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Shubham Chandra - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution Architect at HCLSoftware
Real User
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Offers advanced security and centralized management for enterprise networks
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Catalyst Center was flexible in terms of scalability, offering advanced security features and reliable performance."
  • "Some features in terms of security should be there, especially in threat detection. Cisco Catalyst Center lacked intelligence in this area and required reliance on third-party appliances like firewalls or threat protection devices."

What is our primary use case?

I am more into sales, and my role was to sell Cisco Catalyst Center switches to end customers. Our clients were from different verticals that needed high-speed connectivity for large enterprise networks, and we used to position Cisco Catalyst Center switches for them.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Catalyst Center was flexible in terms of scalability, offering advanced security features and reliable performance. We used to position it during our sales cycle due to its scalability, advanced security features, and reliability. Additionally, it provided centralized management and ease of management through Cisco DNA center, aiding in the overall monitoring and configuration, which was beneficial for managing the entire network environment.

What needs improvement?

Some features in terms of security should be there, especially in threat detection. Cisco Catalyst Center lacked intelligence in this area and required reliance on third-party appliances like firewalls or threat protection devices. There should be some improvements in security features to enhance threat detection capabilities.

For how long have I used the solution?

I worked with Cisco Catalyst Center for almost four to five years.
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Catalyst Center is scalable and quite flexible, allowing for specific model choices like the 9,000 or 2,000 series based on the clients' performance requirements and bottlenecks.

How are customer service and support?

I contacted Cisco's support team almost four to five years ago, and their support was excellent.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What was our ROI?

We assessed customers’ environments, identified performance demands and pain points, and positioned the appropriate Cisco Catalyst Center model to fit, potentially leading to performance improvements and better return on investment.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Cisco Catalyst Center nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
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Premnath Jaganathan - PeerSpot reviewer
Product Manager at Uop Ipl
Real User
Top 5
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Offers robust monitoring and management for large enterprises
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Catalyst switches are reliable and stable."
  • "There is room for improvement in introducing auto-heal AI capabilities. In the current setup, incidents are always reactionary, and it would be beneficial if Cisco Catalyst Center could proactively handle issues such as bandwidth crunches and packet drops."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use Cisco Catalyst Center for monitoring large enterprises. It offers an additional option to tools like SolarWinds to monitor the Cisco estate specifically. It provides features like observability and management of the network.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco Catalyst Center is its dual functionality of observability and management. Unlike SolarWinds, which provides only network observability, Cisco Catalyst Center offers both management and monitoring capabilities. This dual functionality is crucial for monitoring large enterprises, providing a robust solution for IT teams.

What needs improvement?

There is room for improvement in introducing auto-heal AI capabilities. In the current setup, incidents are always reactionary, and it would be beneficial if Cisco Catalyst Center could proactively handle issues such as bandwidth crunches and packet drops. Additionally, the initial setup, especially when loading the software on new devices, is time-consuming and can be further improved by reducing the time required.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Catalyst since 2020.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

When setting up Cisco Catalyst Center, loading the software onto the hardware is time-consuming, taking at least 30 minutes. This time delay can lead to increased costs when hiring external technicians for installation.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Catalyst switches are reliable and stable. They provide a robust and secure solution for critical workloads.

How are customer service and support?

The support from Cisco is good. When purchasing a device, I get a specific type of support and credit backs. I have no issues with their support.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is seamless for using and managing Cisco Catalyst Center. However, the initial process of loading the iOS software on new devices is time-consuming. Reducing this time would lower installation costs, especially when most companies outsource this task and pay technicians by the hour.

What about the implementation team?

Most companies hire external vendors to install these devices, as few have in-house network engineers for such tasks. To reduce costs, it is better to have pre-staged hardware.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Although there are other solutions in the market, none are as stable and cost-effective as Cisco Catalyst switches for critical workloads.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

There are other market solutions, but none as stable and robust as Cisco Catalyst switches.

What other advice do I have?

One improvement that could be made is offering preloaded iOS to reduce setup time, especially in remote locations such as oil rigs, where sending a technician just to load iOS is difficult. Overall, I rate Cisco Catalyst Center an eight out of ten. The cost, while stable and robust, could always improve.

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
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Updated: February 2025
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Network Management Applications Report and find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Juniper, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and more!
Buyer's Guide
Network Management Applications
February 2025
DOWNLOAD NOW
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