What is our primary use case?
We mainly use the solution for a branch router, and it works very efficiently. We use it for data centers and servers.
What is most valuable?
The after-sales service and support Cisco offers are great. It's a great differentiating feature that sets them apart from the competition.
The features are good. They are robust and well-made, unlike other competitors, like Huawei, where the products are not made of good materials.
The performance is quite good.
It's scalable.
For the most part, it is straightforward to set up.
What needs improvement?
We need more cloud functionality and more intelligent routing features.
They need to improve cost efficiency. It's an expensive product.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for 15 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a stable, robust product. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable. The performance is excellent.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are different sizes for the routers. You need to get the right sizing base don your needs.
The solution is scalable. You can have one router per premises and multiple branches and it will work well in an enterprise any size.
They have data sheets online that are easy to access so that you can see the capacity of various routers. You just need to choose the right one for your business.
How are customer service and support?
Support is great. The operator can open a case, and a Cisco support engineer can directly interact with the case to troubleshoot. They have a quick turnaround as well.
Cisco offers quality support. They are excellent.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I'm also familiar with Huawei, and I find them to be not quite as well-made as Cisco. However, they both have similar functionality and serve the same purpose.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. The setup doesn't take a long period of time.
The deployment is very similar to what you would expect from other vendors. You do need to do some architectural design before implementing. You need to have a good understanding of the layout of the network and what you will need.
Cisco does provide training online that is available readily from anywhere. Most people are quite familiar with Cisco, and those who are not can learn a lot online.
How much technical staff you will need will depend on how big of a deployment you are planning. Typically, two to three engineers are sufficient. However, it can vary from project to project.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is a bit expensive. They should consider better pricing.
They have turned to subscription-based licensing. However, it may not be as cost-effective.
Prices vary. There are different license models to choose from.
What other advice do I have?
I use various versions of the solution, from legacy routers to the latest version. It can be deployed on-premises and also has cloud solutions as well.
Cisco is dominating the market in my region.
I'd recommend Cisco Routers to others.
I'd rate the solution seven out of ten based on the cost of the product, which is expensive.
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
