The use case is for user access. It's good, it's performing very well.
IT Consultant at L&M Alpha Solutions
Ease of configuration, the CLI, and the GUI are the key features for us
Pros and Cons
- "The main valuable features for me are the ease of configuration, the CLI, and the GUI."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Catalyst functions as a core and the main benefit for us is the performance, having multiple users.
What is most valuable?
The main valuable features for me are
- the ease of configuration
- CLI
- GUI.
What needs improvement?
My dream is to have the netflow in the port, for the administration and the utilization of user traffic, similar to the Meraki.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
830,526 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's very scalable. It's very easy to cover all the services.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We chose Catalyst because we are looking to the future.
When selecting a vendor, the most important criteria for me are the post-sale support as well as the price.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Catalyst is very expensive.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
For our company, Cisco's competition was Aruba.
What other advice do I have?
The configuration is simple and the support is good. The equipment for networking is the best for an organization. It's working very well.
I rate Catalyst at 10 out of 10 because of the performance and support.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Presales Systems Engineer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
DNA and SDN enable us to provide a full solution to our customers
Pros and Cons
- "If we are providing a switching solution, it's not just switching, it's a whole solution with DNA. That is where the whole concept of Network Management and Network Assurance comes in. So Catalyst plays a big role in putting everything together and providing a whole solution to the customer."
- "One good feature is UPOE. Another is having a built-in controller, the customer doesn't have to ask for another controller. For example, you get a built-in controller with the C650. And two-port is one of the premium factors from Cisco."
- "Dell switching is coming up with a solution where you can put your own OS inside their switching infra. That is where they are talking about open networking. We can show that our Cisco is also an open-source. We are open to different switching operating systems if the customer is willing to put it in. We can support multiple operating systems inside the switching infrastructure. It removes the hardware and software dependency on each other. That is where I think there can be room for improvement. Then we can talk about open networking and that is where Cisco can also come up with open networking access."
What is our primary use case?
The use case will depend on the customer's requirements. Generally, if they want the access layer, the 2960 works pretty well. If they are in the SMB market, we go with the SZ series which is okay. If the primary use case is more on the PoE side, Catalyst switches give the most. And with respect to two-port, the 2960 is better.
How has it helped my organization?
With respect to the technology, when we talk about DNA and SDN as a whole concept, that is where, as a partner, our pitching point is, where we can show our edge to the customer. For example, if we are providing a switching solution, it's not just switching, it's a whole solution with DNA. That is where the whole concept of Network Management and Network Assurance comes in. So Catalyst plays a big role in putting everything together and providing a whole solution to the customer.
Regarding security, with Stealthwatch, Catalyst switches play an important role as well.
When we talk to the customer, giving a full solution is important. From the switching to the network DNA to the security, I can deliver the whole thing with Cisco. That is how I position things when I go to the customer. We don't just go and talk about switches. We talk about the total solution that Cisco can give.
What is most valuable?
One good feature is UPOE. Another is having a built-in controller, the customer doesn't have to ask for another controller. For example, you get a built-in controller with the C650. And two-port is one of the premium factors from Cisco.
Something I like about the 2960-XR is that you get a lot of Layer 3 features.
What needs improvement?
One issue is that the competition is giving a lifetime warranty, whereas Cisco has a limited warranty on most of it.
Also, Dell switching is coming up with a solution where you can put your own OS inside their switching infra. That is where they are talking about open networking. We can show that our Cisco is also an open-source. We are open to different switching operating systems if the customer is willing to put it in. We can support multiple operating systems inside the switching infrastructure. It removes the hardware and software dependency on each other. That is where I think there is room for improvement so we can talk about open networking. Cisco should also come up with open networking access.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In terms of stability, Cisco is the premium solution in the market. It has a cost, but it gives you that stability. That is one thing Cisco has always delivered. That is without doubt, from my perspective and also from a customer perspective. They know that reliability and stability are prime features of Cisco.
How was the initial setup?
I really haven't found any issues with respect to delivering the solution. If you talk about security I would give you a different picture. But with respect to just Catalyst, there are no issues. It is totally straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing is an issue I have been facing, in comparison with HPE or Juniper. The Nexus series is out of the question right now. Scalability is more an issue on the pricing side and less on the technology side.
What other advice do I have?
I will always tell you to go with Cisco Catalyst 9000 Series. That is the one to go with because you never know - any day, Cisco could make certain devices or certain components of a switch end-of-life. That is always a concern for our customers: "Are you giving me a product that is not end-of-life?. Will it not go end-of-life in the coming years? I need that assurance." I always tell customers to take a device that is very new so at least it's unlikely to go end-of-life in the near future.
So Catalyst 9000 is the one we are positioning because it has a lot of new features, plus it is new in the market. If a customer asks, "Should I go with 3850 or the 9000 Series, I will say that they should go with 9000 Series because the 3850 is an older version and costs almost the same. The 3850 has been on the market for a longer time. You never know when it will go end-of-life in the coming five years or seven years.
I would rate Catalyst at eight out of 10, from my experience. I have mentioned, above, a couple of things that Cisco can come up with, technically as well as commercially. All these aspects lead me to rate it an eight. Those technical and commercial differences mean we have to work hard.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
830,526 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Director of Technical Services at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
This switch and its functionality allowed me to deploy a secure network connection in three months.
What is most valuable?
- Security
- Configuration
What needs improvement?
At first glance this switch looks exactly like the an Ethernet switch, I would recommend that there be verbage in the documentation on exactly what gbit connectors are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using it for eight years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
There have been no issues with the deployment.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability has never been an issue.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We've had no issues scaling it for our needs.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
It's great.
Technical Support:It's great.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We didn't have anything in place and needed a fiber solution.
How was the initial setup?
It was very straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We did it in-house with help from the vendor.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There were no other options looked at.
What other advice do I have?
Make sure you get the right connectors.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Solutions Architect at a comms service provider with 11-50 employees
Helpful support, reliable, and simple implementation
Pros and Cons
- "I have found that the protocols that Cisco Catalyst Switches support are beneficial for my customers."
What is our primary use case?
I use Cisco Catalyst Switches for the connectivity of my client's local area network.
What is most valuable?
I have found that the protocols that Cisco Catalyst Switches support are beneficial for my customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for approximately one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco Catalyst Switches is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found Cisco Catalyst Switches to be scalable.
We have five customers using Cisco Catalyst Switches.
How are customer service and support?
The support from Cisco Catalyst Switches is good.
How was the initial setup?
Cisco Catalyst Switches has a straightforward installation.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of Cisco Catalyst Switches could be better in general. There is an annual license required.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others.
I rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a 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
Senior Project Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Stable with good routing capabilities and a fairly easy setup
Pros and Cons
- "The product offers very good routing and ranking capabilities."
- "The product could offer more integrations with other solutions."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution specifically for our internal network - for our users and some servers. We also have servers on the cloud as well, although largely we are on-premise.
What is most valuable?
The VLANs portion of the solution is very good.
The product offers very good routing and ranking capabilities. It allows for better channels.
The initial setup is very simple. An organization shouldn't have too much trouble setting everything up.
We've found the solution to be rather stable. It offers good performance.
What needs improvement?
There aren't any features that are lacking from my perspective. It's pretty complete.
The solution itself is quite expensive. It would be ideal if they could lower the pricing a bit.
The product could offer more integrations with other solutions.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have had experience with the solution since around 2000. In 2010 I began on the sales-side of the product. Therefore, I have many, many years of experience with the product at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution offers very good stability. We've found it to be reliable. It doesn't crash or freeze. It also doesn't seem to have bugs or glitches that affect its performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability depends on the layer you are talking about. Layer 2 is not scalable, however, Layer 3 switches offer very good scalability.
We have about 50 people currently using the solution.
How was the initial setup?
We found the implementation to be very simple, and straightforward. It was easy. There weren't any complexities, therefore, we didn't face any difficulty when setting everything up.
Deployment takes a few hours.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing of the product is quite high. It's not the cheapest option on the market.
What other advice do I have?
We're Cisco partners. We have a business relationship with the company.
I'd recommend this solution to other organizations. Over the years, I've found that it works very well.
In general, on a scale from one to ten, I would rate it at a nine.
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
Network Engineer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
The system runs very well, we haven't experienced any downtime
Pros and Cons
- "The new series has lots of great features, it's really lovely. From a management perspective, or a policy creation perspective, which we are seeing in the Catalyst 9000 series it is great."
- "The current catalyst is probably outdated so we will most likely move to the newer version of the solution soon."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is system integration on the client end. We propose this solution to our customers based on their individual capacities and requirements. We have also been using the basic functionalities of the tool internally, very basic not to any high-end degree.
How has it helped my organization?
I personally have never faced any kind of issues. The system is running very well and does what I need it to do. If there are any failures or problems we can resolve them quickly. We are able to get things up and running again and accomplish tasks after a failure within a few hour's time. We are very happy with what we are getting from our Cisco Catalyst Switches solution.
What is most valuable?
The new series has lots of great features; it's really lovely. From a management perspective, a policy creation perspective, and a utility perspective; the functionality we are seeing in the Catalyst 9000 series is great.
What needs improvement?
The current catalyst is probably outdated so we will most likely move to the newer version of the solution soon.
Some additional features that should be included in the next release could include the ability to create real integration, standard policy pushing, and optimizations.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is very stable in all environments. We haven't experienced any problems.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is great. I have to say that the Cisco Catalyst solution provides the scalability directly in line with our needs.
How are customer service and technical support?
Our technical support experience has been very good. We have mainly relied on our internal team for technical support and maintenance.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past, we used a different solution but it was a long time ago and I really can't remember what it was.
How was the initial setup?
Since we are all certified engineers we found the initial setup to be straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation was done in-house.
What was our ROI?
I believe that our return on investment is excellent mainly due to the fact that we haven't experienced any downtime, no issues at all. This is one of the reasons I believe the production is a good solution; it's a sound investment. We are not losing any time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing and licensing are fine. To be honest we have found that this tool is able to meet all of our expectations at this time. This solution is agile and meets our expectations.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I can say that the Cisco Catalyst Solution is a very stable product. Technical support is good from our experience. Everybody seems to know and work well with the tool, including management cross-functionally it's a tool that we enjoy using.
I would rate it an eight out of ten. The only reason I'm not giving this solution a slightly high rating is due to the fact that we are seeing improvements in the new series of this solution. What we are seeing and what we are expecting are great improvements; the management team likes the new type of architecture we are seeing in the new series of the tool.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Founder and Lead Network Consultant at Airowire Networks
Supports our entire line infrastructure and is easy to use
Pros and Cons
- "Their technical support is good, one of the best in the industry."
- "To make it a ten they should simplify the licensing, add the cloud-managed feature, and it should be more cost-effective."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for the campus network.
How has it helped my organization?
It supports our entire line infrastructure. It runs from the line under the entire campus and is the backbone of the network. The entire business runs from this product.
What is most valuable?
The ease of use is the most valuable feature.
What needs improvement?
They should make it more affordable, improve the cost, manageability, and central management.
I would like to see a cloud-managed feature.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The catalyst switches are stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
They are scalable. We have are around 2,000 users. We use it quite extensively and we require at least two to three people for maintenance.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their technical support is good, one of the best in the industry.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward. The deployment depends on the scale of the network, because all of these devices, they don't work in silo, they work in tandem with each other. So it depends on the scale and size of the network.
What about the implementation team?
We used an integrator for the deployment. We had a good experience with them.
What was our ROI?
We have absolutely seen ROI. You will see ROI if you use this solution for a longer duration.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is on the higher side. Licensing is also complicated. Simply, there are multiple licenses required.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution a nine out of ten. To make it a ten they should simplify the licensing, add the cloud-managed feature, and it should be more cost-effective.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
Senior Technical Sales Engineer at Ingram Micro Inc.
It uses many protocols to ease operations, such as CDP and the interoperability of other Cisco products
Pros and Cons
- "It uses many protocols to ease operations, such as CDP and the interoperability of other Cisco products."
- "Perpetual POE is a valuable feature, because when the switch reboots, access points do not."
- "Services should be improved."
- "The delivery of the product lead time should be improved."
What is our primary use case?
Switching environments, as part of a LAN management solution, where the customer needs to build, operate, and maintain Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks for internal use.
How has it helped my organization?
It uses many protocols to ease operations, such as CDP and the interoperability of other Cisco products.
What is most valuable?
Perpetual POE is a valuable feature, because when the switch reboots, access points do not. This helps minimize infrastructure downtime and impacts internals.
What needs improvement?
- Services should be improved.
- The delivery of the product lead time should be improved as well.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price should go down instead of up.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Updated: January 2025
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