We've been moving from Cisco switches and Ubiquiti APs toward an all-Meraki setup, but new leadership has us reconsidering. A full Ubiquiti refresh appears to cost about the same as replacing a handful of switches and the remaining APs with Meraki.
We have around 48 switches, 60 APs, and a lot of fiber. Is an all-Ubiquiti network reasonable at that scale, or are there drawbacks we're missing?
It's a reasonable option to evaluate. Networks of that size and larger can run on UniFi, and the savings may let you refresh more equipment at once rather than stretching the replacement cycle.
Compare the full costs, though. Include licensing, replacement hardware, spares, support, and the staff time needed to manage each setup. A cheaper refresh is less compelling if it creates more work than your team can absorb.
Start with the switching requirements, not the AP count. Check which specific models support the fiber connections, uplink speeds, power requirements, and redundancy you need.
Stacking and dual power supplies aren't available on most UniFi switches, so don't assume a replacement will have the same failure behavior as your current gear. Map out how each switch closet connects, how you would handle a failed uplink or switch, and how quickly a spare could be installed. Also leave enough port capacity for growth and failures.
6x+tramclip_538:
How would you handle closets where the existing switches are stacked?
Support is the tradeoff I'd look at hardest. Meraki support may be more responsive, while a lower-cost Ubiquiti setup can put more of the troubleshooting and replacement burden on your own team.
Work out what happens if a core switch fails overnight. Who diagnoses it, where is the spare, and what response time does the organization actually need? Check the support options and terms for the exact equipment before deciding.
You don't have to make it all one brand. Keeping or returning to UniFi for wireless while using different switches is a valid middle ground if the switching features or support are a better fit elsewhere. You'd give up some management consolidation, but that may be worth it.
If this spans multiple sites, test the management workflow before buying everything. UniFi's ability to keep configurations consistent across sites may not match what you expect from Meraki, especially for a large number of locations.
Try a representative pilot with switches, APs, and fiber uplinks. Include a configuration change across sites and a recovery from a failed device. That should reveal more than a dashboard demo will.
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7e!buscheck_592:
The spare hardware angle is appealing. The price difference could leave room to keep replacement switches on hand.