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Network consultant at Juniper Solutions Ltd
Real User
Dec 2, 2023
Secure and reliable switches with a straightforward setup process
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches are rugged, secure, and scalable. It provides smart devices and reliable switches."
  • "There are instances where the commands you are familiar with might change or be replaced with newer syntax."

What is our primary use case?

The use case for Cisco Ethernet switches is foundational networking, which includes packet switching and routing within the organization's network. It facilitates communication between devices and networks, ensuring data packets are appropriately directed to their destinations.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are rugged, secure, and scalable. It provides smart devices and reliable switches.

What needs improvement?

There are instances where the commands you are familiar with might change or be replaced with newer syntax. They could provide details to know about the changed processes. Additionally, its pricing needs improvement.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable platform.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
900,051 professionals have used our research since 2012.

How are customer service and support?

We can find references in the product's knowledge base to resolve the technical issues.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup process is straightforward. It involves understanding the user's configuration requirements. Setting up IP addresses or configuring security features like authentication can be accomplished within three to four minutes. Further, we configure security features like passwords, consoles, and connectivity to help prevent unauthorized access. It requires one technical executive for deployment and maintenance.

What was our ROI?

The product is worth the investment.

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

The product is expensive. However, it is cost-effective, considering its durability. There is only a need for licensing in case of specific security requirements or advanced configurations where we need to activate certain modules. We need to buy licenses for wireless controllers or VPNs. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches to others and rate it a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Supervisor of IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Reseller
Top 20Leaderboard
Nov 13, 2023
Has impressive reliability, I have not experienced a failure
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches have great enterprise features like Cisco DNA Assurance. Cisco DNA Assurance features advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Cisco AI Network Analytics, a capability within Cisco DNA Assurance, allows easy management of all devices and services, prioritizes and resolves network issues, and ensures a better user experience across the network."
  • "The typical areas of concern for Cisco Ethernet Switches are not technical but cost including support costs. I’ve never liked the fact that end users cannot download security patches without a support contract. I’ve had trouble getting approval to renew Cisco support contracts due to the cost."

What is our primary use case?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are the product line I have the most experience with and have been my go-to solution for many years with mid to large organizations over the years. They are still top contenders for environments that need layer 3 functionality in a switch. They have a product line that covers the entire spectrum of switching technology from the high-end Nexus products through the traditional enterprise catalyst models and all the way down to the small business solutions. They seem to have the market covered with a solution to meet any IT shop's needs.

How has it helped my organization?

Cisco switches provide layer 3 functionality on the network taking that load off the security appliance and not requiring a router on the network. This prevents single points of failure for internal data routing and keeps internal routes off the security appliance workload. The CLI is the industry standard and most network professionals learn it and can use it.

The reliability of Cisco Ethernet Switches is amazingly impressive. Maybe I’m lucky but I have not experienced a Cisco Ethernet Switch fail unless caused by a power event such as lightning. I highly recommend connecting switches via fiber-optic connections due to the lack of electrical conductivity. I learned this the hard way when a building with the electrical systems not properly grounded caused a cascade of switch failures during a lightning storm.

What is most valuable?

The CLI is very valuable as it allows network professionals to work fast and customize the configuration however they need.

Cisco Ethernet Switches have great enterprise features like Cisco DNA Assurance. Cisco DNA Assurance features advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Cisco AI Network Analytics, a capability within Cisco DNA Assurance, allows easy management of all devices and services, prioritizes and resolves network issues, and ensures a better user experience across the network.

Also, appreciate the industrial line of switches for SCADA or other environments where switches are placed in unconditioned space and the temperatures fluctuate a lot during the seasons.                        

What needs improvement?

The typical areas of concern for Cisco Ethernet Switches are not technical but cost including support costs. I’ve never liked the fact that end users cannot download security patches without a support contract. I’ve had trouble getting approval to renew Cisco support contracts due to the cost.

The additional charges for the DNA capabilities of the switches further prices the switches are out of contention for a lot of IT shops. I understand the development of this technology is expensive but costs are sometimes borderline ridiculous.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have 28 years of experience with Cisco switches.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are some of the most rock-solid hardware I’ve had the pleasure of using.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are extremely scalable and have the broadest line of solutions in the market.

How are customer service and support?

Cisco's technical support has deteriorated over the years. They have call centers all over the world and sometimes the techs experience levels seem to vary. This seems to be the industry standard though in my experience.

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

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches my entire career. I really like them but they are not always cost-effective.

How was the initial setup?

If you know the CLI interface the setup is straightforward. If not you are in for a bumpy ride.

What about the implementation team?

We deploy with in-house talent.

What was our ROI?

ROI is longer than other solutions in the enterprise space but comparable in the small business area of Cisco’s product lines.

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

Find a Cisco partner that has a lot of volume and pressure them for a better price. There is a lot of markup on the higher end devices. Plan for support contract expenses for the life of the device. Also check the EOL details prior to purchase so you don’t purchase an older device that will not get the years of software updates and security patches you need. EOL dates are starting to decrease in length.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We compared it to Meraki if cloud management would be helpful. Cisco has more recently started to offer Meraki dashboard management for traditional Cisco switches.

What other advice do I have?

You will not be disappointed with a Cisco solution from a technical perspective. Learn the OS via CLI and you will always have job security too.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
900,051 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Kalyan  Chowdhury - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at Computech infosysetm
Real User
Top 10
Apr 2, 2023
Is stable, scalable, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a scalable solution, and we have more than 35 customers who use it."
  • "We have experienced some issues with Cisco SG350 switches. We have not been able to use this switch at normal temperatures as it automatically reboots."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches in government offices that are in multiple locations.

What needs improvement?

We have experienced some issues with Cisco SG350 switches. We have not been able to use this switch at normal temperatures as it automatically reboots.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability at ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution, and we have more than 35 customers who use it.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support staff usually get back to us in 30 minutes to four hours. It took them 24 hours to respond only once. Therefore, I would rate technical support at ten out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. For the deployment and maintenance, we have seven technical and non-technical staff members.

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

The price is very high though it is priced right for the level of quality.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches and rate it at ten on a scale from one to ten. However, it may not be as available in certain countries such as India.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Ankar Aung - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Engineer at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 5
Feb 27, 2023
Stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is that we create a network as a villain."
  • "The technical support has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches in our data center.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is that we create a network as a villain. For some time, we use a port channel and sometimes, the Spanning Tree Protocol for requests. We search for the user's Cisco Internet switches for small packets.

What needs improvement?

The technical support has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The Cisco Ethernet Switches are very stable and a leader in the market.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable and we have the ability to upgrade our appliances without impacting our services.

How are customer service and support?

The Cisco technical support is good but when compared to other products such as McAfee and Palo Alto they have room for improvement.

How was the initial setup?

For Cisco Catalyst switches, the initial setup was usually automated for large-scale deployments such as Azure, which worked well. However, for newer technologies such as Cisco ACI, the initial setup can be challenging. Once the primary phase is completed, however, the efficiency of the operation requires less support.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
ERICK KAGWEZA - PeerSpot reviewer
Network and Collaboration Engineer at SoftNet Technologies Limited
Real User
Feb 27, 2023
Easy to deploy, stable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "Remote access is a valuable feature."
  • "Currently, we have to wait up to eight months for a switch."

What is our primary use case?

We use the Cisco 9200 and 2960 Ethernet Switches to connect our devices to the network.

What is most valuable?

Remote access is a valuable feature.

What needs improvement?

Cisco can improve its supply chain. Currently, we have to wait up to eight months for a switch.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We have 1,000 people using the solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is quick to respond.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward and easy to deploy.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Office Ohrid at AGENCY FOR REAL ESTATE CADASTRE
Real User
Feb 25, 2023
Extremely stable, scalable, and easy to deploy
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches have good performance."
  • "The price of the solution has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches to connect our infrastructure and application communication.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches have good performance.

What needs improvement?

The price of the solution has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for a couple of years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I give the stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I give the scalability a nine out of ten.

We currently have around 5,000 people using the solution. The amount of people is determined by the license we have. To scale up we need to increase our license.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is helpful.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex. The deployment time depends on the level of setup but on average between two to four days.

What was our ROI?

When the solution is stable and we don't receive any complaints we see a return on investment using the solution.

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

Cisco offers annual and three-year license options.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution a ten out of ten.

Having a Cisco Ethernet Switch is beneficial when selecting a network environment. It is advantageous to compare all the necessary components from different manufacturers, but ultimately, Cisco covers all the areas that will be necessary for the future.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
JEGAN N - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at SYSTA NETWORKS
Real User
Jan 31, 2023
Stable and scalable solution with responsive tech support
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches are scalable, much more than Jupiter."
  • "The initial setup for on-prem versions is complex and requires a trained, certified engineer."

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Cisco Switches for seven to eight years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are scalable, much more than Jupiter. 

How are customer service and support?

Cisco's technical support is very responsive.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for on-prem versions is complex and requires a trained, certified engineer. However, the cloud versions are straightforward. Catalyst switches take around fifteen to thirty minutes to deploy, while the Meraki switches take about twenty minutes.

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

Cisco Ethernet Switches are expensive, and you have to pay for a warranty and technical support.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches, as long as you have the budget. I'd rate this solution nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer2078835 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Analyst at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 20
Jan 26, 2023
Reliable and easy to set up with great support
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is basically issue-free."
  • "The user interface could be improved."

What is most valuable?

The solution is basically issue-free. They are constantly upgrading their technology.

It's an easy solution to set up. 

Technical support is helpful and responsive. 

It's a stable product. 

What needs improvement?

The user interface could be improved. 

The licensing is too expensive. It's one of the main reasons customers leave Cisco. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Cisco products for more than ten years. I've used the product for a very long time. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability has been very good. It's quite reliable. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's a scalable product. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. It's no problem. 

We've used it in a large company and had no issues. 

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is the best. Compared to other solutions, like Aruba, Cisco is top-notch. 

Typically, the agents are good and helpful. Sometimes we may run into issues, however, 90% of the time, they are great. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The solution is easy to implement. The process is not overly complex. Technically speaking, it's pretty simple. 

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

The solution is not cheap. Cisco is quite pricey.

What other advice do I have?

We're customers and end-users. 

I'd advise users to try out the product. I've been happy with its capabilities. 

I would rate the solution nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Ethernet Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: June 2026
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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.