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reviewer1501767 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Project Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Reliable, with good virtual LAN, and outstanding support
Pros and Cons
  • "This technology is a completely mature technology and I don't think anything needs to be changed."
  • "Scaling can be quite costly."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for LAN and WAN networking.

We are system integrators, and we provide maintenance services for our clients.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of this solution is the Virtual LAN.

This technology is completely mature and I don't think anything needs to be changed.

What needs improvement?

Scaling can be quite costly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco Catalyst Switches for ten years.

We are using the latest version.

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.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's an extremely stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's a scalable solution, but at a high cost.

Our clients have large-sized companies.

How are customer service and support?

We have contacted technical support. The support is excellent and they are efficient.

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

We are using other brands but the volume is very small compared to the Cisco Catalyst Switches.

Cisco has advantages in terms of stability, reliability, and scalability as well.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was complex but has since been simplified.

To deploy with one node can take 10 to 15 minutes.

This solution requires long-term maintenance.

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

The price is in an affordable range and everything is included.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise going with Cisco because they have an outstanding support team.

They can support up to the extent of installation. They have other services as well, such as RMN. 

Your network downtime is minimal, and your business will not suffer in case of any trouble in the network. I would definitely recommend going with Cisco only.

I would 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
PeerSpot user
Sales project manager at Saraha
Real User
Works well, easy to use, and stable
Pros and Cons
  • "These switches are stable. They work well and are easy to use."
  • "Cisco switches are expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We work on level 2 and level 3 switches to connect many branches.

What is most valuable?

These switches are stable. They work well and are easy to use.

What needs improvement?

Cisco switches are expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been selling this solution for about 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

They are stable.

How are customer service and support?

I have not contacted their support. Another engineer has contacted them. We have our own two people for support.

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

We also deal with the HP ProCurve switch, but it is not as good in Libya.

How was the initial setup?

It is not complex now because we have CCNA and CCNP engineers. We have two engineers who are certified with Cisco. Overall, we have three people who work with this solution.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented and finished a big project for a company. The company is still working with the same components that we installed. For deployment, I have two people with me, but in our company, we have a big team of 20 people.

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

They are expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend these switches to others. Cisco is a good company.

I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1781955 - PeerSpot reviewer
Hybrid Cloud & Infrastructure Operations at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
MSP
A stable and easy-to-deploy solution with quick support and DHCP feature
Pros and Cons
  • "I recently discovered the DHCP feature. There is a feature with which you can make the core act as a DHCP server, and it will distribute the IPs for every device. I discovered this feature recently, and it is very nice."
  • "Its price can be improved. Some devices can be very expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We are supporting many clients. Some of them have Cisco switches, and some of them have HPE. We are supporting their network and solving any requests. We are doing troubleshooting for them. For most of the clients, we do full support of the network, but it also depends on the service that they took from our company. Some of them don't give us access to their core switches, which is very rare. Most of the clients give us full access. If they need, for example, a new route, we edit the VLAN port configuration, port channels, etc.

We are also managing the wireless controller for all clients. We are supporting them by creating the wireless connection and changing the password periodically.

What is most valuable?

I recently discovered the DHCP feature. There is a feature with which you can make the core act as a DHCP server, and it will distribute the IPs for every device. I discovered this feature recently, and it is very nice.

What needs improvement?

Its price can be improved. Some devices can be very expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with this solution for around two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

If you follow the recommendation of Cisco, it is scalable. Sometimes, when there is anything wrong with it, we open a ticket with Cisco, and they recommend upgrading the IOS. 

We have many clients here. Most of them have Cisco. We have three clients with HPE. 

How are customer service and support?

They are very nice and very quick.

How was the initial setup?

Most of them are easy, especially if you have a stack solution. If it is arranged as a stack, it would be very easy to do an installation, and it also takes a shorter time than the standalone. One of the clients I worked with had a stack solution, and it was very easy. We just had to erase everything, put the new switch in there, and connect the stack cables and power cables. That was it. Sometimes, it can take the configuration from the flash.

The number of people required depends on the topology. If it is a big topology, you need two or three people. If it is a small topology, you need less number of people.

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

It is overpriced. Some devices can be very expensive.

Most of the clients have a contract with Cisco for two or three years.

What other advice do I have?

There are different categories of switches. There are Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches. In Layer 2 switches, 2650 is nice. It is a good switch. In Layer 3, most of the switches are good.

I would rate this solution an eight out of 10.

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
reviewer1125813 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Support Team Leader at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Great managed switches that are stable and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
  • "The scalability is good."
  • "The technical response could be faster in the future."

What is our primary use case?

I'm using almost six Cisco switches.

We use the solution for the LAN, Local Area Network, for the organization, or for business. 

What is most valuable?

The solution is very stable.

The scalability is good.

They are managed switches, and we can control and manage almost all of these switches - even individually, one by one, or through a central control center.

The initial setup is pretty straightforward.

What needs improvement?

The device age becomes an issue. For example, with the 2960 version, they're not supporting that one anymore. I find that the device or the model age is a little bit short. It is five or eight years. When we have a big organization, we have 100 or 200 switches, and suddenly it's out of support, end of support, or end of life, or whatever, it's difficult as we cannot change switches every five years. At a minimum, they should last ten years. That's better. To upgrade, it's a huge budget. Therefore, the age of the product itself is a little bit short. They really should make it longer.

The technical response could be faster in the future. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for maybe ten years or so. It's been a while. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is perfectly stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is pretty good. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. It's not a problem.

We have up to 600 or 700 users. It's not measured per user. Rather, it is per device. We have many devices on top of users.

We do plan to increase usage in the future. 

How are customer service and support?

I have contacted technical support in the past. They are fine, however, they are a little bit slow.

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

We did not previously use a different solution. We've always used Cisco products.

How was the initial setup?

The solution is easy to install for administrators and network engineers. People who are qualified in networking shouldn't face any issues. It's fine, it's easy.

The amount of time it takes to deploy a switch depends. If it is at layer switch, it will not take more than one hour, maximum, for each switch. However, if it is a core switch, it might take one day.

The size of the team you need for maintenance also depends. If we are going for an upgrade, we need a big team. However, if it is just for troubleshooting, only two engineers are required.

What about the implementation team?

We can handle the implementation ourselves. We do not need any integrators or consultants. 

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

We can use the switches without licenses. However, with licenses, yearly licenses, it is better, as we will have more troubleshooting options and control options, through a control center device.

What other advice do I have?

We use various versions of the solution. For the access layer switch, we have different models, including 2950 and 2960. Now, we are using the 9K series, 9200. The latest one. This is for the access layer. For core and distribution switches, we have 6500 and 4500 versions.

I'd recommend the solution to others.

I would rate them at a nine 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
Head, IT Division at USTTB
Real User
Easy to deploy, stable, and have been running without any problem
Pros and Cons
  • "They are stable. We haven't had any particular problem with them."
  • "Their price should be improved. They are a little bit expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We have the Cisco Catalyst 2940 Series switches. We usually use these switches for connections inside our office. We have a three-story building, so we have quite a number of switches to connect specific departments. These switches are mainly used to share a connection among computers in a specific department. 

What is most valuable?

They are stable. We haven't had any particular problem with them. 

What needs improvement?

Their price should be improved. They are a little bit expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using these switches for around five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

They are stable. We haven't had any problems. There was a time when due to power failures or outages, we lost some switches and had to replace them. Power is very unstable here, and we are experiencing outages due to heat.

In one of the devices that I am using, I notice lights blinking from time to time. I don't know whether it is related to the equipment, but it seems that the connection is not going through. It only occurs from time to time. I am yet to understand the reason behind this. It is not a big problem, and we are able to use it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Our network doesn't grow so much, and it has more or less the same things. We are a public university, and we have three sites. I am at one of the sites. At this site, we have about 60 to 70 people. We also have our campuses where some of these switches are used. All in all, we have about 1,000 people.

We are setting up a national research and education network for which we have acquired some Cisco Catalyst 9000 Series switches, which are new to me. When we start using these, I would have more to say about what they can achieve in terms of scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

We don't have external technical support. Unfortunately, this is not something that works very well in a country like ours. We have to rely on our own technicians. 

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

We have had the opportunity, although not so extensively, to use MikroTik. In my experience, they are easy to use, and they are cheaper. Our financial department opted for Cisco, but we are satisfied with Cisco. 

How was the initial setup?

It is easy. We haven't had much trouble.

What about the implementation team?

I can do it by myself.

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

They are a little bit expensive. We are a public institution, so we go through other traders, and sometimes, they put in their own surplus price because it is a government contract. Cisco products are expensive, especially when you compare them to Huawei.

What other advice do I have?

I would surely recommend this solution. We plan to keep using these switches. 

I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
IT Admin at UT Austin Office of Technology Commercialization
Real User
Streamlines operations and maintenance and reduces end-user downtime
Pros and Cons
    • "It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users."

    What is our primary use case?

    LAN switch for both core and access layers. It has performed very well in this area.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The ease of deployment and the support are associated with a reduction in end-user downtime as well as in the operations and maintenance efforts required.

    What is most valuable?

    Among the most valuable features are the support and the ecosystem. There is a lot of documentation and information, and many support resources are available.

    What needs improvement?

    It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot, or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    This is a very stable and mature platform with a proven record of reliability.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Catalyst is very a very scalable solution thanks to its Stack mechanism, as well as the modular functionalities of some models.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Cisco TAC support is very reliable and responsive. It has always been considered an industry benchmark among all IT support organizations.

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

    Business requirements were the driver for our switch to Catalyst. We needed an increase in port density and an increase in port speed, among other things.

    The most important criterion when selecting a vendor is the quality of the support team for technical issues.

    How was the initial setup?

    The setup of Catalyst, in general, is straightforward and easily done by following the documentation.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Extreme Networks, Juniper Networks, Dell.

    What other advice do I have?

    Consider your business requirements and only select the needed functions/features, to avoid over-complex solutions.

    I rate Catalyst a nine out of 10 because the product is extremely mature and reliable.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Sultan Mohammed - PeerSpot reviewer
    Enterprise Network Engineer at IE Network Solutions PLC
    MSP
    Top 10
    High-performance solution that can accommodate growing network demands
    Pros and Cons
    • "It enables fast data transfer rates, while offering stable and consistent network performance."
    • "With most of the Cisco devices and models, we faced a slight decrease in speed during the initial setup and while restarting the system"

    What is our primary use case?

    The main use case usually depends on the client itself. We are operating as system integrators with numerous customers and different software vendors. 

    What is most valuable?

    When deciding on the system, most of the clients check for switching capacity and Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very good solution for that purpose. It enables fast data transfer rates while offering stable and consistent network performance. 

    What needs improvement?

    With most of the Cisco devices and models, we faced a slight decrease in speed during the initial setup and while restarting the system. The performance of the solution itself is really good. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been employing this solution for a year and a half. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I would rate the stability ten out of ten. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability depends on the device that is used and the client's requests, but overall, it is a scalable solution that can accommodate growing network demands. 

    How are customer service and support?

    Cisco provides comprehensive support and advanced management capabilities, including remote configuration and monitoring options. We had a small issue with the data center so we had to engage with the tech team, and their service was exceptional. I rate it ten out of ten. 

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was not complex at all. The only issue with the setup is that it takes a lot of time for the system to be deployed. 

    What about the implementation team?

    The deployment of the solution is based on specific networking needs so the timing and the whole process depends on the complexity of the project.

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

    I would say that the pricing of the solution falls within the moderate to higher range. It is still quite reasonable for the provided service. I rate it seven out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    I highly recommend Cisco Catalyst Switches as they facilitate the creation of network segments and VLAN configurations for smooth traffic management and security. I rate it ten 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:
    PeerSpot user
    Kannan Raja - PeerSpot reviewer
    Senior Executive at a leisure / travel company with 201-500 employees
    Real User
    Top 10
    Reliable, has good support, is easy to install, and is well-integrated
    Pros and Cons
    • "It can be expanded."
    • "While it is scalable, it could be better."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Cisco Catalyst Switches for the office network.

    What is most valuable?

    It can be expanded.

    The integration is quite easy.

    What needs improvement?

    While it is scalable, it could be better.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Cisco Catalyst Switches for more than two years.

    We are using the latest version.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability is good. We have not had any stability issues with Cisco Catalyst Switches.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Cisco Catalyst Switches is a scalable product.

    We have 450 people in our organization who use this solution.

    We have no plans to increase usage at this time.

    How are customer service and support?

    We don't have any issues with technical support.

    When we report a problem, we receive the assistance we require.

    How would you rate customer service and support?

    Positive

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

    We also use ATI.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is quite straightforward. 

    The configuration is easy.

    The installation took less than an hour.

    What about the implementation team?

    You can do the installation yourself.

    This solution is being maintained by a team of three people.

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

    The licensing, and maintenance fees are paid on a yearly basis.

    You can also choose between a three-year and a five-year licensing fee.

    When you select the longest subscription period, you will receive a discount.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    No

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to others.

    I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a nine out of ten.

    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?

    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: January 2025
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.