Brocade Ethernet Switches provide reliable and high-performance network solutions with simple deployment, management, and energy efficiency. They offer enhanced security with MACsec protocol support and compatibility with various vendors, ensuring seamless integration and high availability for IT environments.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Brocade Ethernet Switches | 1.5% |
| Cisco Ethernet Switches | 9.0% |
| Aruba Switches | 8.9% |
| Other | 80.6% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 3 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 4 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 49 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 32 |
| Large Enterprise | 84 |
Brocade Ethernet Switches are a powerful choice for network configurations, supporting speeds up to 16Gbps. They are well-suited for integrating systems like HPE Primera, making them ideal for IT infrastructure requiring high reliability and stability. Automatic failover, flexible configuration, and smart zoning contribute to their appeal. Users have noted areas needing improvement like interface design, security, and management capabilities. A demand exists for a graphical interface, easier configuration, and enhanced power supply reliability. Compatibility with existing equipment can be problematic, and ongoing performance issues require attention.
What are the key features of Brocade Ethernet Switches?Many industries implement Brocade Ethernet Switches for connecting hosts to storage, expanding networks, and LAN/SAN operations. In financial sectors, they mediate in configurations involving firewalls and Fortinet. The switches' scalability and configuration ease suit government and private sectors' on-premises operations, with deployment involving collaboration between customer and vendor engineers.
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies | 4.0 | I utilize Brocade Ethernet Switches for their scalability and ease of configuration, making them a daily staple in our operations. They have good CLI-based security features but could benefit from a user-friendly graphical interface. Cisco offers better scalability. |
| System infrastructure engineer at Capgemini | 4.0 | I find Brocade Ethernet Switches valuable due to their good range of access. However, they could improve in compatibility with web management on older versions. I haven't used or considered other similar solutions. |
| IT Director at Autoridad de Edificios Publicos | 4.0 | For ten years, I've relied on Brocade Ethernet Switches for critical operations due to their exceptional reliability and stability. They've performed flawlessly, though a better interface and centralized management are definitely needed. |
| Network and Security Engineer at IDSC | 5.0 | I've used these stable, scalable Brocade switches for ten years. Easy to set up and durable, they perform excellently extending networks. While older versions lack security, I still rate them 10/10, recommending Cisco for modern needs. |
| Senior Manager - IT Infra at Tatasky Broadband | 4.0 | I have used Brocade switches for LAN and SAN for five years without issues, rating them 8/10. However, they are no longer supported, and the product lines have since been acquired by other vendors. |
| Senior Systems Security Specialist at a government with 51-200 employees | 4.0 | I find Brocade switches integrate well with HPE Primera, offering easy smart zoning and a straightforward setup. It's stable, scalable, and works fine, though it could be simpler. I rate it 8/10. |
| System infrastructure engineer at Capgemini | 3.5 | As a system infrastructure engineer, I find this solution stable, scalable, and good for storage due to its high availability zoning. However, I'm disappointed by the lack of a graphical interface for monitoring, which is a major drawback, leading to my 7/10 rating. |
| Senior Data Center Admin at Paltel | 4.5 | I use this solution for Ethernet switches, valuing its performance, which reached 16 GB/s. Setup was easy, and support is good. However, I experience performance issues, especially with NVMe technology, leading to my 9/10 rating. |
| Senior SAN Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees | 4.5 | I've used this stable solution since 2004 for host-to-storage connections. Its initial setup was straightforward, and I find its network advisor valuable. I'm happy with its performance and features, rating it 9/10. |
| Infrastructure Specialist at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees | 3.5 | I found the product's Cisco-like CLI and vendor support valuable, which lowered my network budget. While software improves, I experienced hardware issues with the power supply. Deployment, stability, and scalability were fine. |
I use Brocade Ethernet Switches because they are scalable. I recommend them since they are easy to configure. They are connected and used every day in our operations.
It is good and scalable. It is easy to configure and provides good technical support.
Brocade Ethernet Switches are good to configure. They operate in CLI mode and have a shell for configuration. The security features are also good.
To improve, it could be made easier to configure with a graphical interface.
I have experience with Brocade Ethernet Switches for around five to six years.
I rate the stability of Brocade Ethernet Switches as seven or eight out of ten. I have not encountered any troubles with the stability.
I rate the scalability as eight out of ten. Brocade Ethernet Switches are scalable.
Technical support is good. I rate them eight out of ten.
Positive
I have used many network switches previously, such as Cisco and Juniper. The main differences are in scalability, sustainability, and flexibility in configuration. Cisco is better in terms of scalability.
The initial setup was easy.
Deployment was done for the customer, not in-house.
I would recommend Brocade Ethernet Switches because they are easy to configure and have good technical support.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
The most valuable feature of Brocade Ethernet Switches is the good range of access it provides.
Brocade Ethernet Switches could improve by having better compatibility with web management of older versions.
I have been using Brocade Ethernet Switches for approximately three years.
The solution is stable.
I rate the stability of Brocade Ethernet Switches a nine out of ten.
Brocade Ethernet Switches are scalable.
We have approximately 2,000 clients using this solution. Most of the users are application administrators.
I rate the scalability of Brocade Ethernet Switches a seven out of ten.
The support has been helpful.
I rate the support from Brocade Ethernet Switches a nine out of ten.
Positive
I have not used other similar solutions to Brocade Ethernet Switches.
The initial setup of Brocade Ethernet Switches is simple, it was not complicated. It did not take a lot of time to complete.
We contacted the support to insure we were implementing the solution the correct way.
The price of Brocade Ethernet Switches is expensive.
I would recommend this solution to others. It has been working well in my organization.
We have five people for the maintenance of the solution.
I rate Brocade Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.
Our organization has almost all of the financial institutions in Puerto Rico connected simultaneously to our system. We have a firewall first, and then the Brocade system.
All of our switches are layer three, Ethernet solutions, and fiber optic uplink. One of the switches I was using as a mediator between our on-premises solution and DNC. Brocade was the one mediator along with Fortinet.
There are approximately 500 users of the solution inside our organization in different roles and 1500 individuals outside connecting. Brocade requires two engineers, one from our site and one from the vendor's site, to deploy and maintain the solution.
We rely on this solution. Our company provides financial aid to people living in Puerto Rico, and we have been doing this for over ten years, with over five billion dollars in sales. We have been going through these switches with no hacking, breakdown, or any issue with the switches whatsoever. They helped improve our performance.
The reliability of Brocade is the most valuable feature. The solution has been up and running for over ten years without any fail, fixes required, or breakdowns. It is a very strong piece of equipment.
Brocade provides me with the confidence I need.
Brocade Ethernet Switches need a better interface and centralized management.
I have using Brocade Ethernet Switches for ten years.
Brocade is a stable solution.
This is a scalable solution.
The support out of Puerto Rico is very good. I tried to continue with the support as long as it was available.
Positive
Prior to Brocade, I used a Cisco system. We switched because the cost of Cisco at the time was too high.
The initial setup of the solution was of medium difficulty. It was not out of the box. It required two to three weeks to implement.
Our implementation strategy involved looking at the physical configuration and giving them to an implementation partner. The partner simulated prior to the installation. This included all the programming in the Brocade system. It was a test environment, to test different scenarios.
Once the tests were okay, we went floor by floor changing the switches.
Prior to selecting Brocade Ethernet Switches, I recommend that you compare it with other solutions. There are great solutions in the market. Evaluate costs, reliability, and scalability, because once you choose a solution, they will be your partner for the next six to ten years.
I would rate Brocade Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.
I'm primarily using the solution as black and gray switches. I'm not using them as a configured switch. We are using it to extend some networks.
Our old Brocade switches are used for extending our network and are especially used as an extension for urgent matters.
The switches last for a very long time.
It's stable for doing its functions, as a black and gray switch. It's a very good switch, at least the older ones. I've been using them for ten years and they are still in use.
The solution is scalable.
We have found the solution to be easy to set up.
The solution could be more secure. However, we use quite old versions.
I've used the solution for ten years. It's been a long time since I first began using the product.
The solution is very stable. These switches have lasted a long time and in that sense their performance is good. I cannot speak to the newer switches.
The product can scale quite well. A company can expand the product as needed.
In terms of how many users are on the solution, it's hard to count. We have a mix of various switches that we use at any given time, including these and Cisco. Likely, 100 people are connected at any given time.
I've never used the solution's technical support. I can't speak to how helpful or responsive they would be.
We also use Cisco at this point as well. Those switches are a bit newer.
It is very easy to set up the switches. A company shouldn't have any issues with the implementation.
It doesn't take any time for switches to be installed and configured. It's very quick.
You need to have two technical people to maintain the product.
I don't directly deal with the costs or licensing.
We are not using the latest version of the solution. These are old switches. Very old ones from ten years ago.
If I was going to recommend any switches, I would recommend Cisco. This is due to the fact that I don't deal with modern switches from Brocade. That said, from how well the older switches have worked for me, I'd recommend the solution ten out of ten.
We use Brocade switches for our LAN and for our SAN.
These switches are no longer supported.
We have been using Brocade Ethernet Switches for five years.
I have not had any issues with our Brocade switches.
The initial setup was okay.
At the time we choose Brocade, we had evaluated switches by Cisco and Extreme Networks as well. We felt that Brocade was the best at that time.
The VDX line of Brocade switches has been acquired by Extreme Networks and the ICX line has moved to another vendor.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
It's actually a DC device. We are using storage in DC as well as in DR. Because we are a government organization, everything is on-premises.
It has good integration with HPE Primera. They have smart zoning in which the administration is very easy. You don't have to do anything. Zoning and other things are done automatically if you just enable the smart zoning. That's one very good thing in HP.
It should be simpler. There are still some things that can be simpler in the Brocade switches.
We have been using this solution for eight months.
We haven't faced any issues with stability and scalability.
We haven't contacted technical support. We didn't require any support from the technical side.
The initial setup was straightforward. It was not that complex. It's a one-day job for both DC and DR.
I am okay with Cisco MDS switches as well as Brocade switches. I have also used Brocade switch in the old days when it was Dell EMC Clariion.
I would recommend Brocade Ethernet Switches for using with HP solutions. I don't know how they work with other storage solutions. We are using this solution with HPE Primera, and it's working fine. It's very good.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
I work as a system infrastructure engineer and our company is a customer of Brocade.
One of the valuable features of this solution is that it works with the concept of zoning. There's a zone for each server and there are services in the storage. When the link of a full port is failing, it automatically switches to another port so you don't lose the connection. That's pretty important for the high level of availability of the applications and the access to the storage data.
There are other solutions that are free and that enable you to check the access of the ports and the IU stats also. In this solution there isn't one for the switch that allows for checking the stats, the health of the ports and all the data that exist in the switch. It's just like CLI commands. This solution doesn't have a graphical interface and that's an issue.
As mentioned, a graphical interface should be included in any new release - it would increase options.
I've been using this solution for almost a year.
This is a very stable solution.
It's a scalable solution. You can use two switches as one, single switch in the fabric. You can add two and possibly three switches, so they can use it as if it was one switch.
I've had some contact with technical support relating to hardware failures, nothing serious and it didn't affect the production. I was satisfied with the support they provided. They were good.
For storage it's a good solution, especially if you're working with e-paying solutions.
I would rate this solution a seven out of 10.
Our primary use case for this solution is for ethernet switches.
The most important feature of this solution is the performance because we have many switches and we have a performance for Brocade Ethernet Switches that needs about 16 gigabyte per second. We have accessed these 16 gigabyte per second.
There are some performance issues that I would like to see improved.
I have been using the solution for four to five years.
We have many users on Brocade Ethernet Switches that use it for storages on the application.
The technical support is good. You just send them an email or open a ticket on the website, and then they will look at the issue.
The initial setup was easy and the configuration was straightforward. We used a consultant at first, but after that we figured the rest out ourselves.
I am supporting NVMe technology and it's a new technology, so I often struggle with performance issues. That is why I will rate this solution a nine out of ten only, and not a ten out of ten.
Our primary use case of this solution is connecting hosts to do some storages.
The solution works very well. It is a very good product and they have a network advisor that collects the information so that you can manage all the sound switches from one place, and also get the ports.
The solution is stable and we haven't had any issues.
I believe it is easy to expand this platform. We get by with a switch with 24 ports active and then one can buy the other 96 fields, for instance. But we don't use directors, we use only switches. Directors are for the bigger networks. We have no other users on this platform. We connect to a new storage to the sound switch and new servers.
We haven't used the technical support yet.
The initial setup was really straightforward and easy.
I have been using this solution for a long time and kept with it, because everything I need, is covered by it. I am happy with its performance and its features. I will rate it a nine out of ten.
CLI and supported technologies are very close to Cisco. The support from vendor team is great!
Lowered our network budget.
Technically the product is always improving the software part, but the hardware needs to be more reliable. I faced some issues with Power Supply only.
We've had no issues with deployment.
We've had no issues with stability.
We've had no issues with scalability.
