Cisco Meraki MS MS42P Cisco Meraki switch

Brand: Cisco | Category: Network Switches

SKU: CSC-MS42P | Part #: MS42P | MPN: MS42P

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The Cisco Meraki MS42P delivers 176 Gbps of switching capacity with a forwarding rate that sustains line-rate performance across all 48 access ports at full utilisation. This throughput ceiling—approximately 262 million packets per second—means the switch does not bottleneck traffic between connected devices, a requirement that separates capable access-layer platforms from those that merely claim connectivity. For network engineers deploying branch offices, campus environments, or small to mid-scale data centre segments, the MS42P MS42P provides the raw forwarding performance needed to handle sustained east-west traffic without degradation.

Built on Cisco Meraki's cloud-managed architecture, the MS42P removes the operational friction of traditional on-premises management. Rather than SSH sessions and CLI configuration, network teams log into the Meraki dashboard to provision VLANs, apply access policies, shape traffic, and monitor port-level diagnostics across distributed locations from a single pane of glass. This approach appeals to growing organisations where IT staff wear multiple hats and cannot justify dedicated network operations centres. The dashboard integrates with existing Cisco Meraki deployments, creating a unified visibility layer for hybrid and multi-site networks without requiring specialised hardware controllers or on-box licensing tiers.

Port density and power delivery are equally practical. The Cisco MS42P houses 48 ports of 1 Gigabit Ethernet on RJ45 connectors, each capable of delivering IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at Power over Ethernet. The total PoE budget of 370 watts accommodates a full rack of powered devices—IP cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP endpoints—without separate power distribution. Four 1G SFP uplink slots provide escape routes to higher-layer aggregation or fibre connectivity for longer-distance trunk links, eliminating the need for external transceivers on the main access ports. The 1U form factor fits standard 19-inch racks and ships with mounting ears, reducing deployment time in both new builds and retrofits.

Network segmentation and traffic control are built into the switching layer. The MS42P supports 802.1Q VLAN tagging, allowing administrators to isolate user communities, IoT devices, and guest traffic at the access layer. Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol prevents loops in redundant topologies, while Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) bundles multiple ports into logical pipes for higher-throughput trunk connections. Layer 2 QoS with per-port traffic shaping lets operators prioritise critical applications—voice, video, or real-time data—during network congestion, a capability that older unmanaged switches cannot provide. Access control is enforced through per-port and per-VLAN policies, defined once in the Meraki dashboard and pushed automatically to the MS42P hardware.

Organisations ranging from regional offices to enterprise campus deployments choose the MS42P as a trusted workhorse. Systems administrators responsible for uptime appreciate the cloud-native management model and lack of on-box complexity. Network engineers value the sufficient switching capacity and uplink flexibility. IT directors see predictable operational costs—no perpetual licensing, no controller appliances, no CLI learning curve for junior staff. Omnixon Global stocks the Cisco Meraki MS42P and related MS-series platforms across our UAE and GCC distribution network, with technical support resources aligned to the region's data centre and enterprise infrastructure requirements. Contact our team for detailed specifications, interoperability guidance, or to request a quotation for immediate or staged deployments.

Interface and Connectivity

• 48 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 access ports with full IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at PoE support
• 4 x 1G SFP uplink slots for fibre trunk connections or long-distance aggregation
• 370-watt total PoE budget for distributed powered endpoint deployments
• 1U rack-mountable form factor with 19-inch rail ears and internal power supply
• 802.1Q VLAN tagging, RSTP loop protection, and IEEE 802.3ad LACP link aggregation
• Layer 2 QoS with per-port traffic shaping and per-port/per-VLAN access control
• Cloud-based management via Cisco Meraki dashboard; no on-premises controller required