What is our primary use case?
It's our main platform. We centralize all network functionalities inside of our hospital network in two locations. From the data center to the distribution level.
In the past year, we have implemented this solution in two new hospitals. Arista is on the core and distribution layer, so our experience is approximately six core units and 36 lead switches of Arista and the pooling layer three overlays that they are providing.
We are using the most recent version, the release tracks had some overlap. Arista is suggesting a change to the release track.
Arista has been in our network since we started the new hospital building in August.
We are striving to exchange all existing hardware with Arista.
What is most valuable?
What we like most is its performance to price ratio. We also like the standard-based approach in contrast to other vendors in the network market, and the constant and timely support.
What needs improvement?
Some new features are needed.
Arista is technology-driven by themselves. At times they are limited by standards that are not formally closed.
I would like to see more integration with one of the providers from each intent-based network for compliance documentation and IT security purposes. For future development of the product, being able to manage the security or relevant paths with intent-based networking is important. The intent-based network is a management that is on our security level.
The intent-based networking management, together with the provider of these solutions that are already free, would be beneficial.
I don't worry that there is a time gap between finalizing as triple E standards before integrating with the future release.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using this solution for one year
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is stable, it is rock solid.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable up to a point where we don't have enough requirements so far.
For each location, we have approximately 30,000 clients, so approximately 60,000 total.
For the network, we are the IT solution provider for the hospital. The workgroup section has six staff members, but we will increase it to eight because we added more wireless capabilities and real-time location services.
How are customer service and technical support?
In a hospital network, you have to sometimes support old systems. For instance, patient entertainment with an old fashioned multicast structure, they seem able to provide us with the proper solution within two days.
They set up our environment back in California and they'll be able to provide us next Monday morning with a proper solution.
We would rate the technical support a ten out of ten. We can't complain and we are always surprised about the proficiency of the speed.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is complex because our environment is complex. The hardware setup itself is quite straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We had implementation support by a gold partner here in Germany who are closely attached to Arista. We never ran into any issues where we had to go back to another point.
What other advice do I have?
We are a publicly funded hospital in North Germany, so we are limited in what we would like to add to our infrastructure.
If you are looking for a future-proof solution, you just need to ask questions about the scalability and stability. You should do a proof of concept with Arista.
Get in contact with them to see how they solve problems. This is a beneficial experience. Even if somebody chooses another vendor, they should base a valid opinion about Arista.
I would strongly recommend this solution.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.