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Technical Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Stable, feature-rich, with good functionalities and the support is valuable and timely
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of this solution are the auto-complete functionality and the end-to-end functionalities such as routing with the channel."
  • "Because of the cyber attacks, they should focus more on VoIP."

What is our primary use case?

They are superior in their class, and there are different functionalities for different models.

We are using this solution on campus. You can roll-out the feature to anywhere from 100 to 10,000 users. You can link the main campus to the small offices and deploy the features.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of this solution are the auto-complete functionality and the end-to-end functionalities, such as routing with the channel.

The hardware has very good features.

What needs improvement?

It needs to be more secure. They have to find a more secure way of action.

They should have ways to stop the attacks.

Because of the cyber attacks, they should focus more on VoIP.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This product is very stable.

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

This solution is very scalable.

How are customer service and support?

Cisco technical support is very good. They provide timely and valuable support.


How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. 

The installation is quite simple and quite easy to configure.

They provide good examples that are available on the website. It's very easy to navigate to go through the documents.

We can design as per our requirements.

Depending on the features the deployment and implementation can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours.

What about the implementation team?

More technical guys are required for the deployment of the features and the testing can be managed by two.

A team of three to five members is enough to deploy and test all of the features.

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

With all of the features and when you compare with other solutions, the cost is much less.

What other advice do I have?

I can recommend these switches to others who are interested in using them.

I would rate Cisco Ethernet 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: Integrator
PeerSpot user
Network Delivery Lead at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable and scalable solution for all business sizes
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches are great devices."
  • "We are less in the Cloud because the Cloud technologies didn't work so well. That happened in all of the companies where I've been engaged."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case is for ethernet switches. We mainly use switches and routers as edge distribution switches. Some of the plants have been with the big pharmaceutical company Aragon. We have also been with a North American company, and others. Most of their switches were Cisco in pharmaceutical company where I worked for 10 years.

Some of the switches in the plants were used as a core. Many of them, especially in Bulgaria and in Europe, I installed myself. Others in America are responsible during the shift time for the configuration changes and so on. They are used in any level, as a Layer 3, Layer 2, whatever. All kinds of switches are used in the different places in our LAN. 

How has it helped my organization?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are great devices. I remember when we decided to replace all the HP switches from the American company when they acquired us. We replaced all the core switches with 3850, except in the bigger and biggest sites where we used the 4745 switches. That was great. They are very useful and very easy to configure. It was not much trouble at all and we got a more stable network.

What is most valuable?

We have been very satisfied with using Cisco 2960 series X with EIGRP Cisco proprietary protocol. This saved us much money and worked very stably.

We also installed 47 and 3850 Switches to the main servers on the 10-gig in some places and Nexus devices using 40-gig connectivity.

What needs improvement?

We are less in the Cloud because the Cloud technologies didn't work so well. That happened in all of the companies where I've been engaged.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for a few months in my current position but I would say 20 years or more in other companies.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is great. Some Aruba devices are more stable, but with Cisco, we never had problems, with some little exceptions. It is very stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is very scalable.

In this company we have a single usage. I first started with Cisco routers in 1997, now we install Cisco routers all the time.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support for the core switches especially, but for the rest as well, is very good. It's excellent support. Especially for the core switches we had 24/7 support. On some sites in Bulgaria we one time had a problem at midnight and they delivered that switch in time. They brought the switch very fast. Very good, excellent, technical support solution.

Also, with previous accounts with the pharmaceutical company we had access to a dedicated engineer for the project. We had access to their WAP environment. So, all told, tech support is brilliant.

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

I have used Aruba which is very similar to Cisco. It is also easy to manage and to install. Installing it is straightforward but I don't have too much experience with the priority. We were responsible for their LAN but they have some special requirements which we didn't touch. We didn't use all functionalities in the Aruba. We just used them as Layer 2 switches or as access switches on the main site, and on the bigger sites they had still some old HP switches.

Also, if I remember correctly, Comware had all those old HP switches. We used Aruba just as Layer 2 access devices and didn't use much of the functionalities.

I prefer Cisco. Of course, Aruba is cheaper overall but not necessarily for those small Layer 2 device access switches. I don't know what the price is now, I didn't compare each comparable device. If I had to choose, I would definitely go with the Cisco.

How was the initial setup?

In terms of the initial setup, for me, with much experience, it's straightforward. With most of the switches we had a good team and prepared more than the configuration on the access sheet and then automatically generated the configuration file, just moved it to the note part, visually checking for a minute. Then copy, paste, and done. Start installing. Mounting and connecting. Straightforward.

It takes about one day for the device, if you don't count the cabling and the rack mounting and moving those and so on, and including the break, between 30 and 60 minutes, not more, for each switch. If they are stackable with some stack devices, for all of them, let's say an hour to hour and a half. Not more because we had all the configurations prepared in advance.

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

I you have a big client or if you have a big project and register it, the discount is good. In the companies that I have worked for, mostly for switching, we had a 55% discount or more. So with that good discount, who cares? It's cheap enough.

What other advice do I have?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are appropriate for small and medium businesses. They also are large enough for our data centers which we had in Tel Aviv, Israel and in California. We had such big devices there.

On a scale of one to ten, I would give Cisco Ethernet Switches a 10.

I would advise others who are looking into implementing Cisco to buy and implement it.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,636 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer929688 - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner with self employed
Consultant
Easy and straightforward setup but the dashboard needs improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "For me, the initial setup was easy and straightforward, but for some of our customers who are not as familiar with networking, it can be complicated."
  • "The dashboard needs some minor improvements."

What is our primary use case?

Our clients use this solution for monitoring and configuration purposes.

The deployment model varies from client to client.

What needs improvement?

The dashboard needs some minor improvements. Sometimes it is difficult to find items, other times it is quick, it just depends. Most of the feedback we receive are not complaints but suggestions or ideas about the dashboard.

The stability could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for more than twenty years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have some glitches once in a while. There are times where it's a little bit slow or a bit delayed.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have not had to scale yet, we are normally working with a fixed size. We haven't had to worry about upsizing or downsizing.

For our purposes, we are not using this, but on the client-side, we have anywhere from two to eight users, they are made up of technicians, support staff, and engineers.

How was the initial setup?

For me, the initial setup was easy and straightforward, but for some of our customers who are not as familiar with networking, it can be complicated.

For a technical person, it is straightforward. Of course, now and then you have to look in the manual and read it, as nothing is completely self intuitive.

Deployment can take anywhere from one to five days, depending on the requirements.

We require two employees for deployments.

What about the implementation team?

We implement this solution ourselves.

What other advice do I have?

There is no favorite function or feature, it depends on what you have to do and how you do it.

My advice regarding this solution is to understand your network, definitely have a look in the manual, understand the structure and don't just rely on trial and error. It's not target-aiming, so trial and error will not work.

I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
EVP – Central Asia,Kazakhstan, Ukraine at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Easy to install, reliable, and the technical support is good
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Cisco Ethernet Switches is their capacity."
  • "The quality of Cisco Ethernet Switches could be better."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco Ethernet Switches is their capacity.

What needs improvement?

The quality of Cisco Ethernet Switches could be better.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for approximately 10 years.

We use many different versions.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are stable.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is good. I would rate them a five out of five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. It is easy.

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

Cisco Ethernet Switches are more expensive than Huawei Ethernet Switches.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I compared Cisco Ethernet Switches to those of other vendors, such as Huawei Ethernet Switches. I would say they are equal.

What other advice do I have?

We are partners.

I would rate Cisco Ethernet Switches a 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: Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1578237 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Director of IT and Data Analytics at a performing arts with 201-500 employees
Real User
Scalable, good POE functionality, and responsive technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "One main feature of this solution is the POE switches."
  • "The interface and dashboard could look better."

What is our primary use case?

We are using the solution as switches for our organization's network.

What is most valuable?

One main feature of this solution is the POE switches.

What needs improvement?

The interface and dashboard could look better.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for approximately two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have been using a lot of hardware that is probably close to 10 years old. We did have an issue once with one of our switches that would just auto-reset and wipe out and randomly restart. I do not know the full details, but we ended up just replacing it.

In the future, there should be readily available instructional videos.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is pretty good, all you need to do is add more racks. We have approximately 70 people that rely on this solution from my organization.

How are customer service and technical support?

We paid for the technical support and they were good.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have been evaluating Fortinet solutions.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Cisco Ethernet 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
Telecommunication Team Leader at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 20
A familiar, stable, and scalable solution with all required functions
Pros and Cons
  • "I know this solution for many years. I know the GUI and commands, and they are useful for me. I have all the functions that I want."
  • "Cisco can improve its stability for the BGP protocol. It is not stable while recalculating the BGP table. Its price should also be improved. It is very expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for data centers and for connecting computers in a local network.

What is most valuable?

I know this solution for many years. I know the GUI and commands, and they are useful for me. I have all the functions that I want.

What needs improvement?

Cisco can improve its stability for the BGP protocol. It is not stable while recalculating the BGP table.

Its price should also be improved. It is very expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is stable in most cases. It is not stable while recalculating the BGP table.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable. I don't have any problem with its scalability.

We have 500 people in my company. They don't directly work on these devices. I configure these devices, and they connect through these devices.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have a good opinion about Cisco support. I get local support from a company in Poland. If they are not able to resolve my problem, they send it to Cisco, and then Cisco resolves my problem. I don't have direct contact with Cisco support.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy for me.

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

Its price is very high, but it is a good device. Cisco must work on its price. Other solutions provide a better price for similar functionalities.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution. It is a very good solution.

I would rate Cisco Ethernet Switches 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
Owner at it logic
Real User
Easy to install and stability is perfect
Pros and Cons
  • "The stability is 100%."
  • "Technical support in India needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are a solution provider and Cisco Ethernet Switches are one of the products that we offer for our customers. With Cisco, there are two areas. There are gigabit switches, both managed and unmanaged, and there are 100 Mbps switches.

Generally, the Cisco switches available in India are L2 or L3. The L2 switch is mainly used for internet connectivity, for internet ISP users.

What needs improvement?

Technical support in India needs to be improved.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is 100%. It's the number-one product in this regard. We plan to continue selling it in the future.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Our customers have between 2,000 and 2,500 users.

How are customer service and technical support?

I'm not sure about other parts of the world, but in India, there is a problem with technical support for Cisco. There needs to be local support and it should be faster. At this time, in India, they give only remote support.

How was the initial setup?

Cisco switch installation is very easy and it takes approximately half an hour to deploy.

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

This is a very expensive product. Without a license, part of the switch will not function.

In some of the latest switches, the warranty is not included in the pricing and we have to purchase it separately.

What other advice do I have?

In summary, this is a good product that is very stable and I recommend it, but it's a costly switch.

I would rate this solution 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: Reseller
PeerSpot user
reviewer1069713 - PeerSpot reviewer
Project Manager at a real estate/law firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
A robust and stable network switch
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches is stable and robust."
  • "It'll also help if it can support more network utilization."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches for LAN networking and connecting our systems.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches is stable and robust.

What needs improvement?

It could be cheaper. It'll also help if it can support more network utilization.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for about two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I think Cisco Ethernet Switches are quite stable, and it's pretty robust,

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches is scalable.

How are customer service and technical support?

We are satisfied with technical support. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup and installation are straightforward.

What about the implementation team?

A consultant implemented it.

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

It could be cheaper.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches to potential users.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco Ethernet Switches an eight.

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
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Ethernet Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: November 2024
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Ethernet Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.