Cisco Meraki Go. Is this a Unifi Killer?

In this video we take a look at Cisco Meraki GO. We go over the Meraki Go hardware, Dashboard and then create a few wired and wireless networks.

**Corrections the switch only supports POE and POE+***
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◼️Timestamps
Intro 0:00
Looking at Meraki GO AP GR10 0:46
Looking at Meraki GO Switch GS110 1:25
Looking at Meraki GO Security Gateway 2:12
Adopting the hardware 3:01
Security Gateway settings 4:47
Switch settings 6:23
Access Point settings 7:14
Gateway internet settings 8:32
Looking at setting wheel 8:54
Creating a wired network 9:27
Setting port witha vlan 10:47
Creating a wireless network 11:20
Putting wireless network on a vlan 12:53
Speedtest 13:20
Creating Guest wireless network 14:26
Pricing 16:24
Final thoughts 16:43

[seanwoods]

I've had some time to look at where M-Go is going and they have to balance a fine line between being affordable and stable while taking you right up to the line of where their Meraki proper picks up. Since the posting of this video M-Go has added many new features and even launched a web version of their controller. They also launched a new router that does greater throughput for location that have access to faster bandwidths.

The real focus of this product is for micro businesses and home use, this doesn't mean it will be a great for a home lab product, due to the fact that many of features required to make that happen would cross over into the Meraki proper lineup. So the answer is No this isn't a Unifi killer but it is a solid option for anyone looking for a solid set it and forget it network back by the Cisco Meraki name.

[sebastianusami]

The single reason I will NEVER use it, app only. I NEED a standard web interface of some kind.

[gswhite]

Great review as always! To be honest, the subscription model and the fact you have to control everything with just an app has not compelled me to throw out my Unifi kit :)

[Martin]

Tried both - With UniFi you get a lot of freedom, can and have to adjust several things until it works properly (Wi-Fi with VoIP Roaming for instance). Meraki Go works quite well out of the box. More the setup and forget approach. It depends how much you want to invest time wise or just want to fiddle around (great for learning purposes). A little similar to Android vs. Apple. Both are fine. BTW no subscription is needed for meraki go. It’s a one time purchase of hardware.

[jonathanturnquest]

Totally agree that configuration using the web browser is more useful.

[guyot]

Nice overview Cody. Well done! I've got Meraki & Unifi deployed at clients. While Im agnostic in the Meraki vs Unifi debate, there is something missing from the discussion. What's the cost to the client and/or you for the all firmware and software problems with Unifi? That crap doesn't happen with Meraki. Also the lack of real support from Unifi? Browsing Reddit and other forums while your client is offline is no place to be. Flame off please! Im just wondering if the Meraki vs Unifi debate is a bit like Office365 vs running your own Exchange server. (You can't justify an Exchange server in the SMB market.) Just wondering. Thanks again Cody. keep up the good work.

[camerongray]

Interesting to see although I can't see it really being usable except for in the simplest of environments (e.g. hospitality venue offering public WiFi as a step up from the ISP's router sitting under the counter). I imagine the difficulty here is that Cisco won't want to risk customers of their higher end Meraki kit moving to Go to save on subscription fees, therefore I suspect they'll deliberately avoid adding features that those customers may need (ability to manage from desktop, ability to change firewall rules.etc). It just feels like there's such a huge risk of quickly outgrowing it that it's only really usable for a super simple setup where you know it's not going to grow much.

I'm also confused around the type of person they're expecting to be setting this up - by running it on a phone and showing literally how to plug it in, it feels like they're targeting this towards business owners who would be setting it up themselves. However then for VLAN config, while it's not complex for someone with networking knowledge, it's very much just a case of inputting VLAN tags, feels like they could have abstracted this much cleaner for novice users such as picking a network by name when configuring a switch port or SSID.

[MichaStankiewicz-jjoe]

it is 2023 and it seems there is only few products in the lineup

[lu]

Kudos for Cisco including a POE port on the Security Gateway! That makes for way easier setup this with an AP connected without the need of a switch! Ubiquiti needs it on the UDM pro

[anko]

Thanks for review. Will stay with my RV260P/RV345p that has way more features than this. Hate to use phone app to configure network eqipmment.

[bondjovi]

The GR-10 looks like a really good unit.

[realburn]

Ubiquiti must be doing something good if Cisco starts chasing this market segment... But as someone else already said: for the prosumer/Small Office/Home Office market, Ubiquiti is years ahead. That, and the price tag coming with the Cisco equipment (even if this line is without licensing, it is more expensive than Ubiquiti). And: the amount of device types is very limited. No 10G equipment, no 48 port switches. My take on it: they will try to get small offices into this Meraki Go equipment instead of Ubiquiti, as, when the small office grows and needs more ports/higher speeds, it'll be easier to bring them into the "normal" Meraki equipment and from there on into full Cisco.

[jrtech]

I understand that it has an admin management portion unlike Unifi you have to have a dedicated email address for every location you have equipment deployed with Meraki Go. I would be extremely happy if I am wrong. The product is definitely missing global management from one Dashboard from multi site prospective.

[nemesis_]

Can’t imagine buying a switch with less than SFP+ option

[snoobcybot]

Meraki Go now has a web interface that you can use to configure from a computer.

[itgetit_tv]

I'm trying to find what port, protocol and IP/FQDN the switches need to use to reach out to Meraki-Go cloud provisioning server. I can't find this info anywhere. When using behind a firewall (with blocked outbound traffic) What ports need to be opened up? I put a support request into M-go support but haven't heard back yet. Not looking good for vendor support on these.

[elek]

Need to register? So it's a no-go!

[---GOD---]

God no. I mean... Me no.
Ubiquiti still wins. UniFi APs/switches + EdgeRouter is an unmatched combination.

[franciscopinto]

Nice video. I'm using unifi for about 5 years, and I was getting sick of the issues with the ap's... (signal lost, high latency, speed dropping)specially with iPhones and apple products.
Tested the UAP 6 and that was a mistake. I think the issue it's not the hardware, unifi controler it's a remarkable thing but it lacks of consistency.
I have about 30 sites on my controller and everything is running smoothly for 95% of them.
So now I'm using a mix of meraki go AP's and unifi switches, everything it's super easy, vlans work and I'm happy. I'm also using firewalla gold.
Surely they will make some adjustments on the app in the future.

[Seshiroz]

Does this have upnp? I've been looking for a personal network separate for gaming.