We are using Cisco Catalyst Switches for corporate and production, such as offices. We have two networks running and the second one is an Everts network and it is more specialized in TV video broadcasting.
Senior Network Administrator at a media company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Helpful technical support and highly reliable
Pros and Cons
- "Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable and stable."
- "The solution could improve by having a video IP feature."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Cisco Catalyst Switches has been very useful in my organization because we do a lot of videos. My company is a TV station.
What needs improvement?
The solution could improve by having a video IP feature.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches for approximately 30 years.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
August 2025

Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable and stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have approximately 500 Cisco Catalyst Switches installed.
How are customer service and support?
The support of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very good.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are a large company and the price is reasonable because we have received a discount. However, the full price is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I 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. Partner

Stable legacy switches with increasingly good performance
Pros and Cons
- "When it comes to Cisco Catalyst Switches, one can say that the legacy switches are stable."
- "All other modules have comparatively many more functions or power than regular Catalyst switches."
What is most valuable?
When it comes to Cisco Catalyst Switches, one can say that the legacy switches are stable. We have been using them for so long and there are many who feel comfortable with their use. This can vary with the business size, some being entry, medium or enterprise level, which means its use is geared towards every level.
What needs improvement?
All other modules have comparatively many more functions or power than regular Catalyst switches.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Cisco Catalyst Switches since the outset, for more than 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Being legacy switches, Catalyst switches are stable. We have been using them for many years and there are many who are comfortable with their use.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Nexus, which uses NX-OS, runs on a different operating system than CatOS, which means that the latter tends to run on OS - just like a Cisco router - only with the functioning being a bit different. While NX-OS is very different, even when it comes to the command line, most things are the same.
However, NX-OS already introduced a different concept, which is more like a carrier level. They have a dedicated command management module. All other modules have comparatively many more functions or power than regular Catalyst switches.
What other advice do I have?
Catalyst is a legacy system and we are already utilizing the 9000 series, including 9200, 9300 and 9800 for different use scenarios. As Catalyst covers all levels and areas, I cannot think of anything needing improvement. It is getting to be very good, performance-wise, at the moment.
We are talking about a network portion. Catalyst and Nexus switches are all part of the network domain.
I rate Cisco Catalyst Switches as a nine-point-five out of ten, since it is a great, albeit imperfect, product.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
August 2025

Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Project Manager at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Great equipment with good performance and an excellent warranty
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to implement and quick to deploy."
- "The technical support, in some cases, should be faster and could improve."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use it to provide a hierarchy in the data center, enterprise solutions, and high availability solutions.
What is most valuable?
The performance of this equipment is much better than other options. The warranty on offer is perfect for me as they attend to issues in a maximum of four hours or within the next business day.
The solution is easy to implement and quick to deploy.
The solution is very stable.
I found the scalability to always be good.
What needs improvement?
The technical support, in some cases, should be faster and could improve.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for ten years. It's been a decade. I've dealt with Cisco for a while.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability potential is very high. I can put many types of equipment on it and the solution will keep in the same level performance. It doesn't dip.
Currently, we have 1,000 people on the solution.
I do plan to implement the solution in future projects, as, so far, it has been issue-free and works very well.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support could be a bit more responsive.
How was the initial setup?
in terms of the initial setup, and how easy or hard it is, it depends on the technical knowledge base and on the person that will be implementing the solution.
I was working with data center providers, and, for us, with our level of knowledge, every time it was very easy to implement this equipment.
The deployment is pretty fast. After a couple of hours, you should have it up and running. We had a big team as well, which helped ensure it didn't take us long.
We have about 15 people at three technical levels that can handle maintenance tasks.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented the solution myself. I did not need an integrator or consultant to assist.
What was our ROI?
Likely, after three or so years, you may see an ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The licensing costs vary. If you buy a lot, the costs are lower, however, if you only need a few, the costs are very, very high.
You can also pay for additional support that guarantees four-hour or next-day resolutions.
What other advice do I have?
I am a solutions provider. We're consultants and we help other companies implement this solution.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.
I would recommend the solution to other users and organizations.
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.
IT Coordinator - Networking Team at a maritime company with 11-50 employees
Reliable but not very flexible
Pros and Cons
- "Catalyst Switches are reliable. We don't have major problems like lost connections, and we only have a minor issue with something every few months. In the last five years, a switch broke down once, and that was due to human error."
- "I can't use older Cisco devices with newer versions of the controller or switches. For example, if a switch was manufactured in 2014, I can't use it with a controller made in 2019. I have to change the switch so that I can upgrade my network or my devices. I don't have the option to update the version I have on the image of the AP or the controller."
What is our primary use case?
We use Catalyst switches to extend our network throughout the facility. It's a big facility, so we need to use switches the ABS to get the signal out to the entire facility.
What is most valuable?
I like Cisco because you are dealing with something old that the new generation doesn't know about, like telnet or how to configure the switch. I don't like simple GUIs where you can do everything with a click.
What needs improvement?
I can't use older Cisco devices with newer versions of the controller or switches. For example, if a switch was manufactured in 2014, I can't use it with a controller made in 2019. I have to change the switch so that I can upgrade my network or my devices. I don't have the option to update the version I have on the image of the AP or the controller.
Also, in the K5 Series of the switches — Cisco calls them "Core" switches — they have some commands that Catalyst doesn't support, so you have to know the command lines for two different devices to configure them. It's a bit confusing when you are working on both at the same time, and you have some problems, then you notice that you didn't use the correct command for that switch.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Cisco Catalyst for five years, but I've only been working with the solution in-depth for the past few months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Catalyst Switches are reliable. We don't have major problems like lost connections, and we only have a minor issue with something every few months. In the last five years, a switch broke down once, and that was due to human error.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco customer service is excellent. We had some issues with devices, and Cisco replaced them for us. We had some significant problems with one of the switches because they changed the image. It took a while, but overall, the support is good.
How was the initial setup?
It's not hard if you have some networking experience. I didn't deploy the switches by myself. We had some help from the vendor, and I supervised them.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
With some competitors, yes, it's about, let's say very high price. Half the price you can get Jupiter, or I think also, I forget the brand, TP-Link, you can have something like that, but half the price with it, with maybe also advanced features to deal with it.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Cisco Catalyst switches seven 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
Senior Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Easy to configure, scalable, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "We find the product very easy to configure."
- "The solution is expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for our server. It's a network solution as well.
What is most valuable?
It's a very popular solution.
We find the product very easy to configure.
The stability is very good.
The product can scale quite well.
What needs improvement?
Cisco is basically the number one switch in the market. It makes it hard for other options to compete.
The solution is expensive. Sometimes we will choose some cheaper options even though they are not as stable as Cisco's offering. However, if it is a small project, it may not be worth paying Cisco prices to get it done.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for two or three years at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I have found the solution to be very stable. The performance is good. It doesn't crash or freeze. it's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability has been excellent. A company shouldn't have any issues with expanding it if they need to.
We have three to five people that directly work with this product.
We already use so many Catalyst switches. I'm not sure if we intend to add any more.
How are customer service and support?
We don't really need any support as we have a network engineer on staff that can help us troubleshoot if we have issues.
How was the initial setup?
I can't speak to the initial setup. In terms of the installation process, we have a network engineer that will help us to install the switches when we need them.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is expensive. There are other cheaper switches on the market. However, they may not necessarily be as stable as this option.
When you buy the Cisco, the price already includes a software license.
What other advice do I have?
I'm not sure which version of the solution we're using. It might be the latest.
I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten. I've been pleased with its capabilities overall.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director, IT Infrastructure Department at Zemen Bank S.C.
Good for computation and backup; lacks some features and not user-friendly
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is good for computation and backup."
- "We need to rely on other devices to provide management features."
What is our primary use case?
Our company is in the financial sector and we are customers of Cisco.
What is most valuable?
The solution is good for computation and backup.
What needs improvement?
We need to rely on other devices to provide management features. Other solutions provide more features and Catalyst Switches is not user-friendly. Even the configuration is difficult for our new engineers. Cisco has some weaknesses.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for 13 years.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is very good, but anything support-related is based on payment. Without paying you won't see any service from Cisco. The same goes for training which requires payment. Other solutions provide training without payment but not Cisco.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The technical support license is very difficult because you can only get support if you've purchased the hardware. After you own the devices you still have to pay for support and pay for the license. Everything is an added cost.
What other advice do I have?
There are alternative solutions now penetrating the market and because of difficulties with configuration in this product, there are now more appealing options.
I rate the solution seven out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Head Cyber Security at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
Straightforward, scalable and stable solution
Pros and Cons
- "They are pretty good. They are stable. Cisco has been around in the industry for a long time, so they are reliable, as well."
- "In terms of what could be improved, more integration is the main thing they should be focused on."
What is our primary use case?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are pretty straightforward. They offer LAN and internal networking. They are for network segmentations and LAN and WAN perimeter networks.
What needs improvement?
In terms of what could be improved, more integration is the main thing they should be focused on.
For how long have I used the solution?
I believe the sets of Cisco Catalyst Switches are being used in our company for more than five to seven years.
I myself have been using this for the last two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
They are pretty good. They are stable. Cisco has been around in the industry for a long time, so they are reliable, as well.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite scalable.
Our organization strength is around 15,000 using it.
How are customer service and technical support?
We are pretty happy with customer service. As far as my experience with Cisco is concerned, they are pretty up-to-date in terms of their responses.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was easy. They are very easy to install.
What about the implementation team?
We generally do a first model and we have an execution team. They take care of the implementation and everything.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale of one to ten, I would give Cisco Catalyst Switches around an eight.
I think they're pretty okay. Cisco is pretty straightforward.
I would absolutely recommend Cisco Catalyst Switches for others.
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.
Network Support Engineer at Nigeria LNG Limited
Easy to set up with good support and excellent stability
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to use."
- "The price of the product is very expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for ethernet WAN connectivity, LAN connectivity, wireless, then integration with other third-party solutions. That's all we use it for, for the most part.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to use.
It is very stable and the performance has been very reliable.
The installation process is fairly straightforward.
Technical support has been helpful.
What needs improvement?
The solution should work to become more scalable.
The price of the product is very expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for a long time. It's likely been 15 years or more. It's well over a decade at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is very good. The performance is great. It doesn't crash or freeze and there are no bugs or glitches.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable enough. It could be better.
We have around 2,000 users on the switches currently.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support has been good overall. We've been in touch in the past. They were helpful and responsive and we've been satisfied with them in general.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not previously use a different solution. We've been using Cisco switches for a very long time.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward. If I need to do a new deployment, for example, we just go to the store, get a new one, and install it. We have 40 right now. The installation is very easy.
Due to the fact that we have another of the Cisco products in our environment, Cisco Prime, it helps to deploy switches faster. It's very easy. It doesn't take much time to deploy.
We have five engineers that are able to handle any deployment or maintenance.
What about the implementation team?
I was able to handle the implementation process myself. I did not need the assistance of an integrator or consultant.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We do find the cost to be quite high. They should work to lower it if possible.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the product itself at a nine out of ten. It's been very good so far and we are satisfied with its capabilities. The cost is quite high, however.
I would recommend the solution to other users and organizations.
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.

Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: August 2025
Popular Comparisons
Aruba Switches
NETGEAR Switches
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access
D-Link Ethernet Switches
Arista Networks Platform
Meraki MS Switches
Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches
Huawei Ethernet Switches
TP-Link Omada Switches
HPE Ethernet Switches
Cisco Nexus
NVIDIA Mellanox
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center
Juniper QFX Series Switches
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Cisco Catalyst Switches Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Quick Links
Learn More: Questions:
- Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
- Is it necessary to stack power cables while stacking switches in Cisco Catalyst 9300 into HA mode?
- Cisco Catalyst Switch 3560 is not working - looking for advice
- Juniper vs Cisco ethernet switches: Which one is better?
- When evaluating Ethernet Switches, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
- Which Ethernet switch do you use? Why?
- What are your recommended Layer 2 and Layer 3 network switches if the main consideration is performance?
- Does anyone have statistics on how often a fire occurs in a computer room?
- Why does Cisco dominate the ethernet switching market?
- Juniper EX4600 vs. Cisco 3850