Mellanox Switches vs Meraki MS Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Mellanox Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
18th
Average Rating
7.8
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Meraki MS Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
5th
Average Rating
8.4
Number of Reviews
89
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Mellanox Switches is 1.4%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki MS Switches is 6.2%, up from 4.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
Unique Categories:
No other categories found
No other categories found
 

Featured Reviews

Anil Ergunsah - PeerSpot reviewer
Jul 20, 2022
Powerful hardware, reliable performance, and advantageous open-source OS
Mellanox Switches are used for spine-and-leaf topology in data center networks for top-of-rack devices, core devices for infinite bands at speed, and EVPN wasteland solutions. They're very good The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the powerful hardware and the software is open.…
PP
Oct 24, 2023
Simplifies the management process and allows the granular control of devices
Meraki MS switches are great for pretty much all SMB networks and most enterprise networks. However, there are some higher-end functions that larger enterprise networks with full access, distribution, and core switch stack may find limiting. One of the most challenging things to get used to is the delay in the time it takes for changes to be implemented. With a locally managed switch, you make a change and it is pretty much immediate. With the nature of cloud management, you make a change and it may take one to three minutes before that change makes its way to the device and takes effect. It's not a problem once you get used to it but when we first started working with Meraki, I found myself making a change and immediately assuming it didn't work so I would change it again. A little patience is your friend when making changes. They have a field on the dashboard that lets you know when the config is up to date so that makes it easy to know when you can start testing your change(s). I'm not sure if this delay could be reduced or not by prioritizing communication but it is by no means a show-stopper. They warn you when you are about to make changes to the uplink path of a device so you can double-check to make certain your change will not break the Internet access for the device.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The tool is very configurable because it runs on a Linux operating system."
"From what I've been told, a valuable feature of Mellanox switches is they're quite user-friendly."
"The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the powerful hardware and the software is open. They're using Linux operating system. You can do and install many things, and it performs well."
"The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the size, power consumption, and the vast amount of features."
"The most valuable features of this solution are its functionality."
"It is a very easy-to-use product."
"The solution is scalable and can accommodate as many devices as needed."
"I like that I can patch and manage them remotely from the user portal."
"Meraki MS Switches are amazing. Whoever built it is a genius. I like that it's a plug-and-play solution."
"It is easy to deploy, maintain, and update. It has been trouble-free so far. I am still a Cisco command-line bigot, but the web interface makes it a lot easier for our help desk to interact with a client. When the clients call in and say that they aren't able to connect, it takes the help desk 10 minutes or less to look at everything in the enterprise or location. They can look at the firewall, switches, or access points in the dashboard. That's why I like the dashboard."
"It is easy to configure and claim the switches by their serial number directly from the portal."
"This is a sophisticated product with easy configuration that can save time and effort."
"The most valuable features are the cloud management, the monitoring, and the visibility available on the report's facts on the cloud controller."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the interface because it is very simple and easy to learn, even for somebody who hasn't seen it before."
 

Cons

"The configuration is a bit different from Cisco, and therefore, for me at least, there's a bit of a learning curve."
"Mellanox Switches could improve by adding some features that can make it easier for integrating the switches in some managing and monitoring platforms, such as Elastic or similar software for monitoring data with the data center in a more holistic way."
"Mellanox Switches were easier before Nvidia bought Mellanox and then their new version of the operating system changed. They started with Ennui, and now they only use Linux. If they returned to their previous CLI it would be a good option for starters. The new CLI is more difficult to use but more powerful than the older one. It has its advantages."
"If you compare this solution with Cisco, utilization in Cisco is more popular and it is more friendly."
"The scalability is working fine at the moment, but there's always room for improvement. As of right now, I don't know of any improvements to suggest."
"It would be good to include the command-line access someday."
"Sometimes there's a problem with the pricing model they use. They should work to fix this."
"It can have better security. It needs more security enhancements, and in particular, a zero-trust element. If we could have external and internal users vetted in the same way as a zero-trust network, that will be handy."
"In terms of troubleshooting, if we get more tools there is an issue."
"The quote-building process is challenging and it needs to be simplified."
"The solution does not fit all use cases."
"Technical support hold times seem to be getting longer."
"Doesn't enable a local configuration without internet access."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Mellanox Switches is reasonable compared to other solutions. The price and quality ratio was very good. There is a one-time license purchase that is needed."
"The pricing is very competitive. The licensing costs are fine."
"It's an open-source solution."
"There is a license to use the switch ports of Mellanox Switches."
"When you compare it to other switches like HP, Juniper, and Ruckus, Meraki MS Switches are cheaper."
"The DNA subscription is a three-year minimum term."
"The Layer 3 switch is the most expensive switch."
"Securing licenses and devices for more than a year can make the product expensive. In general, the product is expensive."
"The tool is expensive."
"It would be better if they had a one-time purchase option instead of a subscription model."
"The solution is a bit on the pricey side."
"The price of Meraki MS Switches is less expensive than other similar solutions."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
23%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
19%
Retailer
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Mellanox Switches?
The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the powerful hardware and the software is open. They're using Linux operating system. You can do and install many things, and it performs well.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Mellanox Switches?
The solution is affordable. I rate the product’s pricing as two out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.
What needs improvement with Mellanox Switches?
The response time of the support could be faster.
What do you like most about Meraki MS Switches?
The most valuable features of Meraki MS Switches are their reliability and simplicity.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MS Switches?
I would rate the costliness of Meraki MS Switches at around seven out of ten. They are not cheap, but I find them to be a good value for the money. However, I would prefer if the prices were a bit ...
What needs improvement with Meraki MS Switches?
One area where Meraki MS switches could improve is offering smaller switch sizes for distribution switches, as not all networks require the standard 24 or 48 ports. Having more compact options with...
 

Also Known As

Mellanox SN2700
MS220, MS320, MS420
 

Learn More

Video not available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

CNPC, Korea Consumer Agency, Nutanix, Roxo Systems, StorPool, Atlantic.Net, INFN, StarWind, NYSE Technologies, Creative Consultants, ENKI
Cisco Live Milan, Hyatt
Find out what your peers are saying about Mellanox Switches vs. Meraki MS Switches and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
787,779 professionals have used our research since 2012.