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Cisco FabricPath vs ExtremeSwitching comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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 FabricPath
Ranking in LAN Switching
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
ExtremeSwitching
Ranking in LAN Switching
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
22
Ranking in other categories
Data Center Networking (6th), AV Over IP Switching (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Cisco FabricPath is 1.6%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ExtremeSwitching is 5.9%, up from 5.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

OusaidAbaz - PeerSpot reviewer
Extendable and has beneficial spin and leaf architecture
Cisco FabricPath is very fast, stable, extendable, and scalable. It doesn't have issues with patches or problems because it's built on the stable NXOS operating system. In a scenario using FabricPath, the spin and leaf architecture is beneficial. For example, we can use two separate spine switches like 9980s and multiple leaf switches as access switches. These leaf switches are connected using VPC between them, with each switch separated and not directly connected to the spine. This setup improves data center architecture by allowing two ways to arrange destinations, connecting the first connection to the first spine and the second to the second spine. The spines are configured as a virtual chassis. In FabricPath, we can enhance VXLANs, VPNs, and integrate with Cisco ISE for user authentication. It can also be configured with WLC to manage wireless technology, depending on the client's architecture.
MURALI NIDAMANURI - PeerSpot reviewer
Outstanding performance with minimal maintenance and intuitive configuration
Our primary use case for ExtremeSwitching is for costing, access networking, routing, and meeting network requirements. We have sold it in defense, government, and IT industries ExtremeSwitching significantly adds value to customers because maintenance is minimal. Once the network is set up,…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The technical assistance is good."
"It's very stable."
"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable soltuion."
"The product's most valuable feature is its ports."
"As I mentioned earlier, the durability, flexibility, and security of Cisco devices are notable. Particularly with switches, the capability to implement multiple VLANs and easily aggregate the network has been advantageous. The ability to have different VLANs and aggregate the network without complications is a key feature of Cisco FabricPath."
"Additional bandwidth is available when needed."
"I like the 10G ports and the modular uplink port."
"The most beneficial feature of Cisco FabricPath for network performance is its reliability."
"The solution can scale."
"The unique ring topology is actually a handy innovation."
"The price is low compared to the competition."
"The switches are fast."
"It is meeting our expectations in terms of performance as well as cost-effectiveness."
"They are good. We have been using them for about two years, and we are satisfied with their performance. For our network environment, these switches are working fine."
"The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard."
"The solution excels in configuration and other aspects. It offers reliability and performance."
 

Cons

"The pricing could be adjusted to make it easier to sell to clients."
"The management features are in need of improvement."
"Lacks sufficient integration with SIEM."
"They should consider upgrading the memory feature of the product."
"The initial setup is a little complex."
"I would like one management console to control the network."
"In terms of the series, I find that the integration with other teleconferencing applications needs to be more seamless. I have suggested to Cisco that the endpoint device should allow joining calls from Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other teleconferencing applications. Additionally, I appreciate the recent inclusion of breakout sessions in the Cisco Webex application, which enhances its relevance in the networking field."
"Improvements could be made on specific technical issues such as implementation."
"Their pricing could be a bit cheaper, as Huawei switches offer better pricing."
"ExtremeSwitching hardware lacks flexibility compared to some other options."
"The solution lacks a cyber asset attack capability."
"The pricing of the universal switches is an area of concern that needs to be improved."
"ExtremeSwitching should provide command lines more readily without needing in-depth searching on their support portal, especially for unique configurations."
"There are latency issues that need to be addressed."
"ExtremeSwitching should come out with simpler but lower-cost switches that are more suited to the Asian market."
"While it is true of all vendors, there may be a slightly lower reliability standard."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"FabricPath is very reasonably priced."
"The solution falls under the pricier category, but it provides value for the price charged."
"The price of Cisco FabricPath could be reduced, it is expensive in the market here in Sri Lanka. The solution is subscriptions based, if the customer wants any future integrations, or if there are any future enhancements they will have to pay. There are different license options available, such as one or three years purchases."
"It is very expensive."
"The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers."
"I rate it seven out of ten on pricing as it's a bit expensive. It would be better if the price were lower, but we prioritize quality over cost."
"The pricing for this product is good."
"I rate the product's pricing a ten out of ten. Cisco switches cost around 15,000 dollars, and DNS licenses cost around 25,000 dollars. The total amount is 45,000 dollars, which is too expensive."
"The pricing and licensing are good with the cloud."
"The price is expensive. We pay for a license, but you have to pay more if you want to increase the number."
"On pricing, ExtremeSwitches are going to beat most of the major competition."
"We paid 25,000 to 30,000 INR."
"ExtremeSwitching offers very good pricing plans for their licenses. Compared to their rivals, ExtremeSwitching's prices are very affordable and reasonable. This is why our customers are happy to pay for their service critical support. ExtremeSwitching also offers a great portal to track clients, further satisfying our customers. They are always happy to pay for the service every month. The pricing is very reasonable."
"It is not a subscription-based model, and there is no licensing concept. We have to pay for hardware AMC. We have hardware on our premises and for the hardware support, we have to go for the annual maintenance contract with the partner."
"The product is expensive."
"There is no license required to use the solution. The hardware controller is expensive, and this is why I prefer controlling ExtremeSwitching on the cloud."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
32%
Government
18%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
14%
Computer Software Company
11%
Government
7%
Healthcare Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco FabricPath?
The tool makes it easy to manage multi-layer networking and increases network efficiency. I haven't faced any challenges in integrating it into our existing infrastructure.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco FabricPath?
The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers.
What needs improvement with Cisco FabricPath?
Cisco FabricPath can be integrated into data centers and remote sites. For example, in a bank, we can extend the architecture to remote branches by implementing switches connected to the first and ...
What do you like most about ExtremeSwitching?
The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeSwitching?
I am not heavily involved with pricing, but my general understanding is they are competitive on the licensing and cost standpoint. When you compare equal features in the market, they are probably t...
What needs improvement with ExtremeSwitching?
While it is true of all vendors, there may be a slightly lower reliability standard. It's hard for me to compare as we are at one switch shop. However, I have heard through supporting networks that...
 

Also Known As

FabricPath
No data available
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Bellevue, Calligaris, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Management Science Associates, Multi-Customer, Oediv, Roper St. Francis, SNAM
Blue Waters
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco FabricPath vs. ExtremeSwitching and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.