Cisco Nexus Reviews

Name: Cisco Nexus
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.2 (104 reviews)

Vendor: Cisco

4.2 out of 5

104 reviews
96% willing to recommend

1,779 followers

What is Cisco Nexus?

The Cisco Nexus family of switches is designed to meet the stringent requirements of the next-generation data center. Not simply bigger or faster, these switches offer the following characteristics: infrastructure that can be scaled cost-effectively and that helps you increase energy, budget, and resource efficiency, transport that can navigate the transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet and unified fabric and can also handle architectural changes such as virtualization, Web 2.0 applications, and cloud computing and operational continuity to meet your need for an environment where system availability is assumed and maintenance windows are rare if not totally extinct.

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Cisco Nexus is the #3 ranked solution in top LAN Switching solutions and top Data Center Networking solutions. PeerSpot users give Cisco Nexus an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Cisco Nexus is most commonly compared to NETGEAR Switches: Cisco Nexus vs NETGEAR Switches. Cisco Nexus is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 58% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 25% of all views.

Helped 839,319 peers since 2012

Featured Cisco Nexus reviews

Joe Benítez

Systems Engineer at GAD Municipal de Guayaquil

Before Nexus, I used to have Catalyst 6500 switches. Those 6500 series chassis gave us a lot of problems. Too many problems, actually. And we had a Cisco ASA firewall blade within those chassis. And they were running outdated software. So, in fact, it was the firewall blade that caused us too many problems instead of the chassis. The chassis itself was working well and performing fine, but the firewall card was not suitable for our needs. That was one aspect. Additionally, those chassis had been in operation for more than five years. As we are a local government, we have a policy to renew hardware every five years. That's because we need to maintain all the hardware and software in the latest versions and keep up with the technology lifecycle of the technology we use.

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Vinayak Lokare

Sr, Manager- Network Solution Architect at Reliance Industries Ltd

Cisco Nexus provides a reliable switching platform for our data centers. It allows us to run dynamic routing protocols and helps improve network efficiency with features like MPLS. Additionally, it supports integration with third-party security tools, which is advantageous for our network architecture. Security-wise, we utilize Cisco's solutions while exploring other vendor options too.

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DeepakYadav1

Network Engineer at Craw Security

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a four to five out of ten. I rate the stability of the product as four to five out of ten based on the fact that I have checked the tool's features. I also know that there are many more options available in the market, like Palo Alto, Check Point, Fortinet, and other devices, which offer affordable, configurable, and scalable devices that I should plan to buy. Cisco is not providing tools for everything my company needs, but it is a good product. The market competition is high nowadays. Cisco is still handling some old parts. Cisco's old products make up approximately 67 percent of the devices offered in the networking industry. Despite the competition from products like Palo Alto, Check Point, and Fortinet, Cisco is not very scalable, but all its devices are updated regularly.

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Cisco Nexus mindshare

Product category:

As of March 2025, the mindshare of Cisco Nexus in the LAN Switching category stands at 8.5%, down from 11.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

LAN Switching

PeerAnalyst reports based on Cisco Nexus reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	LAN Switching	Mar 3, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Mar 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Nexus vs Cisco Catalyst Switches	Mar 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Nexus vs Aruba Instant On Switches	Mar 3, 2025	Download
Comparison	Cisco Nexus vs NETGEAR Switches	Mar 3, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
NETGEAR Switches	4.1	7.4%	88%	56 interviews Add to research
Cisco Catalyst Switches	4.3	29.9%	95%	175 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Cisco Nexus is valued for stability, flexibility, and performance. Users highlight features such as scalability, VPC, VRF support, modularity, and high port density. It integrates easily with other Cisco tools, offering automated management and seamless expansion. Users appreciate the stability and reliability, particularly in large data centers, emphasizing high throughput with low latency. Cisco Nexus supports extensive configuration options, making it ideal for complex environments that require robust performance and scalability.

"Cisco Nexus provides a reliable switching platform for our data centers."
"The seamless integration of Nexus in the data center provides a scalable and stable solution."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is to segregate the network."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Nexus requires a more user-friendly interface and integration with non-Cisco products. Improvements are needed in multi-contexts, programmability, and compatibility with newer tools. Licensing complexity and high costs are concerns. Users desire stability, feature parity with older models, and better monitoring. They seek enhanced automation, simplified command usage, and improved documentation. Scalability, GUI options, and AI integration for management are also areas that need attention, along with general technical support and training improvements.

"Cisco's security features are in line with other OEMs, however, for data center security in terms of layer seven security, we prefer to have different OEMs rather than relying solely on Cisco."
"The interface integration of Cisco Nexus with AI can be improved for better infrastructure management."
"In my company, we encountered some challenges since the network was not stable. The network is unstable, making it an area where improvements are required."

ROI

Cisco Nexus provides excellent return on investment by ensuring stability and reliability, reducing costs through automation and orchestration in ACI mode, and offering effective support that aligns with future needs. Many users experience fast ROI due to improved uptime and streamlined processes, although some see return after three years. The initial cost is justified by the reduction in problems and maintenance fees. Cisco Nexus often offers competitive pricing with significant discounts.

Pricing

Cisco Nexus pricing is competitive yet perceived as expensive compared to other vendors. Licensing can be complex, with options for yearly, three-year, and perpetual licenses. Some users report costs being bundled, while others experience high annual expenses ranging from $2,000 to $800,000. Many users express the need for improved support contract management and more straightforward subscription models. Despite its higher cost, many acknowledge the long-term value and robust features of Cisco Nexus solutions.

"In most cases, there is a need to secure perpetual licenses to be able to use the product. When I set up the product, there isn't just a one-time cost that is involved."
"Cisco Nexus is not cheap compared to Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Check Point."
"Cisco Nexus is not a cheaply priced product."

Popular Use Cases

Cisco Nexus is primarily used for data centers, providing reliable connections for servers with high throughput. It is utilized in core and aggregation switches, enabling layer two and three switching, and integrating with Hyper-Converged Infrastructure. Organizations employ it for enterprise networking, handling diverse tasks such as server interconnectivity, management of traffic, and virtual port channels in core network switches. Nexus also facilitates data center aggregation, supports VLAN extensions, and enhances network efficiency with dynamic routing protocols.

Service and Support

Cisco Nexus customer service is considered good, with most feedback highlighting quick and knowledgeable technical support. Multiple users find the support team responsive and effective, even during complex issues. Some experience initial delays at lower support levels, but find faster, more competent assistance once escalated. Partner support can be pricey, though overall reliability is acknowledged. A few note occasional dissatisfaction in skill consistency among support engineers, yet the majority affirm timely resolution of concerns.

Deployment

Many found Cisco Nexus's initial setup straightforward, especially those with prior experience or adequate training. However, some experienced complexity due to new technology or specific configurations. A learning curve was noted when transitioning from other platforms. Planning and familiarity with Cisco systems eased the process, although certain deployments required coordination with additional support. Complexity varied based on environment and feature utilization, but knowledge and pre-planning generally facilitated a smoother setup.

Scalability

Cisco Nexus offers excellent scalability, accommodating diverse IT environments. Users appreciate its ability to scale with minimal configuration, leveraging robust features such as modular design and flexible port options. While some find scalability tied to investment levels, many recognize its ability to handle large networks with ease. Certain configurations may limit scalability, yet users typically experience seamless expansion. Nexus serves thousands of users efficiently, proving reliable in large enterprise settings.

Stability

Cisco Nexus is highly regarded for its stable performance and reliability. Many users report no issues, citing impressive uptime, robust features, and consistent functionality. The stability is praised for maintaining operations without disruptions, although some mention occasional bugs and the need for firmware updates. Despite minor concerns, the stability remains a significant factor for selecting Cisco Nexus, with its ability to support demanding workloads effectively over extended periods and across critical infrastructure setups.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Cisco Nexus Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

25%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

University

Construction Company

Retailer

Non Profit

Training & Coaching Company

Healthcare Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Hospitality Company

Insurance Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Media Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Real Estate/Law Firm

Logistics Company

Sports Company

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Cisco Nexus customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins