MikroTik Routers and Switches and Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center compete primarily in the networking equipment category. Fortinet FortiSwitch appears to have the upper hand due to its seamless integration and extensive security features.
Features: MikroTik Routers and Switches are noted for their versatility and affordability, offering extensive routing features, a robust firewall, and traffic management without special licenses. Users mention the solution's high performance relative to cost and its flexible configuration capabilities. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center provides comprehensive network visibility, security integration, centralized management, port analytics, and advanced security features through FortiGate.
Room for Improvement: MikroTik requires enhancements in wireless solutions and UI/UX simplification, along with better integration with third-party systems and wireless controller development. Fortinet FortiSwitch needs improvements in UI, specific feature integrations, simplified switch management, and enhanced scalability and troubleshooting.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: MikroTik offers flexible on-premises deployment but lacks direct technical support, with users often relying on community forums. Fortinet FortiSwitch boasts robust on-premises and hybrid cloud deployment options, with more consistent direct technical support, leading to a generally positive customer support experience.
Pricing and ROI: MikroTik is highly cost-effective, appealing to budget-conscious customers by eliminating ongoing licensing fees, leading to significant ROI. Fortinet FortiSwitch, though more expensive, offers value through FortiGate integration, making it a preferred choice for users prioritizing advanced features and security integration.
The integration of Fortinet infrastructure, including FortiSwitches, is cost-effective compared to Cisco, especially when paired with Fortinet wireless solutions.
Technical partners provide responses within a day for any technical queries.
Customer support needs improvement in terms of speed and reliability.
On a scale from one to 10, I would rate the technical support of Fortinet an eight.
Their support team knows their product very well.
I sometimes need technical support from my ISP company, or else I gather information from YouTube.
When used in a dedicated Fortinet infrastructure, FortiSwitch scalability is better than some other switches, like Cisco, Meraki, or Arista.
Scalability is generally good, with transitions from gigabit to ten giga, twenty-five giga, and forty giga.
I would rate their scalability ten out of ten.
It's easy to scale MikroTik Routers and Switches; you can add more and have a cluster.
There is room for improvement as it sometimes takes over an hour to push configurations onto the devices from the management tool.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are very stable.
MikroTik Routers and Switches have very high stability.
Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging.
The commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point.
There is room to improve the integration between FortiSwitch and other third-party solutions, as challenges arise when integrating with different vendors.
The most important thing is maintaining and enhancing their strong security features.
It would be better for me if I could establish filter rules within MikroTik.
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
Pricing is competitive, although it's not the cheapest option.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are expensive, but they are the best products in terms of quality.
The main actual benefit that Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center brought to my customer's environment is secure connectivity while minimizing downtime from unexpected traffic or broadcasting.
This feature allows the switch's ports to be used as firewall ports, enhancing network security by enabling IPS and network profiling directly on the ports.
It allows me to create VLANs, implement security measures, and push configurations using a single tool.
They simplify the process of creating access lists, allowing me to understand my network's activities effectively.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are some of the best routers around, security-wise, followed by Cisco.
Product | Market Share (%) |
---|---|
MikroTik Routers and Switches | 7.2% |
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center | 1.9% |
Other | 90.9% |
Company Size | Count |
---|---|
Small Business | 16 |
Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
Large Enterprise | 4 |
Company Size | Count |
---|---|
Small Business | 43 |
Midsize Enterprise | 16 |
Large Enterprise | 9 |
With 10 or 40 GE access ports and a high-throughput backbone, FortiSwitch Data Center Switches are ideal for the top-of-rack (ToR) server or firewall-aggregation applications. The high-speed switching fabric is also well suited for enterprise network core or backbone network installations.
MikroTik Routers and Switches provide all the features necessary for network administrators to secure and monitor their networks and are suitable for companies of any size. The solution is ideal for creating Wi-Fi hotspots, connecting multiple servers, setting up firewalls and VPNs, and distributing bandwidth. MikroTik's user-friendly dashboard helps you interact easily with your hardware. With MikroTik's user interface, you can obtain real statistics by user or IP address and monitor bandwidth consumption.
Benefits and Key Features of MikroTik Routers and Switches
Reviews from Real Users
MikroTik stands out among competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its reasonably priced products and its user-friendly user interface, which makes it easy to work and communicate with its hardware.
Parameshwar P., a director at Navyug Networks, writes, "I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily. It’s effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware.”
Rodney T., the chief solutions architect at Tech2go Strategic IT Solutions, says, "They are very good at providing the bandwidth for multi-tenants and multi-dwelling units. We're managing Wi-Fi hotspots for hundreds of locations, and the speed and performance are quite there. They also have very cheap 10G products that come with really good and flexible software. They are way cheaper than the top brands, and they're able to deliver the same performance and capabilities."
A principal consultant at a tech services company notes, "The most valuable aspect of this solution is the combination of value for money. They're extremely cost effective, yet they provide you with an extensive feature set of things you can do across the board. Also, they're pretty reliable, as far as equipment goes."
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