I'm trying to buy Meraki access points, but nearly every supplier shows them as out of stock or several months away. Is this part of a broader Cisco supply problem, or are certain models and distributors still getting inventory?
4 Answers
This isn't limited to Cisco. DRAM and other component shortages are affecting laptops, servers, networking gear, and anything else that depends on constrained production lines. Prices have jumped too—for example, systems that cost around $66,000 last year may now be quoted at more than $160,000.
We had a similar experience with Meraki access points. An order placed in the spring kept getting delayed, so we canceled it and switched to Aruba. The replacement equipment arrived before the Meraki order would have, although Aruba lead times can also stretch into multiple months.
Our Aruba order still took about two months, but that was much better than waiting indefinitely for the original access points.
Meraki lead times have been all over the place. Some products show up in a few days, while others are quoted at 60–120 days, with certain switches and access points taking 180 days or more. Inventory can change suddenly, so the estimate isn't always reliable.
That matches what I'm seeing. One quote says a few days, while another model is pushed out by several months.
Some models are easier to get than others. A few access points and switches may be available immediately, while popular or newer models are heavily backordered. Meraki's move toward consolidated fulfillment may also be contributing to delays, along with seasonal staffing and compliance-related demand. The safest approach is to start projects at least six to nine months early and ask the vendor for model-specific shipping dates.
Our switches arrived about a month after ordering, but the access points took several more months. The quoted date ended up being surprisingly accurate, so getting a detailed lead-time schedule helped.
We need roughly 80 machines with 64 GB of DDR5, so the bill is going to be painful.