Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Reviews

The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail.

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the cloud, and this differentiator simplifies network management. The controller not only manages wireless devices. It also manages security clients and switches, providing a single dashboard to manage multiple network infrastructures.

We use the solution for the office infrastructure to migrate from LAN to Wireless LAN. We also use it for IoT.

Meraki is far better than any other wireless solution. It is pretty easy to use. I can control any number of sites globally with a lean IT team. The product provides visibility into what the users are accessing. I can see where they are connected, what kind of traffic they are running, and why they face issues. The product has mesh, MIMO, and BLE. I can use the location tracker, too. I can also integrate Air Marshal to reduce interference.

Before the site is ready, I can configure the virtual environment. When the site is ready, I need to sync it up with the cloud. All the configurations will be live within three minutes. I can go live within a day. I can do the third day’s job directly on the first day. I don't have any bottlenecks when I need to upgrade my wireless controllers.

If I had an on-premise product that went down due to a power outage or natural calamities, restoring it would be very hectic. I would have to pay for a virtual license and add a server. If I put it on the cloud, I need to pay a huge amount for the egress cost, whether it is AWS or Azure. If it is in the Meraki cloud, I do not need to pay anything, and everything is under control. Even if the cloud goes down, it will not affect my productivity. The solution’s performance is much better than that of the other OEMs.

Cisco uses DNS for registration and similar functions, just like other manufacturers. The three-day UC protocol chipset from Cisco doesn't offer much differentiation. In contrast, other solutions provide more detailed graphical interfaces and attractive features in Policy Manager. For example, combining Aruba with ClearPass offers better positioning due to NAC and other functionalities. 

The multi-tenant solution needs improvement, especially in terms of speed. While it works, the graphics and call management could be better; sometimes, significant enhancements are needed.

When it comes to cloud solutions, Cisco has an edge over Aruba. Cisco’s LAN solutions benefit from open APIs, whereas Aruba’s offerings are more closed off. Cisco allows for more concurrent sessions and better bandwidth efficiency. 

They need to develop a cybersecurity solution beyond virtual machines and concurrent sessions. The pricing model should reflect a more comprehensive approach. It’s important to consider different factors and not rely on traditional metrics. 

The product's most beneficial feature impacting network security is the ability to provide centralized security management. It is simple to use compared to other technologies.

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN's management tools need enhancement.

The main company is a hotel resort with around 120 rooms. They have approximately 90 devices deployed throughout the complex, and they haven't had any issues with the streamlined version or established information.

Cisco offers a service where they provide internet access to clients. This allows for greater mobility and speed, and it's one of the features most people like.

I deliver daily corporate line services and guest services, along with BYOD services for our office users, totaling ten individuals, utilizing Meraki.

The solution ensures seamless connectivity as users move within the office. Six installed Meraki APs provide excellent coverage for around three hundred users, offering reliable speeds. 

Additionally, the system allows guests and users with priority devices to connect using their SAP ID. The traffic is managed through D and G controllers to meet the specified requirements for continuous connection and speed.

I've been working with schools for about 20 years. I previously worked in a school with four campuses and about one thousand students, where I managed all four campuses' wireless networks with Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN.

The solution's most valuable features at that time were the ease of managing on the cloud without having a server and the authentication using RADIUS integrated with the server on the cloud. It will be authenticated by MAC address, and access will be provided through that.