Cisco Meraki MS220-48 vs MS120-48
The MS220-48 is an end-of-support 48-port Layer 2 access switch; the MS120-48 is its current cloud-managed replacement. The MS120-48 covers the same 48-port GbE access role with four 1G SFP uplinks and supported firmware, making it the standard migration target.
Cisco Meraki MS220-48
Legacy Layer 2 cloud-managed 48-port Gigabit access switch.
- 48x 1 GbE RJ45 access ports
- 4x SFP/SFP+ uplinks (1G/10G)
- Physical + virtual stacking (MS225 compatible)
- End of sale and past end-of-support
Cisco Meraki MS120-48
Current entry Layer 2 cloud-managed 48-port Gigabit access switch.
- 48x 1 GbE RJ45 access ports
- 4x 1 GbE SFP fixed uplinks
- Virtual stacking via Meraki dashboard
- Current platform with active firmware support
Cisco Meraki MS220-48 vs Cisco Meraki MS120-48: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Meraki MS220-48 | Cisco Meraki MS120-48 |
|---|---|---|
| Access ports | 48x 1 GbE RJ45 | 48x 1 GbE RJ45 |
| Uplinks | 4x SFP/SFP+ (1G/10G) | 4x 1 GbE SFP |
| Layer | Layer 2 | Layer 2 |
| PoE | Non-PoE (PoE on P/FP variants) | Non-PoE (PoE on LP/FP variants) |
| Stacking | Physical (80G) + virtual | Virtual stacking only |
| Switching capacity | Up to 176 Gbps fabric (family) | 104 Gbps |
| Jumbo frames | 9,578 bytes | 9,216 bytes |
| Management | Meraki cloud dashboard | Meraki cloud dashboard |
| Lifecycle status | End of support | Current / shipping |
| Warranty | Lifetime hardware | Lifetime hardware |
Choose Cisco Meraki MS220-48 if
There is no reason to buy the MS220-48 today; it is past end-of-support with no firmware or security patches. Retain it only until replacement units are deployed.
Choose Cisco Meraki MS120-48 if
Choose the MS120-48 as the supported, like-for-like 48-port Layer 2 access switch where 1G uplinks are sufficient and you do not need physical stacking. It ships with current firmware and a lifetime warranty.
Verdict
Migrate from the MS220-48 to the MS120-48. The MS220-48 is past end-of-support and unpatched, while the MS120-48 fills the identical 48-port access role on current firmware. If your aggregation needs 10G uplinks or physical stacking, choose the MS210-48 instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Meraki MS220-48 still supported?
No. The MS220 series hit end-of-support in July 2024, so the MS220-48 no longer receives firmware or security updates and should be replaced.
What is the replacement for the Meraki MS220-48?
The MS120-48 is the direct cloud-managed 48-port Layer 2 successor. For 10G SFP+ uplinks or physical stacking, step up to the MS210-48.
What is the difference between MS120-48 and MS120-48FP?
The base MS120-48 is non-PoE. The MS120-48LP provides 370W PoE budget and the MS120-48FP provides 740W, matching the high PoE budget that MS220-48FP customers expect.
Does the MS120-48 support 10G uplinks?
No. The MS120 series uplinks are 4x 1 GbE SFP. If you need 10G aggregation uplinks like some MS220 deployments used, the MS210-48 is the right migration target.
More Meraki MS comparisons
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