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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center 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 Linksys Ethernet Swit...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
12th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
75
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 1.7%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Hakan Pehlivan - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced broadcast management with trusted support and intuitive interfaces
Cisco is the best on the Metro Solution side and also strong in the broadcast sector. Cisco and Arista support the IP standard, which is more in demand nowadays for TV broadcasting. Cisco is trusted by most broadcast customers for data centers due to their experience and knowledge. Cisco Linksys switches offer ease of management and experience, especially for engineers holding CCNA certificates. The functionalities and measurements are similar across switches, but Cisco offers a useful web interface.
Rias Majeed - PeerSpot reviewer
Enables easy management of traffic and enhances security
FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface. This integration makes network management streamlined and secure. Additionally, the controllers are built into the firewall, which enables easy management of traffic and enhances security. Unlike some solutions, a Fortinet firewall is not just a firewall; it also acts as a full-fledged router.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"There is no need for my company to pay for additional support."
"Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches have a good interface, and the documentation is detailed."
"The most valuable feature of Cisco routers is that they are robust."
"Cisco Linksys is scalable. You can use it as an extender, too."
"Linksys switches help us manage connected equipment because we can see the historical data on all devices connected to this switch."
"I would recommend Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches to other organizations."
"Ease-of-use and ease-of-management are good qualities of this product."
"The most valuable feature is basic networking functionality."
"I have found the solution to be scalable."
"I like the solution's technical support. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten."
"The single pane of glass that helps us manage everything through FortiManager is the most important feature."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers flexibility and control over the entire network from a single pane of management."
"The initial setup was simple."
"The product's most valuable feature is its ability to manage switches from one central point."
"When configuring FortiSwitch with a FortiGate firewall, I can consider all FortiSwitch's ports as a part of the FortiGate firewall."
"A valuable feature of FortiGate is its management integrity."
 

Cons

"It would be ideal if, for private users that are not companies, the solution could be made even cheaper."
"There is a four-month wait list for certified switches and licenses in Libya because they must be shipped from Dubai."
"Make them tougher and more ruggedized for warmer and Industrial types of environments, and HumiSeal the main boards and internal components."
"It would be ideal if they could do more configurations and offer more flexibility. Right now, it's not flexible at all."
"They just need to simplify the learning curve."
"Scalability is an area that can be improved."
"This product does not generate reports, so I would like to see something with better reporting."
"Pricing is an area with a shortcoming since the solution is expensive."
"The solution could always benefit from more security. It's of critical importance to organizations right now."
"They could improve availability and security by detecting and preventing switch attacks."
"Compatibility with infrastructure from other vendors like Cisco and Sophos can be further improved."
"The solution can improve by upgrading QSFP+, it is very limited and must be supported more than it is now. If we need FortiSwitches to support all the QSFP ports our budgets would have to be very large."
"With IT products, there is always room for improvement."
"When there are many switches being used, the speed declines noticeably."
"Does not have as many features as other solutions, such as segmentation and analytics engines."
"The FortiSwitch product was initially quite complex."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is no license required."
"They are cheaper than Cisco Catalyst Switches."
"The tool is expensive."
"The license is not expensive."
"It's an affordable price for small companies using on-premises networks where cloud services are too expensive for them."
"The tool's licensing costs are yearly. You only need to pay standard licensing costs."
"Licensing cost has not been much for the last five years. We have the same license working for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches."
"There is not a license to use the solution but we have a license for support."
"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive."
"The solution is not expensive."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"The tool's pricing is lower than Cisco's."
"It is reasonably priced."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
19%
Government
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Retailer
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
Regarding pricing, I take the cost of Cisco Linksys Ethernet switches into consideration.
What needs improvement with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
I would like Cisco to improve their technical support, and I have encountered challenges with Cisco Linksys switches. Additionally, I would like to see improvements in overall solution features in ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
There is room for improvement in customer support and device speed. Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging. Additionally, improving the speed of th...
 

Also Known As

Linksys Ethernet Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,485 professionals have used our research since 2012.