the market, such as Aruba."
"The price of this solution is good, it is not expensive."
"The pricing is reasonable and we can choose the software or the feature."
"Pricing is a significant concern for me. Amongst all the firewall brands, Cisco is one of the most expensive options. Despite its reputation and security features, many customers opt for other brands, such as SonicWall because of their lower prices. These other brands offer similar features to Cisco but at a lower cost. Cisco's pricing is something that could be improved to attract more customers. The brand has a good reputation, but when it comes to budgeting and pricing, it is not always the first choice."
"One of the most valuable aspects of Meraki SD-WAN is the price. It is highly cost-effective."
"The licenses cost a fortune."
"Any license you buy until January 2021 gets you an extra year for that purchase."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
22%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Retailer
6%
Construction Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Big Switch Networks?
What I liked about the solution is the quick and easy way you can build a network data center fabric.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Big Switch Networks?
The licensing cost depends on the number of switches that are going to be licensed to run the software. I wasn't on the commercial side of this project, so I don't really have a lot of details, but...
What needs improvement with Big Switch Networks?
I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation. Meaning, having an active-active data center with multiple entrance-exit poin...
What do you like most about Meraki SD-WAN?
The auto VPN feature is important because it automates many tasks, making things simpler and faster. It helps with setting up devices and changing configurations without manual effort.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki SD-WAN?
Regarding pricing, Meraki SD-WAN is quite competitive, especially compared to solutions like Fortinet. However, it's essential to consider that Meraki requires cloud orchestration, which adds to th...
What needs improvement with Meraki SD-WAN?
The tool has challenges with features like multiple-link support, which currently only supports up to three links. Additionally, it doesn't offer router integration, and forward error correction is...
 

Learn More

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

A10 Networks, Edge-Core Networks, Blue Coat Systems, BlueData, Broadcom Corporation, Canonical, Check Point Software Technologies, Citrix, Dell, FireEye, Garland, Hortonworks, Mirantis, Nexenta, Riverbed
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