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RezaPradipta - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Officer Network Managed Service Product Management at PT. Indosat Tbk
Reseller
Top 10
Resilient devices with good documentation and helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "The documentation is very good."
  • "They are pretty expensive devices."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case depends on the customer's kind of business. From my experience, I'm serving clients with the enterprise internet gateway, BGP router, and internal enterprise campus network for our enterprise networks, et cetera.

What is most valuable?

Cisco is the industry standard. I tend to use it a lot. 

The resilience of the devices is very good.

It's good for internet-based networking.

The documentation is very good.

The solution is stable. 

It's scalable. 

What needs improvement?

For the Enterprise Router, especially for Cisco, we want Cisco to have a less simple product and a more scalable product, so we don't have to choose from so many series. We'd like one device fit for many use cases. The scalability must be simplified.

The lead time is pretty bad. It's worse than other products. We'd like them to speed up their speed of delivery. It can take almost 300 days at this point in order to get the devices. 

They are pretty expensive devices. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been dealing with the solution for ten years or so.

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

The is a very stable product. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. I'd rate the product eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution can scale, however, it is complicated. there are so many different series to choose from. 

I'd rate the ability to scale nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

Their support is perfect. They are very helpful and responsive. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We deliver many various solutions and many services. We're bundling with our connectivity products, such as routers, switches, wireless, SD-WAN, and Zephyr.

We are exploring Cisco SD-WAN, Viptela, and Meraki, and then we're in the progress of exploring HPE and Aruba.

I'm very familiar with various Cisco solutions.

The main competitor is Huawei, and they have a bit of an advantage as they are less expensive than Cisco. 

How was the initial setup?

In terms of the initial setup, Cisco is the leading technology here, so the users are also the biggest in the world. We can easily find any necessary documentation about the configuration, the use cases, and best practices. For me, the setup of Cisco is okay. It depends on our documentation.

I'd rate the ease of setup based on the available documentation eight out of ten. 

What about the implementation team?

We are implementors. We can set up the solution for clients. 

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

The solution is more expensive than other options. I'd rate it six out of ten in terms of affordability.

What other advice do I have?

We are a service provider. I implement the solution for clients. 

I'd rate the product eight out of ten. The product quality is very good. They are, however, a bit expensive. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Mais Zahlout - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Manara University
Real User
A valuable product with distinctive features worth exploring
Pros and Cons
  • "I am satisfied with the tool overall. Although I haven't used all of its features yet, it's been great for providing internet access to both customers, and employees within the company."
  • "Sometimes, I find it hard to learn how some features of the router work. So, these are the issues that may arise when a user might not have knowledge about the product."

What is our primary use case?

I use Cisco routers in my company to provide internet connectivity to all our devices, such as computers and WiFi. Essentially, I use these servers to facilitate internet access for the entire company. HPE is the server we are using in our company.

What is most valuable?

I am satisfied with the tool overall. Although I haven't used all of its features yet, it's been great for providing internet access to both customers, and employees within the company. I'm looking forward to learning more about the other features and using them in the future.

What needs improvement?

I don't think I can improve the tool. For that, I would need to learn all of its features and how to use them. But for now, I am satisfied with the tool because it provides me with what I need. In short, I don't have any idea if I want any improvements in the solution.

Sometimes, I find it hard to learn how some features of the router work. So, these are the issues that may arise when a user might not have knowledge about the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with HPE servers since 2019, which adds up to about three to four years. As for Cisco, I have been working with them for two years now, and with Cisco routers specifically, for about one year. I am also working with Cisco Enterprise Routers.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I love all Cisco devices since it has a lot of features, including the ones that are essential to me. Stability-wise, I rate this solution a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The router I am using right now is enough for my needs. There are many features that I would like to use, and I am learning about them. The tool is sufficient for me at present.

The router is the main device in my company. So, everyone who wants to access the internet will go through it. However, I am the only one with access to the router and its features. Thus, all other people have to access the internet through the router as a user without access to its features, and they may not even be aware of the process. They only have access to the internet without the knowledge of how it works. Since I am in the IT section, I have access to all the necessary details.

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

I have experience with Cisco UCS C-Series, HPE ProLiant DL, and Linux, specifically Cisco and HPE.

I haven't worked with routers from vendors other than Cisco. Even at home, I have a small Cisco router. Nowadays, some people use TP-Link and D-Link, but I feel that Cisco is the best for me. For small companies or small houses, Cisco routers are very good.

How was the initial setup?

I had someone help me with the setup process, which wasn't a complicated process. Although it may seem complicated the first time you go through it, doing it a second time, you may not feel that it is a complicated process.

It was not just the router but the whole network, which means there were other devices also. So, the deployment process took just one month.

What about the implementation team?

I received help from a consultant.

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

The pricing of Cisco routers is reasonable at times. But, here in my country, it is expensive because we get the product from outside our country, which involves a lot of processes. But, outside my country also, I don't think it is reasonable. Only owing to the features it provides, it is reasonable.

I don't know the amount paid by the ones who purchased the solution a few years ago, but I know that they bought the license.

What other advice do I have?

My advice for the people who want Cisco routers is that I think they have to learn how to use them because there are a lot of features that they can use in the solution. But if they don't know how to use it, then they shouldn't buy it. They have to learn everything about the router so that they can use the very good features of the router. So, they need to get knowledge about the router and its features. Once you know how to use it, it's satisfying.

To understand the router and its features, I usually rely on Google, Cisco's website, and occasionally other websites. I find the documentation on the Cisco website to be great since they know how to explain the features well since the routers are their products. I rate this solution a ten out of ten, at times a nine out of ten, but not lower than that.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Enterprise Routers
August 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Enterprise Routers. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
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MOHAMEDELSHERIF - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Technical Consultant at International Turnkey Systems - ITS
Real User
Top 10
Robust and well-made but expensive
Pros and Cons
  • "The performance is quite good."
  • "They need to improve cost efficiency."

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
PeerSpot user

Very reach knowledge Mohamed, keep it up, please.

John Bayangos - PeerSpot reviewer
Lead Infrastructure Engineer at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Reliable and easy to set up with helpful support
Pros and Cons
  • "The product can scale."
  • "The solution is expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for connectivity and routing. It offers secure panel access. 

How has it helped my organization?

Enterprise routers help us to build a secure panel between our data center going to our other remote sites. It also helps with routing and is the main point of entry for our infrastructure.

What is most valuable?

The routing features are quite useful.

It is a stable solution.

The product can scale.

It's easy to set up.

Technical support ie very helpful. 

What needs improvement?

We haven't really had any issues. They have recently upgraded the technology and have recently improved many things. Most of what we needed they recently updated. We aren't missing any features. 

The solution is expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is excellent. I would rate it nine out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches. It is reliable. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good. I would rate it around eight out of ten. 

We have ten people who use it directly right now. 

How are customer service and support?

Technical support has been quite good, and we are quite satisfied with the level of support on offer. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

We previously used Juniper and Extreme routers. Since I am mostly exposed to Cisco products, I do find Juniper routers to be a bit difficult to manage. 

How was the initial setup?

The solution offers a pretty simple implementation. For the basic setup, it's really easy. The complexity comes to them when it comes to deploying the routing for the whole solution based on the company's requirements.

It usually requires four people to deploy and maintain the solution. That said, it depends on the data center and the size of the environment.

What was our ROI?

We have witnessed an ROI while using the product. 

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

I'd rate the solution two out of ten in terms of affordability. It's an expensive product. 

What other advice do I have?

We're using version 15 or thereabouts. We updated it less than a year ago. 

Depending on the budget, I'd advise new users to go with Cisco. 

I'd rate the solution 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
Sammy Mukuna - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Admin at Naivas Ltd
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
A solution for networking with easy setup and CLI
Pros and Cons
  • "The valuable feature is CLI."

    What is most valuable?

    The valuable feature is CLI.

    What needs improvement?

    For deployment, you need a tech-savvy individual with extensive CLI experience. Occasional troubleshooting may require remote access, which could pose a minor challenge. The centralized management system simplifies patching, deployment, and configuration tasks, making it easier for tech-savvy personnel to support and maintain the equipment.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Cisco Enterprise Routers for two or three years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    They are stable. We don't have constraints in terms of deployment.

    I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    We have a team of ten with the main configuration.

    I rate the solution’s scalability an eight out of ten.

    How are customer service and support?

    We need assistance regarding the GUI feature.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup takes around 30 to one hour, depending on the configuration and the person’s technical ability.

    I rate the initial setup a five out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

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

    I rate the product’s pricing a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    One person is enough for the deployment, depending on the nation and the quantity configured. We don't have a centralized model through which you can deploy configuration.

    I would recommend it for security.

    Overall, I rate the 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
    Head of Planning at ZODSAT
    Real User
    Stable solution with good technical support services
    Pros and Cons
    • "The solution's initial setup process is easy."
    • "There needs to be an integration with SD-WAN for the solution."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use the solution to create a secure connection between IT devices and the ISP network.

    How has it helped my organization?

    The solution allows us to connect our web applications to the systems and enable security control on the ISP network.

    What is most valuable?

    The solution has a robust performance and provides essential features for router switching and operations. Also, its technical support team is well-trained, and some hold CCNA certifications.

    What needs improvement?

    The solution's price could be better. Also, they could provide combined features for total security, including access points for Wi-Fi. In addition, there needs to be an integration with SD-WAN.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using the solution for more than 30 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is very stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution's scalability depends on the type of device.

    How are customer service and support?

    The solution's technical support services are excellent. 

    How was the initial setup?

    The solution's initial setup process is easy. Although, it might appear complicated compared to devices based on the graphical interface. An expert can deploy it in 30 minutes to an hour. At the same time, an end user might take a day to complete the process.

    What about the implementation team?

    We received technical assistance from the solution's distributors and resellers.

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

    The solution is expensive.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    The solution is very stable compared to other products.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
    PeerSpot user
    Senior Assistant Manager at Beximco
    Real User
    Helps us secure and separate our network with a router to install our internet gateway
    Pros and Cons
    • "It is a stable solution."
    • "The UI could be more user-friendly."

    What is most valuable?

    We use this solution to secure and separate our network. We use the router to install the internet gateway.

    What needs improvement?

    When there is a problem, it hampers the scope of work. So if they could reduce the response time, it'll be helpful to us. In addition, the UI could be more user-friendly.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using this solution for the last two years. It is deployed on-premises.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    It is a stable solution. Cisco devices are very stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    It is very scalable. We have two sites, our head office site and our factory site. We have a total of about 1600 users on the factory site. We only require four to five people for maintenance, and the maintenance has different levels, admin, physical and support maintenance. There are three people in admin maintenance and three to four in support and other maintenance.

    How are customer service and support?

    We have not used any technical support from Cisco.

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

    We used Cisco Router 2911 before this.

    How was the initial setup?

    There was some complexity in setting up the existing network to the new network. It took almost six months to implement. However, the timeline was impacted by COVID. There were no issues with the product, but the issue was upping the tunnel and upgrading systems.

    Our vendor and partner helped us with installation. The vendor did the initial configuration, and now we are taking care of the maintenance.

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

    I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

    What other advice do I have?

    I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
    PeerSpot user
    Head Of Information Technology at Zambia National Building Society
    Real User
    Resilient, reliable, and trusted
    Pros and Cons
    • "When you set up Cisco, you can forget you have a router. Everything just works."
    • "It only breaks if you're not using an up-to-date version of the iOS or are not doing upgrades."

    What is most valuable?

    Cisco is awesome. Honestly. It's a trusted brand. If you want to set up your network and you have a good night's sleep, you buy Cisco. You know that you set up and go to sleep. That's how awesome it is.

    I'm biased since I am Cisco certified. I enjoy working with them since it's easy to use them.

    There are moments when the configuration gets to be a bit complex, and then you need to look for an expert that helps you troubleshoot or maybe set up things where you might not have the proper knowledge.

    The resilience is great. The equipment is so stable. It will not freeze. When you set up Cisco, you can forget you have a router. Everything just works. Only maybe once in a year, you might think of rebooting it. However, that thing works no matter what.

    What needs improvement?

    It only breaks if you're not using an up-to-date version of the iOS or are not doing upgrades. Also you are not refreshing your hardware. With Cisco, when you buy it, you know that for about five to ten years, you will not have issues. These assets, you refresh them and every five to ten years, you should be getting new equipment that is supported.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    For me, I’ve used the solution for years. I worked in the past few years in only two different organizations. However, in both, I've been using Cisco. Personally, in total, I’ve used it for 13 to 14 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn’t crash or freeze. It’s reliable. You set it up and forget about it. It lasts forever.

    How are customer service and support?

    I haven't interacted with Cisco technical support directly. Many colleagues where I live, and maybe across the country, use Cisco, so when I have an issue I'll just use forums. If I have this issue, I will check on the forum and find a solution without struggling much. That's how it is. I do hear that their support is okay. However, I haven't experienced it directly myself.

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

    I can maybe compare the FortiGate Firewall versus Cisco. Cisco, you need to really understand. You'd have command lines to enter. You can create a rule there and it's very, very easy to use if you know the command line.

    I'm trying to buy a firewall and I'm looking to buy a FortiGate 200 series. I had to choose between Cisco and FortiGate, however, on the routing and switching, I like Cisco. On the firewall, Cisco is great, I understand, however, maybe it's myself understanding how to do the rules on the Cisco Firepower device better than most.

    How was the initial setup?

    With Cisco, depending on what you want, you need to be certified to be able to set up. It's not as easy for newcomers. IT’s only when you know what you're doing, and you understand the Cisco commands that you can set up. I'm Cisco certified, so I find it easy to set up. However, the person who is not certified won't set it up.

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

    Cisco is good in terms of pricing. You get good value for money.

    They've got different models which come at different prices. If you have a Cisco 3800 router, you may find you are buying it at maybe $4,000 or maybe $3,000. It depends on who's selling. Obviously, the markup is a low code. Sometimes a company exaggerates import duties. If I had to buy directly, it looks cheaper than if I tried to go through a reseller that messes with the costs.

    What other advice do I have?

    I’m an end-user.

    We are using Cisco 800 switches, Cisco 9300 switches, and Cisco 4400 series routers.

    These are enterprise routers on-premises.

    Using Cisco is the way to go. The peace of mind you get from having a solution that's reliable is invaluable. You are buying reliability, and around it is the value for your money. As a reliable solution, that's what you want, so that you focus on innovation. You configure it, forget it, and focus on other business activities.

    I’d rate the solution 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
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