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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
175
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
Nokia Ethernet Service Switch
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
26th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 1.6%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is 0.7%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
Teuku Maiyasya - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable solution which is competitively priced and offers good support
We would like to have an unified monitoring system, while Nokia have different monitoring system for different product, we find it to be quite troublesome. I also would prefer that all the licenses be open for our use. This would obviate the need to purchase individual licenses for each feature.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Catalyst switches are highly reliable. They have a good product life, they are balanced overall compared to others."
"We have dealt with Cisco's technical support in the past. They were especially helpful and very polite. They are always there if we need them and their insights are always excellent. I would say that we have been satisfied with the level of support we've gotten so far."
"A very expandable solution."
"Customer support answers on time and resolve any issues I have."
"The most valuable feature is load balancing."
"Configuring the solution is very easy. It's quite a straightforward process, and it's not difficult at all."
"The solution is highly reliable."
"These switches are flexible and user-friendly."
"The most valuable feature is the product's availability."
"The most valuable features are user functionality and interoperability."
"The highest value lies in aggregating the data to improve both traffic management and device utilization, emphasizing the importance of engagement and liability."
"On several occasions we encountered major issues with the solution and have found the Nokia technical support to be quite supportive."
"The performance and reliability are the solution's most valuable features."
"Despite initial hindrances, once understood, these differences help in forming a good career foundation."
 

Cons

"I would like to see better efficiency. They are powering all the PoE ports 100% of the time instead of powering only when there is a draw on them. It has too many options. Therefore, there is a reasonably high barrier to entry in terms of learning about this stuff. A lot of times, you need to be a CCNA, which is like your ticket into the industry, but it is not the easiest thing to get."
"The newer models are not so stable. Other products like 6800, 3750, were stable but starting from 3850 it got worse. We have a lot of issues and a lot of bugs. It's a new product so it's understandable but it should be improved."
"The solution could improve by having a video IP feature."
"In terms of what could be improved, more integration is the main thing they should be focused on."
"They need to implement sFlow."
"The initial setup can be easier in cases where the policy and ruleset are complex."
"They should make so that they let users know five to ten minutes before productivity is restored in the case of power loss."
"Their price should be improved. They are a little bit expensive."
"I would suggest improvements regarding enhancing support response times and implementing user interface modifications for quicker and more user-friendly interactions."
"The documentation needs improvement for better accessibility, as there isn't proper documentation currently available."
"The solution needs more monitoring tools."
"I would like to see more collaboration with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) vendors, such as Itron."
"I would prefer that all the licenses be open for our use."
"The segment routing could be improved, and they could also transfer a lot of legacy to the cloud domain."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Pricing could be better."
"It has a very high cost, but understandably, due to its very good quality."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very expensive solution."
"The pricing should be improved."
"The price of these switches is on the upper end. It is around $3,500 plus for a 24-Port switch. These switches are more expensive than Linksys and TP-Links, but you get what you pay for. If you look at the pros and cons per switch, you can justify the cost compared to a lesser and cheaper brand."
"When compared with other products, the solution is kind of on the expensive side."
"I cannot say that the pricing is reasonable because it's a little above our expectations. If we consider the recent price increases, it is not acceptable anymore."
"We must pay a high price for the product."
"The price of the solution is very competitive in comparison with that of the competition."
"It is quite expensive compared to alternative technologies."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
67%
Computer Software Company
6%
Government
3%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Computer Software Company
18%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Although Juniper is cheaper, Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
What do you like most about Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?
The highest value lies in aggregating the data to improve both traffic management and device utilization, emphasizing the importance of engagement and liability.
What needs improvement with Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?
In my opinion, Nokia has to improve its documentation, offering step-by-step configuration guides and examples of what outputs look like on Windows. There should also be a comparison of commands be...
What is your primary use case for Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?
I have been working with Nokia switches for six months. Before that, I was using Cisco devices. I am involved in configuring Nokia Internet Service Switches in our network.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
Nokia ESS, Nokia 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, Nokia 7450 ESS
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.