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reviewer1042635 - PeerSpot reviewer
Science Technician at a government with 201-500 employees
Real User
Is easy to configure and resolves our internal problems
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security."
  • "They should also have a graphic interface for the switches too without the command line."

What is our primary use case?

We have an Academy, we know how to manage it. We have the knowledge to manage it and it gives us security. We can configure the switch to resolve our internal problems. We can use one switch for five to six years.

It's used for our processor, a small data center, and we have our network with at least 500 users.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security.

What needs improvement?

In the next release, they should lower the price. It's too expensive. 

They should also have a graphic interface for the switches too without the command line. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for ten years. 

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 500 users. 

It requires us to have at least 10 technicians. Five technicians and other administrative staff.

In the future, we need to do disaster recovery in the cloud. We are working on-premise and our future is to use it on the cloud for our disaster recovery.

How are customer service and support?

We have a contract with a company that gives us support.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was not very complex. 

What about the implementation team?

We used a consultant for the implementation. 

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

Licensing is on a yearly basis. We usually spend up to $20,000.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend it because it's a good solution that gives you security and is easy to use.

I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight out of ten. They respond to all of our needs. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior Network Engineer & Technical Instructor at Improtech
Real User
Excellent for covering business needs, relatively easy to deploy, and offers good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "We have dealt with Cisco's technical support in the past. They were especially helpful and very polite. They are always there if we need them and their insights are always excellent. I would say that we have been satisfied with the level of support we've gotten so far."
  • "The user interface needs improvement. Meraki has a much nicer UI. Cisco could learn a lot by looking at them. It might make them a bit more user friendly."

What is our primary use case?

We don't personally use the switches; we provide services to our clients, including implementing the switches for them.

How has it helped my organization?

Catalyst switches solutions are great. For various customers we have deployed for, business operations run smoothly and without any complain. Troubleshooting and insights are clearer. 

Our customers love working with us. 

What is most valuable?

Catalyst switches support a variety of features from both layer 2 and layer 3. The fetaures supported depend on the model your dealing with. Though there are various common features such VLAN, MLAG, SDM, STP, Resiliency, PoE, Wireless settings, etc....which Stacking feature happens to be the most common deployment. 

Recently I laid hands on Meraki Switches and what I can say to love is its seamless network services to build high-performance networks. 

What needs improvement?

The user interface needs improvement. It might make them a bit more user friendly.

The one thing that I came across with the Catalyst 2950-X switch was that I wanted to alter the dashboard, so I connected it to the management interface. I gave it an IP address and I used the browser. However, as soon as I accessed it, I realized that the system of the computer from which I was accessing it didn't support that version. I was using Linux and the OS didn't support the switch. I had to get a Windows computer to access the switch. The dashboard was difficult to manage. It would have been nice if they made it obvious that it didn't work on Linux.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been dealing with the solution for more than two years now. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I wouldn't say that the switches are stable. It depends on the situation more than any fault in the technology, however.

If a customer approaches my company, we provide the best option for the client. Sometimes that's Catalyst. We do work to evaluate the client and their needs quite extensively before making recommendations. Most of the time, clients look only at the cost and not at the bigger picture. Many don't want to spend too much money. Sometimes, however, a better solution may cost more.

While a well-implemented product is typically stable, if a client says that they don't want to spend anything higher than X, you have to work within those parameters and explain what X will get them, which may ultimately be instability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Very scalable. 

How are customer service and technical support?

We have dealt with Cisco's technical support in the past. They were especially helpful and very polite. They are always there if we need them and their insights are always excellent. I would say that we have been satisfied with the level of support we've gotten so far.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Of course, we use and still use Meraki solutions. We didn't switch. Like I said, it is based on what customers need. 

How was the initial setup?

The Catalyst switches take more time to implement than Meraki. How long it takes varies for each organization. It depends on the size and requirements. We have spent up to a few weeks on previous contracts setting up switches for companies.

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

Catalyst licensing varies from a thousand of dollars to 20+ thousands dollars , however, that might depend on the model or version you choose. There are some switches where the licenses are features-based and you need to get a specific license for specific items if you want to use them.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We've looked at Meraki, among other solutions.

While we have used Meraki, it's hard to compare them to Catalyst switches. Meraki is quite good and agile. They've simplified a lot of their processes and have some features that make actions easy to do on Meraki. However, Catalyst offers much of the same features, and are possibly more feature-rich.

Meraki is very much more focused on business needs. While it may be good for their own business model, it doesn't encapsulate everything. Catalyst does a better job in that regard. It has many more features on offer. You aren't limited, although you will want to focus on a particular kind of feature list for your deployment or your integration into your environment.

Cisco happened to own Meraki solutions now. 

What other advice do I have?

Last year, we were Cisco partners, but something happened and Cisco made some changes to its partnership requirements. Right now, we are working on re-establishing the partnership with Cisco. We'd like to be partners again.

We are planning to be a distributor. For the moment, however, now that we are waiting on the partnership, we're more of an integrator. 

We have deployed on-premises mostly and also a hybrid version sometimes. It depends on what the customer wants and what fits best for their needs. It also depends on the model that you are talking about. On the Catalyst switches, as far as I know, the models vary from types of deployments and features. Some features are only available on applicable switches.

In terms of advice I would give to other companies, I'd say that I like both Meraki and Cisco. I don't really prefer one over the other. It depends on the situation which one makes the most sense. Both are very large solutions but I could recommend either.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. I really do love Catalyst switches. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

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

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Works at Thomson DeRienzo Engineering
User
Stable and have a long service life, but they are expensive and should be more cost-effective
Pros and Cons
  • "They don't ever fail and they have a long service life."
  • "The price is high and it should be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for networks linking SMB Offices and remote access VPN.

What is most valuable?

They don't ever fail and they have a long service life.

What needs improvement?

The price is high and it should be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for twenty-five years.

How are customer service and technical support?

The service is good.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I'm satisfied with this solution.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Certified partner agreements
PeerSpot user
reviewer1108698 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Administrator at a media company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Helpful technical support and highly reliable
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable and stable."
  • "The solution could improve by having a video IP feature."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Cisco Catalyst Switches for corporate and production, such as offices. We have two networks running and the second one is an Everts network and it is more specialized in TV video broadcasting.

How has it helped my organization?

Cisco Catalyst Switches has been very useful in my organization because we do a lot of videos. My company is a TV station. 

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve by having a video IP feature.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for approximately 30 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable and stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have approximately 500 Cisco Catalyst Switches installed.

How are customer service and support?

The support of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very good.

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

We are a large company and the price is reasonable because we have received a discount. However, the full price is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight 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
PeerSpot user
Coordinator of IT infrastructures at UMC Electronics Mexico
Real User
Stable and scalable product
Pros and Cons
  • "I've had no problems with the stability of this solution."
  • "An area for improvement would be the documentation and training on configuring this product."

What is our primary use case?

My primary use case is to assign VLAN or a port for VLAN on the main network.

What needs improvement?

An area for improvement would be the documentation and training on configuring this product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for four or five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I've had no problems with the stability of this solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is fine.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex because it was a common line.

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

Licenses are available on a three-yearly basis.

What other advice do I have?

I would give this solution a score of nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Network System Specialist at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Great technical support with very good scalability capabilities and good stability overall
Pros and Cons
  • "Technical support is always very helpful and fast to respond."
  • "The product should work on its pricepoints. It's an expensive solution."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for its switches. It's very similar to Dell or HPE - only much stronger. 

What is most valuable?

The product is very strong. It's much stronger than other options on the market, for example, Dell and HPE.

The software is excellent. 

Overall, the solution works very well and we don't have any real complaints in terms of its capabilities.

The product has been very stable and extremely reliable over the years.

You can scale the product quite well.

Technical support is always very helpful and fast to respond. 

The stability has been great over the years.

What needs improvement?

The product should work on its pricepoints. It's an expensive solution. It's the main complaint I hear from people.

For how long have I used the solution?

At this point, I've been working with the solution for seven or eight years. It's been quite a while.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's very reliable. We've been happy with its performance and its stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product can scale very well. When it comes to doing something like stacking - for example, stacking switches, of course, it is very simple to accomplish. It's very easy to stack two or more switches in order to expand the solution out. A company shouldn't have any issues with doing so. 

We have a client that has 800 users and up on the solution.

We do plan to continue to use the solution into the future.

How are customer service and technical support?

Technial support responds quickly. They're very good at being timely. They also have a very good forum where you can ask your questions if you want to. 

Overall, it's very easy to get in touch with them and to find the answers you need to resolve issues. We're quite satisfied with eh level of support they provide to us. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not too complex. It's pretty straightforward. For setting up the access layer, it takes about half an hour, which isn't that long. However, for the correlator - and that includes designing and drawing the map of the network and tasks such as that, it takes a few days.

What about the implementation team?

We're actually consulting and doing a project for a state company in Tehran, for more than 800 switches. We can assist clients in the implementation process if they would like s to.

What was our ROI?

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

The solution is quite expensive. There are less expensive options on the market. The pricing can be a pain point for some companies.

What other advice do I have?

I work often with the 3,000 and 4,000 series versions. It's not necessarily the latest version all the time.

I'd recommend this solution to other organizations.

Overall, we've been quite satisfied with their level of service. I would rate them ten out of ten. They've worked perfectly over the years.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Branch Manager / Team Leader at Bank Al Habib Limited
Real User
High performance, durable, and good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are performance, speed, and durability."
  • "In an upcoming release, adding SD-WAN capabilities would be a big advantage for our company."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution as a network switch in banking and financial environments.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are performance, speed, and durability.

What needs improvement?

In an upcoming release, adding SD-WAN capabilities would be a big advantage for our company.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for approximately 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have found the stability very good in this solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have licenses to have 24/7 technical support from Cisco directly. We have been satisfied with the support we have been receiving.

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

The price of this solution is reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

In the future, we are going to implement the 2960-X next-generation version instead of this legacy solution we are using now which will have some added benefits.

I rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer654672 - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner & General Manager at a media company with 1-10 employees
Real User
Advanced customization and manageability
Pros and Cons
  • "The operating system is great."
  • "They need to implement sFlow."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for a full range of layer two and only limited set of layer three services.

We are a backbone company and we provide a public service. The traffic of millions of users traverse Cisco switches, but they are not within our company. It's a public service.

We plan to increase our usage of this solution.

What is most valuable?

The operating system is great.

What needs improvement?

They need to implement sFlow, other than that, I can't think of anything else that needs to be improved — I am happy.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for roughly 10 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Catalyst Switches are very stable. We've been using them for 10 years without any issues. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We use an old model, they're not designed to be scalable. But in general, the Catalyst networking suite is scalable.

How are customer service and technical support?

For our application which is rather simple, we are using only 5% of the features that Cisco Catalyst switches offer. We haven't encountered any problems and therefore, we have not had to call technical support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used to use other products, but our CTO loves Cisco. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward and very fast. In total, the whole installation process took two days.

What about the implementation team?

We deployed this solution by ourselves. 

What was our ROI?

3-years

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

The price could always be lower.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Arista, Fiber Store, Dell, Extreme Networks

What other advice do I have?

I would absolutely recommend this solution to others. Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco Catalyst Switches a rating of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

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

Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.