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reviewer2226447 - PeerSpot reviewer
Pre-Sales Engineer (Network & Security) at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Top 5
Easy-to-deploy product with the availability of good technical documentation
Pros and Cons
  • "We can easily integrate the product with any OEM solutions."
  • "In the case of an already existing network, we encounter technical issues related to following protocols."

What is our primary use case?

At present, I am evaluating Cisco Ethernet Switches.

What needs improvement?

We can easily integrate the product with any OEM solutions. But in the case of an already existing network, we encounter technical issues related to following protocols.

How are customer service and support?

They provide good technical documentation and webinars.

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

Cisco Catalyst Switches are more scalable than the product.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.

How was the initial setup?

Deploying the product is very straightforward. With the help of the OEM's datasheet, product guide, and installation guide, we can easily set up the switches.

What about the implementation team?

I help my customers implement the product.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Cisco and Aruba have similar functionality. We provide these solutions to the customers as per their requirements.

What other advice do I have?

I advise others to understand their business requirements and goals before purchasing the product. I rate it a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Founder/Managing Director at Microtel Netlinks Pvt. Ltd.
Reseller
Good support, good brand, and has all the features
Pros and Cons
  • "The brand name and the service support by Cisco are most valuable."
  • "In terms of features, all features are there. I can't find anything new that needs to be added. Its price, however, is a bit higher than other brands and can be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We work for our customers. Our clients are small, medium, and enterprise companies.

What is most valuable?

The brand name and the service support by Cisco are most valuable.

What needs improvement?

In terms of features, all features are there. I can't find anything new that needs to be added. Its price, however, is a bit higher than other brands and can be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for 20 years.

How are customer service and technical support?

Their technical support is very good.

How was the initial setup?

I have been working for 20 years, so I find it easy.

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

Its price is a bit higher than other brands. Indian customers are price-conscious. They should improve its price.

What other advice do I have?

It is the best product. I would advise others to go for it. All the features are there. In other switches, some features are missing, but Cisco provides all the required features.

I would rate Cisco Ethernet Switches a 10 out of 10. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer1384011 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at a educational organization with 51-200 employees
Real User
Ethernet switches that are highly user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that it's easy to use."
  • "The price could be better."

What is our primary use case?

We use it for VLAN tagging and VLAN port enabling.

What is most valuable?

I like that it's easy to use. 

What needs improvement?

The price could be better. It should be affordable for any organization.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for more than eight years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have never faced any issues with stability.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup isn't straightforward. It depends on how knowledgeable you are. But Cisco will support us whenever we buy products. There's product documentation that needs to be followed. It took hardly 15 minutes to set up and deploy.

However, the time can be extended if you want to configure different things. If you want to add VLANs, then it will take time. We have to decide on what we have to do before doing it. Based on that, the timeline will really differ. We have a tiny team at my organization, just two others working with me.

What about the implementation team?

I've always reached out to my consultant to support me whenever we buy a new switch. If they share some knowledge documents, I can look into that, and I can do it myself.

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

Cisco is an industry leader, but the price is very high.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this product to potential users, but it depends on their requirements.

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
reviewer780981 - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution Engineer at a tech services company
Real User
Easy to deploy but they should maximize the number of ports
Pros and Cons
  • "The hardware is rugged. We use it for the basic configuration."
  • "We've had hardware problems like SSDs, ports, networking, things like that."

What is most valuable?

The hardware is rugged. We use it for the basic configuration.

What needs improvement?

Cisco has a layer three rugged switch. I don't know if they have it. The one I use is layer 2 only. Cisco should provide field switches, outdoor switches that have the capability for layer 3.

We've had hardware problems like SSDS, ports, networking, things like that.

They should maximize the number of ports. For me, that's important because we have some sites that the industrial switches lack ports so we have to install two industrial switches.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability is okay. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have around 500 switches deployed in one network. 

How are customer service and technical support?

We haven't needed to contact their technical support. 

How was the initial setup?

It's easy to deploy, just copy and paste. Installing the switches and configuring it, it takes only less than an hour. Installing the fibers takes time.

What other advice do I have?

My advice to someone considering this solution would be to have a  good plan and a good design. It will go smoothly if you have a good design and a good plan. It's important.

I would rate it a seven out of ten. Not a ten because Mellanox is better compared to Ethernet switches.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1042635 - PeerSpot reviewer
Science Technician at a government with 201-500 employees
Real User
Secure, high performance, and good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution's valuable features are the speed of network transfer, it can transfer four to six gigabits per second."
  • "The installation is difficult and requires further training documentations."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution as a networking switch.

What is most valuable?

The solution's valuable features are the speed of network transfer, it can transfer four to six gigabits per second. Additionally, we found it to be secure.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for approximately eight years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I find the solution to be stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of the solution is good. 

I am the only one in my organization using the solution.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have little experience with the solutions technical support and I am satisfied with it.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is difficult and requires further training documentations. I can configure it alone with some supervision.  

What about the implementation team?

For the deployment of the solution, we were aided by consultants, and no other technical team is needed for the maintenance. 

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

The solution does not require a license. However, it is expensive and the price could improve. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the solution to others.

I rate Cisco Ethernet Switches a ten 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
reviewer1083660 - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Manager at a tech vendor with 11-50 employees
Real User
Good monitoring and management features, but needs better integration with third-party products
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are network monitoring and management."
  • "Integration with third-party products could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are a solution provider and Cisco Ethernet Switches are one of the products that we implement for our customers. We also use them internally, and they make up the backbone of our network.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are network monitoring and management.

Depending on the model, the switch might have its own firewall or router.

What needs improvement?

Integration with third-party products could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for fifteen years, and have been reselling them for about six.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have had no complaints about the stability of Cisco products. Once you install the switch, it just keeps running with little maintenance. Occasionally, we see a firmware update.

How are customer service and technical support?

For some of the higher-end switches, starting at the 6500 series, we need assistance from Cisco. For the 4000 series and below, we can manage them ourselves.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very straightforward. We have not had any complications.

They are essentially plug-and-play, where you turn the power on and it will be working in a few seconds. Beyond this, if different configurations are needed to satisfy the user's requirements then it takes a lot of time. That said, the entire deployment will only take a few hours or a day at the most.

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

We are happy with the pricing from Cisco.

What other advice do I have?

This is a very good product and definitely one that I recommend.

I would rate this solution a seven 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
PeerSpot user
System Engineer Monitoring and Response at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Consultant
Pro's and Con's - Cisco vs. Juniper

Competitive strength – Cisco and Juniper are a good fit in any data centre.


Competitive weaknesses –

  1. Cisco takes a proprietary spin on standards, increasing fear of vendor lock-in and cost to replace. Juniper has to spend time explaining the technology.
  2. Cisco’s Nexus portfolio is broad and complex, requiring advanced skills to design, deploy and manage which increases costs. Juniper’s market share remains small compared to equally well-known competitors and calls into question the company’s ability to execute and attract channel and other partners.

Current Perspective –

  1. Cisco switches remains a leader in the data centre due to both market presence and portfolio breadth.
  2. Cisco switches continues to win new customers based on both its portfolio and its technology partner network

Strength and weaknesses

  1. Cisco’s portfolio of switches, servers, software and services makes it one of the preeminent data centre technology partners for enterprises today.
  2. Cisco constantly strives to develop and deliver cutting edge solutions through innovations that meet the needs customers face today.
  3. By simplifying operations, Juniper’s networks increase business agility and at the same reduce operating expenses
  4. Cisco is a company driven by the market and by customers, and the resulting solutions produced and offered are a direct result of that demand
  5. Junipers inter operate with any vendor’s switch devices very well.

Convergence

  1. Cisco is the only vendor that delivers an all Unified Ports form factor of switches that can support any Ethernet or storage protocol (FC, FCoE, iSCSI, and NAS).
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user3396 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user3396Team Lead at Tata Consultancy Services
Top 5Real User

Cool report

See all 6 comments
PeerSpot user
Works at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Best in its class but warranty costs are high. This is the reason HP and Juniper are getting their clients

What is most valuable?

High Availability, Toughness under temperature rise situations.

How has it helped my organization?

Integration of Voice and Data over a single wire without any loss in voice quality. Security throughout LAN and WAN devices. Redundancy and extremely high availability of devices.

What needs improvement?

The Warranty costs are high. This is the reason HP and Juniper are somehow getting their clients.

For how long have I used the solution?

9 Years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

Sometimes it is quite complex as there is still the need for qualified technicians. For example: in the case of Cisco Nexus series.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

No

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

No

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service: GoodTechnical Support: Good

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

I have used, 3com, Dell, Dlink but didn’t find the ease of use and features rich device!

How was the initial setup?

Initial Setup with Cisco device configuration is always quite easy. They have a setup wizard that asks you the parameters that are needed to make the switch up and running.

What about the implementation team?

Yes, our Client used a vendor team. Their work was fine; they were experts in settings up the small data center.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

HP, Dlink.

What other advice do I have?

Go for the Cisco Solution if Your Company can afford support Service and Warranty cost in future.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user117876 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user117876Network Engineer at a tech company with 51-200 employees
Real User

In my experience, the cisco devices do handle extremes quite well, I've worked with millitary deployable kit thats dropped off trucks or out of aircraft, or in mine sites with unstable power and numerous other nasties. The biggest issue with these kinds of environments is dust and extreme temperatures, or in the outback the bull dust, being sucked through the machines, not an issue until moisture is also incurred. All vendor network devices will suffer under those forms of conditions, but the Cisco kit still seems to keep ticking even with that sort of harsh treatment. Can't say what the Cisco RMA returns engineers would think on opening up a returned device thats full of bulldust though, I'd assume that might void the warranty :-).

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