As mentioned, Cisco has multiple switching product lines, including Catalyst, Nexus, and Meraki, which are designed to solve specific use cases. It is essential to consider factors such as network size, deployment complexity, budget, available IT resources, and your unique network challenges when choosing the right combination of Catalyst, Nexus, and Meraki switches. Catalyst switches have become the de facto standard for complex deployments that need advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features. Cisco now offers flexibility in managing its Catalyst series switches. You can choose between on-premises management or cloud-based management using the Meraki platform.
Meraki switches are designed for automation and scalability, making them an excellent choice for rapid and efficient network deployments or refreshes. Meraki switches are a clear choice for deployment in a distributed environment such as remote sites or branch offices, where cloud management and simplified deployment are advantageous. Their cloud-managed nature allows for zero-touch provisioning: you can preconfigure switches in the Dashboard before they even arrive on site. Once they’re plugged in, they automatically download their configurations from the cloud. This means that deploying or replacing Meraki switches can be done without needing highly technical staff on site, and without the time-consuming, manual configuration that traditional switches often require. Additionally, features like Virtual Stacking allow you to manage switch ports in bulk, even across multiple switches, further simplifying management and deployment. All these features make Meraki switches a great option for quickly refreshing old switches and scaling your network.
Using both Cisco Catalyst and Meraki switches in the same campus LAN can bring maximum value and benefits from each product line. For a brownfield project with complex requirements, such as multiple routing protocols and considerations like large TCAM tables, backplane capacity, CPU, and memory, a recommendation could be a combination of Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches at the core, alongside Meraki switches handling Layer 2 traffic, as illustrated in Figure 7-5. Deploying Meraki switches at the access and distribution layers can offer greater visibility and insight into network performance and overall network health. Changes in network configuration, possible misconfigurations, and alerts often occur on switches closer to connected devices, access points, and users. The cloud-based Meraki platform provides intelligent monitoring, configuration management, and automation tools to address these challenges effectively.
Figure 7-5 Example Hybrid Cisco Switch Deployment
The Dashboard also offers centralized management for Cisco Catalyst switches. This allows network administrators to view and manage all their Catalyst switches, like any other Meraki switches, from a single pane of glass, regardless of their geographical location, providing real-time monitoring capabilities and automate the process of security updates on Catalyst through the use of Meraki’s cloud managed update process.
For visibility, Meraki features like network topology visualization, traffic analysis, and device health monitoring can provide valuable insights into the Catalyst network and aid in proactive management.