PeerSpot user
IT Admin at UT Austin Office of Technology Commercialization
Real User
Streamlines operations and maintenance and reduces end-user downtime
Pros and Cons
    • "It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users."

    What is our primary use case?

    LAN switch for both core and access layers. It has performed very well in this area.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The ease of deployment and the support are associated with a reduction in end-user downtime as well as in the operations and maintenance efforts required.

    What is most valuable?

    Among the most valuable features are the support and the ecosystem. There is a lot of documentation and information, and many support resources are available.

    What needs improvement?

    It would be helpful to have the ability to load new IOS software without performing a reboot, or to be able to perform the reboot without disrupting end-users.

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Catalyst Switches
    March 2024
    Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    This is a very stable and mature platform with a proven record of reliability.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Catalyst is very a very scalable solution thanks to its Stack mechanism, as well as the modular functionalities of some models.

    How are customer service and support?

    Cisco TAC support is very reliable and responsive. It has always been considered an industry benchmark among all IT support organizations.

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

    Business requirements were the driver for our switch to Catalyst. We needed an increase in port density and an increase in port speed, among other things.

    The most important criterion when selecting a vendor is the quality of the support team for technical issues.

    How was the initial setup?

    The setup of Catalyst, in general, is straightforward and easily done by following the documentation.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Extreme Networks, Juniper Networks, Dell.

    What other advice do I have?

    Consider your business requirements and only select the needed functions/features, to avoid over-complex solutions.

    I rate Catalyst a nine out of 10 because the product is extremely mature and reliable.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    IT Infrastructure Manager at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Easy to set up, good support, and interchangeable with other switches
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature of Cisco equipment is reliability."
    • "These switches should have better compatibility with software-defined technology."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Cisco switches as part of our network infrastructure. We have a LAN and we will be implementing an SD-WAN in the future.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable feature of Cisco equipment is reliability.

    As we are a Cisco-based company, the interchangeability with other switches is something that is valuable for us.

    What needs improvement?

    These switches should have better compatibility with software-defined technology.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with Cisco Catalyst Switches for approximately 25 years. Our current Cisco equipment is about five years old.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    This is a stable product, which is why we use it. The majority of our equipment is more than five years old.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Cisco switches are very scalable.

    We have two organic employees and we outsource between six and ten.

    How are customer service and support?

    The technical support that we get is great. We have another partner for support, rather than contact Cisco directly.

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

    I have been working with similar products from Dell EMC for approximately 15 years. Our most recent Dell product is about five years old. There have been improvements made with some of the newer products that have been released since then.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup was easy. We do have experience with Cisco products and also, our setup is not very difficult or complex. It's just a simple setup.

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

    I cannot say that the pricing is reasonable because it's a little above our expectations. If we consider the recent price increases, it is not acceptable anymore. They are trying to price us out of our budget.

    What other advice do I have?

    We want to adopt SD-WAN technology at the switch level. We will be expanding the software-defined capabilities of Cisco equipment to the LAN side of our network. We expect that Cisco will be the primary vendor for the equipment we use to initiate that move. This is not just for the wide-area network, but also the local area network.

    In summary, Cisco is a good vendor but they're quite pricey at the moment.

    I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Catalyst Switches
    March 2024
    Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Senior Network Engineer at a marketing services firm with 51-200 employees
    Real User
    Good VLAN capabilities and technical support, but the pricing is too high
    Pros and Cons
    • "The Cisco Catalyst is very stable and it can last for many years."
    • "Cisco has to lower the price of its products to make them more cost-effective."

    What is our primary use case?

    Our network infrastructure uses Cisco devices, including Cisco Catalyst Switches. 

    The primary use case is routing traffic between the various sites that we are connected to. We have leased lines connected all over the country for use cases in revenue, immigration, and other government services.

    What is most valuable?

    You can easily set up and configure VLANs.

    It is easy to set up connections between devices.

    What needs improvement?

    Cisco has to lower the price of its products to make them more cost-effective.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The Cisco Catalyst is very stable and it can last for many years. Some of our switches ran up until end-of-life and we are still using them now. We know that it's end-of-life but they still do the job.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We use a lot of products from Cisco.

    How are customer service and support?

    The Cisco technical support is fine and we are satisfied with it. However, at this time, we are getting our support from another company and there are some issues with our subscription. As such, we are not getting all of our services.

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

    We use Ubiquiti devices for our wireless LAN, and in addition to Cisco, we have routers from MikroTik. Within the last month, we used some Ruckus devices. These were connected to our MikroTik and Cisco devices.

    We also bought a Cisco Nexus, but it is not yet configured.

    How was the initial setup?

    The deployment was done before I joined the company.

    What about the implementation team?

    I am responsible for network maintenance. It includes updating the routers and adding new devices. I will deploy the Nexus switch that we bought recently.

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

    The prices of Cisco devices are too high.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    We currently have the Catalyst 2960 and it is going end-of-life, so I am considering a replacement. They suggested replacing it with the 9200 but I'm currently comparing Cisco and Meraki devices.

    In the market, some people are moving away from Cisco and using MikroTik devices because the price of Cisco products is too high. MikroTik products are cheaper and the gap in prices is too big. This is something that Cisco needs to consider.

    What other advice do I have?

    I am looking forward to learning more about the Nexus that we bought because we are using old technology. There are a lot of new features.

    I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Director of Product Management at a engineering company with 11-50 employees
    Real User
    Reliable, good scalability, and easy to configure through the command-line interface
    Pros and Cons
    • "One of the most valuable features is the MatchBox Switch."
    • "They need to simplify the Web GUI and make it easier to use, and more intuitive for the users."

    What is our primary use case?

    I use this solution for AV, Audio-Video applications, over IP solutions. It's to forward Audio-Video IP packets based on the ITMP protocol. I also needed a POE port to power the transmitters and receivers.

    What is most valuable?

    One of the most valuable features is the MatchBox Switch.

    What needs improvement?

    I used to use the CLI, the command line, but some users may want to use the Web GUI.

    They need to simplify the Cisco 2960 Web GUI control, but not the entire version or the functionality for the Web GUI control.

    IT people will most often use the CLI to configure the Cisco Switch.

    They need to simplify the Web GUI and make it easier to use, and more intuitive for the users.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have more than ten years of experience working with Cisco Switches.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It's stable. The Catalyst Switches are reliable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability is good.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I have not contacted Cisco technical support.

    There are several training videos available on YouTube. 

    If you Google, you can very easily gather material or training videos on how to configure the Cisco switch. 

    The Cisco website itself is too complicated for the user and there are too many things on it. If the users are not familiar with Cisco, it's very difficult to find useful information on the Cisco website. 

    In general, I don't use the Cisco website. I just Google the Cisco user manual or training video on YouTube to learn how to configure some features. 

    How was the initial setup?

    If you are familiar with the Cisco Switch, it is pretty straightforward to configure it using the CLI.

    If you are not familiar, in general, you will use the Web GUI.

    What other advice do I have?

    There are several YouTube videos available to help configure the Cisco switches. It is very easy to configure them.

    I would rate Cisco Catalyst Switches and eight out of ten. It's a pretty good switch.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Victor Arceo - PeerSpot reviewer
    IT Operations Section Head at Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation
    Real User
    Enterprise-grade networking switches that are stable and scalable
    Pros and Cons
    • "I like everything about Cisco Catalyst Switches. It's both stable and scalable."
    • "The price could be better. For Cisco, there is no need for improvement except for the price. It's expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Cisco Catalyst Switches for the local area network.

    What is most valuable?

    I like everything about Cisco Catalyst Switches. It's both stable and scalable.

    What needs improvement?

    The price could be better. For Cisco, there is no need for improvement except for the price. It's expensive.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for about ten years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It's a stable solution.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Cisco Catalyst Switches are scalable. We have about 1,300 users.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    Technical support was okay.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup and installation were straightforward. For configuration, it took around ten minutes. For the maintenance, we have two network administrators—just two personnel.

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

    It's expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    I would recommend this solution to new users.

    On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco Catalyst Switches a ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
    PeerSpot user
    Telecommunications Engineer at Universidad
    Real User
    Good performance and load-balancing capabilities, and good integration with other brands
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is load balancing."
    • "I would like to see a graphical user interface for the configuration."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are a solution provider and Cisco Catalyst Switches are one of the network products that we provide to our clients. Within the past year, we have implemented Catalyst 2960 switches and Cisco 1900 Series routers.

    I am implementing complex solutions with the Catalyst series that include the Spanning Tree Protocol. I build these solutions for educational institutions that are servicing professors and students, including wireless services.

    What is most valuable?

    The performance is good for complex solutions.

    The most valuable feature is load balancing.

    The integration with other brands is good.

    What needs improvement?

    I would like to see a graphical user interface for the configuration. This is something that other brands and models have.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have worked with the Cisco brand for the past seven years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    I am fine with the stability. With the protocol that was implemented, the network has not gone down.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Scalability is good and is suitable for an enterprise network.

    My clients are normally small companies.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    I don't usually contact technical support. I am familiar with the forum, so I search there when I need information. The documentation, manuals, and community support are all good.

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

    My client is using switches from MikroTik and Ubiquiti access points. We have also dealt with other vendors, including Cisco and Huawei, in the delivery of solutions to our customers. My clients choose Cisco because of the stability and performance.

    I have also worked with telecom enterprises in the past, which included working with Cisco products Catalyst and Nexus. 

    How was the initial setup?

    I have worked with these switches and know how to configure them.

    The length of time required for deployment depends on the size of the network. For a network of 15 switches, it takes me two or three days to configure.

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

    The price is too high for this market. Catalyst switches are more expensive than the competing options.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I am currently evaluating several options for my client. Their goal is to improve the reliability and architecture of the network, to give them improved scalability and performance. They need a good switch, but the budget is small so I am searching for the most cost-economical one that suits their needs. In fact, for them, the price is essential now.

    What other advice do I have?

    Overall, these switches are very good. I like to work with them because they have advanced capabilities. I recommend this product because Cisco has proprietary protocols and we are happy with them.

    I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller and Implementer
    PeerSpot user
    Manager Customer Engineering South (Presales) at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
    Real User
    Robust hardware with good documentation and good support
    Pros and Cons
    • "Cisco provides very good support services."
    • "The pricing could be better. Cisco is quite expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    LAN access, distribution and core. 

    How has it helped my organization?

    We are Cisco partner and sell Cisco solutions, we have sold this platform for last 20 years. Its quite robust and work in worst environmental conditions.

    What is most valuable?

    In terms of the switches, the uptime and the robustness of the hardware are the most valuable aspects. 

    Cisco devices are quite good. They do not fail specially the Catalyst Switches. 

    The solution offers quite a robust infrastructure, hardware-wise. 

    Cisco provides very good support services.

    Cisco is improving and investing in R&D right now. They are investing a lot in research, and keep improving their products.

    For example, they have recently launched the SDA, SDWAN, ACI etc. Software Defined-Solutions, in which you can automate your operations and enhance your operations, and avoid manual stuff.

    What needs improvement?

    With their constant innovation and investment in R&D, there isn't really very much the solution isn't lacking or building upon in terms of features.

    The pricing could be better.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We've been using Catalyst for long time. It's a very old Cisco brand, I have been deploying catalyst switches for last 20 years. 

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is extremely stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    You can scale the solution quite well. It's good in that regard.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We're quite happy with their support services. They also offer very good documentation.

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

    Since we are reseller / partner we sell different vendors solutions.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is very easy.

    On top of that, they have complete documentation available on their website. Whatever scenario you are deploying, you can search for an example of it on their website. That can help guild you during the process.

    What was our ROI?

    We are reseller / partner.

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

    licensing model is changing from perpetual licenses to subscription based licensing. Subscription based licensing model is cheaper but reoccur every year or 3, 5 or 7 years.  

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    Not relevant. 

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises

    If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

    Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Hybrid Cloud & Infrastructure Operations at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
    MSP
    A stable and easy-to-deploy solution with quick support and DHCP feature
    Pros and Cons
    • "I recently discovered the DHCP feature. There is a feature with which you can make the core act as a DHCP server, and it will distribute the IPs for every device. I discovered this feature recently, and it is very nice."
    • "Its price can be improved. Some devices can be very expensive."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are supporting many clients. Some of them have Cisco switches, and some of them have HPE. We are supporting their network and solving any requests. We are doing troubleshooting for them. For most of the clients, we do full support of the network, but it also depends on the service that they took from our company. Some of them don't give us access to their core switches, which is very rare. Most of the clients give us full access. If they need, for example, a new route, we edit the VLAN port configuration, port channels, etc.

    We are also managing the wireless controller for all clients. We are supporting them by creating the wireless connection and changing the password periodically.

    What is most valuable?

    I recently discovered the DHCP feature. There is a feature with which you can make the core act as a DHCP server, and it will distribute the IPs for every device. I discovered this feature recently, and it is very nice.

    What needs improvement?

    Its price can be improved. Some devices can be very expensive.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been working with this solution for around two years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    If you follow the recommendation of Cisco, it is scalable. Sometimes, when there is anything wrong with it, we open a ticket with Cisco, and they recommend upgrading the IOS. 

    We have many clients here. Most of them have Cisco. We have three clients with HPE. 

    How are customer service and support?

    They are very nice and very quick.

    How was the initial setup?

    Most of them are easy, especially if you have a stack solution. If it is arranged as a stack, it would be very easy to do an installation, and it also takes a shorter time than the standalone. One of the clients I worked with had a stack solution, and it was very easy. We just had to erase everything, put the new switch in there, and connect the stack cables and power cables. That was it. Sometimes, it can take the configuration from the flash.

    The number of people required depends on the topology. If it is a big topology, you need two or three people. If it is a small topology, you need less number of people.

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

    It is overpriced. Some devices can be very expensive.

    Most of the clients have a contract with Cisco for two or three years.

    What other advice do I have?

    There are different categories of switches. There are Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches. In Layer 2 switches, 2650 is nice. It is a good switch. In Layer 3, most of the switches are good.

    I would rate this solution an eight out of 10.

    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
    PeerSpot user
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
    Updated: March 2024
    Buyer's Guide
    Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.