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reviewer1079556 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Project Management at a tech vendor with 1-10 employees
Reseller
A reliable brand with good performance that's easy to manage
Pros and Cons
    • "We'd like Cisco to integrate with other solutions, including their own."

    What is our primary use case?

    We're an implementor of the product. We provide this product to our clients.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution's most valuable aspect is the management.

    Our clients really trust the brand.

    The quality of the product is excellent. It offers great performance.

    What needs improvement?

    We'd like Cisco to integrate better with other solutions, including their own.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I've been using the solution for the last two years or so.

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Catalyst Switches
    August 2025
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    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability of the solution is very good. We haven't had any stability issues. There aren't bugs or glitches. It's good.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution can scale. If a company needs to expand, they can do so easily.

    We typically deal with medium-sized companies.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support of the solution is good. The clients are covered under warranty. Cisco is very responsible when it comes to covering any issues for them.

    The documentation is quite good for the solution as well. It helps people understand the product.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    We also use HP and Extreme Networks. We work with a variety of solutions. We don't exclusively work with Cisco. Cisco does, however, have one of the highest product qualities on offer.

    What other advice do I have?

    We help our clients decide which product to use. We use Cisco and a wide variety of other products. We're implementors.

    When it comes to working with Cisco, customers are consistently offered a quality product. Many of our clients need a quality product with good performance. This solution is very reliable which is why we work with it.

    On a scale from one to ten, I would rate the solution at an eight.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1442112 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Product Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Reseller
    Good LAN switches with an easy initial setup and good stability
    Pros and Cons
    • "Mostly the LAN switching is the most valuable aspect of the solution."
    • "Cisco applies restrictions in relation to renewals on a yearly basis. Many other brands don't have restrictions. If Cisco lifted them, they wouldn't lose so many clients to competitors."

    What is our primary use case?

    Typically, the solution is used for a client's official network and several times as a replacement. A client may use it to replace the total network LAN switch. 

    What is most valuable?

    Mostly the LAN switching is the most valuable aspect of the solution.

    Clients often do not emphasize specifications of Catalyst features. They just need a switch for an office LAN and other segments. 

    What needs improvement?

    There are several versions of Catalyst, and yet, they are quite similar. If, in the simplest one, they could create a Catalyst segment where all the possibilities like QSFP, SFP, 10G, that would be ideal. MikroTik, a Latvian company, has that as an option. They include 1G and 10G and QSFP all in one switch. Cisco, however, divides it into several switches across these features. Cisco is likely doing it to make money. However, clients sometimes don't want to pay more for the switches and they ignore Cisco and grab other brands like MikroTik. As distributors, it makes it hard to sell Cisco when features come at such a high price. 

    Another issue is the restrictions on the product. Cisco applies restrictions in relation to renewals on a yearly basis. Many other brands don't have restrictions. If Cisco lifted them, they wouldn't lose so many clients to competitors.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We've been using the solution for a long time. It's been about seven to nine years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The product is quite stable. It doesn't crash or freeze and there aren't any bugs or glitches. It's quite reliable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    You can scale the solution and you can choose different versions that fit the sizes of a variety of organizations.

    Our clients range in size. Some are smaller organizations. Others are enterprise-level companies.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We talk with the support that is based in Bangladesh. They have an office in our country and provide support as necessary. We have contracts for one to three years and they provide technical and phone support to us. The support is fine, but it takes time sometimes to get the assistance we require. 

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    As resellers, we work with other solutions, including Huawei, Juniper, MicroTik, and some other brands in China (as well as Cisco).

    Recently, Huawei has been doing good in switching segments. They're bringing some new features that are better than or compete with Cisco, and they are very aggressive in pricing. 

    The problem is they're doing only Enterprise segments. They are not doing SMB.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup isn't too complex. However, we have very well trained technicians that really understand the process. For them, it's easy.

    If our clients request it of us, we can maintain the switches for them after implementation.

    What about the implementation team?

    We can assist our clients with implementation if they request the service.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The pricing of Cisco products is quite expensive. Huawei, for example, costs much less.

    There aren't extra costs for additional features. All features are standard.

    What other advice do I have?

    We are resellers and distributors. We're partners with Cisco.

    We use a variety of different versions of the solution, including 3003, 29603, and 9003. Those are three of the most popular. Which we use depends on the client and their particular needs. Sometimes we only resell the product to our clients and sometimes we also provide the solution and install and configure the Catalyst for the clients. It depends on the client's query.

    Overall, I would rate the solution eight out of ten. Overall, our clients have been quite happy with the results they get from Cisco products.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
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    reviewer1454037 - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT & Software Manager at a energy/utilities company with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    A stable part of our network infrastructure, with many resources available
    Pros and Cons
    • "These switches are stable."
    • "In the future, I would like to see better security for this product."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use Cisco Catalyst switches as part of the network infrastructure.

    What needs improvement?

    In the future, I would like to see better security for this product.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Cisco Catalyst Switches for more than three years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    These switches are stable. I use both the switches and the access points.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I am satisfied with the Cisco support. There are a lot of resources out there.

    How was the initial setup?

    This product is complex to install and it takes time to configure it.

    What about the implementation team?

    I deployed it myself.

    What other advice do I have?

    This is a product that I can recommend to others.

    I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    it_user773409 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Manager, Information Technology at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
    Real User
    Strong features, easy to manage, and excellent support
    Pros and Cons
    • "All features are very strong. It is very easy to manage. It is also certified and popular. Cisco has come up with a new management console to manage the switches. I still haven't tried it, but in my opinion, this is the best way forward. You can use software to manage the switches instead of the common line configuration. You can manage it through software, which is very easy."
    • "It can have more security features to secure the access layer."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use it to connect our end users. It is used for DMZ connections behind the firewalls and campus network.

    What is most valuable?

    All features are very strong. It is very easy to manage. It is also certified and popular.

    Cisco has come up with a new management console to manage the switches. I still haven't tried it, but in my opinion, this is the best way forward. You can use software to manage the switches instead of the common line configuration. You can manage it through software, which is very easy.

    What needs improvement?

    It can have more security features to secure the access layer.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Catalyst 9300 Series for the last two years. It is a new model. I have been using previous models, such as Catalyst 3750, 3560, and 2960, for maybe more than 15 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is very stable. You just install it and forget about it for years. I had a switch that was running for more than 11 years without a singular restart. That switch had a running time of more than 11 years.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is scalable. We have 400 users.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support is great. I was talking to one of my colleagues just two hours back about Cisco technical support. They are brilliant and excellent. If we have any hardware failure, we get it fixed the second day. We get multiple engineers working on the case if it is a critical issue. They are really supportive.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I have been using only Cisco solutions from the beginning. It has been more than 20 years now.

    We plan to keep using this solution. We are going to refresh it with the latest model. We are in the process of acquiring the new model and replacing all obsolete switches with the new Catalyst 9K series. The order will be placed maybe next week.

    How was the initial setup?

    Its setup was easy. It took an hour to configure each switch.

    What about the implementation team?

    I deployed it myself. We have three network engineers to manage the entire network. 

    What other advice do I have?

    I would definitely recommend this product to other users. I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a ten out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1447320 - PeerSpot reviewer
    CISO at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
    Real User
    It is pretty much stable, and there is a lot of improvement in the network segment
    Pros and Cons
    • "There is a lot of improvement in the network segment after replacing the older switches. I have not seen any kind of issue with these switches since deployment. They are pretty much stable."
    • "Cisco can definitely improve the training part. They can provide more training related to configuration."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use it for connectivity for my enterprise users. My entire platform is on Cisco, and we have different plans.

    What is most valuable?

    There is a lot of improvement in the network segment after replacing the older switches.
    I have not seen any kind of issue with these switches since deployment. They are pretty much stable. 

    What needs improvement?

    Cisco can definitely improve the training part. They can provide more training related to configuration.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have recently done an upgrade. We installed these switches around one year ago.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a pretty much stable product.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is scalable. We have 1,500 users.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support is managed by the vendor so far. The vendor is taking care of any issues.

    What about the implementation team?

    The entire implementation was done by the vendor, but we are managing it in-house. We have a Cisco-certified vendor to do all kinds of implementation and train our people. The overall project was for six months, but because of Covid, it got delayed. We have finished it may be a month back. We have four different locations. The vendor deployed technical manpower of six to eight members for each location. 

    We had just one issue with a switch, and the replacement was done within a week. The connectivity was not going through, and it was giving packet drops. The issue was identified, but because of Covid, there was a delay from Cisco. Our vendor was able to ensure that there was no installation delay. Because we had 3% to 4% stock over and above the inventory for installation, they used the switch from that particular inventory, and later on, they provided the switch within a week.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    I don't see any price issue with Cisco. Whenever you buy a quality product, you always have a mindset of paying the premium amount.  For any good product, you pay a premium amount, but that also means you are going to recover that premium over a period of time in terms of performance.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution. It is a pretty good product. We don't see any issue with Cisco Catalyst Switches. We have a license of five years as per our current agreement with Cisco. We plan to keep using these.

    I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches a nine out of ten. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Vice President, Technology, Research & Development at Thales
    Real User
    A pretty good scalable and stable product
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is a pretty good product. I don't see a problem with this product. Cisco Catalyst Switches fit the best for the type of systems that we deploy. Our customers usually are happy with Cisco equipment. Many partners and third parties have ordered this solution."
    • "Its initial setup can be simpler, and it would be great if we can work with a reference architecture. Cisco has the capability to provide a very integrated solution. They have DNA Center, Cisco ISE, Cisco Prime, FMC, and AMP. We are looking at all the products, but it is rather complex to pick out the right licenses that you need. The license structure is a bit complex. Sometimes, there is an overlap in products, which does not really make sense. For example, you have DNA Center and Cisco Prime, and it is not really clear what you would use for what exactly. There is a lot of information on the Cisco website, but it takes a while to go through all this and look at the presentations that are available from Cisco Live. These presentations are appreciated, but sometimes, they are a bit too much like bullet points. You don't exactly know what's behind it, so you have to do a second guess. Overall, there is a lot of information but not always to the point."

    What is our primary use case?

    I am a solution architect and design authority. I define what we need and in which direction we are going to look. We then do some detailed investigation, get reports back, and make a decision. We are working on air traffic control systems. We use this solution for data centers and remote clients.

    What is most valuable?

    It is a pretty good product. I don't see a problem with this product. Cisco Catalyst Switches fit the best for the type of systems that we deploy. Our customers usually are happy with Cisco equipment. Many partners and third parties have ordered this solution.

    What needs improvement?

    Its initial setup can be simpler, and it would be great if we can work with a reference architecture.

    Cisco has the capability to provide a very integrated solution. They have DNA Center, Cisco ISE, Cisco Prime, FMC, and AMP. We are looking at all the products, but it is rather complex to pick out the right licenses that you need. The license structure is a bit complex. Sometimes, there is an overlap in products, which does not really make sense. For example, you have DNA Center and Cisco Prime, and it is not really clear what you would use for what exactly.

    There is a lot of information on the Cisco website, but it takes a while to go through all this and look at the presentations that are available from Cisco Live. These presentations are appreciated, but sometimes, they are a bit too much like bullet points. You don't exactly know what's behind it, so you have to do a second guess. Overall, there is a lot of information but not always to the point.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Cisco switches for 30 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It has pretty good stability.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Scalability is pretty good.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We have experience with professional services. If we do a design, usually we can get some support. After we deploy a new network, we can get professional services from Cisco to help us. I think that is fine. I had an experience with Cisco last week, where they wanted to sell professional services to help us in the early design phase, where things are more conceptual. They shouldn't do that. 

    Cisco should help based on the reference architecture. They should help the potential customer to get started without asking for money. I think Cisco equipment is expensive enough for that. I have no problem paying for professional services after we deploy it or when we do a detailed design. When it is early in a project's phase, we should get help from them to go in the right direction. It should be part of the normal business to work with an initial customer.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup works well if you can build on earlier projects, but if you really have to make a completely new design, you will struggle a bit. We are working on a project now, and we have our experienced network engineers on this project, and they are struggling. The initial setup could be simpler.

    It would be great if we can work with reference architectures. I have also seen something like this with other suppliers, and I really liked it. I have seen some of the ideas in the Cisco Live presentations, but I'm not sure if it is really complete and clear enough. It should be worked out a bit further so that we can work with reference architectures, and then let's say base it on multiple products that you would apply in the reference architecture. 

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Cisco products are not that cheap.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would definitely recommend this solution. I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight out of ten.

    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. Reseller
    PeerSpot user
    Deputy Chief Engineer at SYSCOM COMPUTER ENGINEERING CO.
    Real User
    Easy to set up and use, stable, and the support is good
    Pros and Cons
    • "Catalyst switches are easy to use and simple to work with."
    • "I would like to see support for one-touch provisioning."

    What is our primary use case?

    The switches are for network infrastructure in an enterprise.

    What is most valuable?

    Catalyst switches are easy to use and simple to work with.

    What needs improvement?

    I would like to see support for one-touch provisioning.


    By use zero touch provision , We do need a lot of config for system boot and other, That should be improved.


    https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/...

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for about 20 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The Catalyst Switches are stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    This is a scalable product. We have about 1,000 users.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    The support is amazing, although they could be a little faster.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    I have not used other similar products.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward. The installation takes about 30 minutes per device.

    What about the implementation team?

    I install this product on my own. We have about 10 IT staff who can work with these switches.

    What other advice do I have?

    This is a good product and I recommend it.

    I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    reviewer1042635 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Science Technician at a government with 201-500 employees
    Real User
    Is easy to configure and resolves our internal problems
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security."
    • "They should also have a graphic interface for the switches too without the command line."

    What is our primary use case?

    We have an Academy, we know how to manage it. We have the knowledge to manage it and it gives us security. We can configure the switch to resolve our internal problems. We can use one switch for five to six years.

    It's used for our processor, a small data center, and we have our network with at least 500 users.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security.

    What needs improvement?

    In the next release, they should lower the price. It's too expensive. 

    They should also have a graphic interface for the switches too without the command line. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for ten years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability is good. 

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We have 500 users. 

    It requires us to have at least 10 technicians. Five technicians and other administrative staff.

    In the future, we need to do disaster recovery in the cloud. We are working on-premise and our future is to use it on the cloud for our disaster recovery.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We have a contract with a company that gives us support.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was not very complex. 

    What about the implementation team?

    We used a consultant for the implementation. 

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    Licensing is on a yearly basis. We usually spend up to $20,000.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend it because it's a good solution that gives you security and is easy to use.

    I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches an eight out of ten. They respond to all of our needs. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: August 2025
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.