Cisco Ethernet Switches Reviews

I used Cisco Ethernet Switches primarily for campus networks, specifically in hospitals, to provide endpoint connectivity for users, including doctors, and to support wireless access points for devices like iPads.

The most valuable features of Cisco Ethernet Switches for our network are speed, latency, and reliability. We rely on fast data transfer and minimal downtime, especially for handling large image files. Additionally, the MTBF and unit-level failover capabilities have been crucial for maintaining uptime. The switches seamlessly integrate with our dual-band wireless network, providing efficient connectivity for both public and partner users across the hospital campus.

While Cisco Ethernet Switches are already quite advanced, one area for improvement could be integrating a single dashboard for both wired and wireless networks. Additionally, enhancing cyber protection features directly within the switches could be beneficial to prevent network vulnerabilities and downtime caused by malicious activity.

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for almost 15 years.

I would rate the stability of the product as a nine out of ten.

I would rate the scalability of the product as an eight out of ten. About 3,000 users are currently using Cisco Ethernet Switches, and there are plans to increase usage as the hospital expands.

Technical support from Cisco is generally good, with knowledgeable core technical staff. However, there can be issues with overpromising in marketing, leading to discrepancies between promises and the capabilities of the actual support team. I would rate the support as a nine out of ten.

Positive

I would rate the easiness of the initial setup of Cisco Ethernet Switches as a nine out of ten. The setup process itself was fantastic, but it heavily relies on capable partners for proper installation. If the partners aren't well-trained or capable, it could lead to setbacks, but generally, Cisco works with good partners.

Deploying Cisco Ethernet Switches involved two main phases. The passive network setup, including cable laying and rack installation, took about eight to nine months due to various challenges. However, mounting and configuring the switches only required around one month. Overall, the deployment involved a team of three people.

For maintenance, at least two people are typically available around the clock to monitor the network, address calls, and handle any issues that arise. So far, there haven't been any failures, but if one occurs, they address it.

I would rate the pricing of the product as a seven out of ten in terms of costliness. While Cisco Ethernet Switches are expensive, they were chosen for their quality and worth the investment. Additional costs beyond standard licensing fees were fixed for two years, but afterward, negotiations depended on market fluctuations.

In a big hospital project covering 20 acres and 51 buildings, Cisco Ethernet Switches played a crucial role. We set up connections for the entire campus, including the data center, all the devices people use, and equipment, making sure everything could communicate smoothly.

The scalability of Cisco Ethernet Switches has supported our organization's growth by allowing us to easily expand our network architecture. We have implemented a scalable design with core, distribution, and endpoint switches, connected via fiber optic cables. This setup enables us to add new switches or networks without disrupting the existing infrastructure. We can seamlessly plug in additional switches to the core switches, facilitating expansion wherever needed.

When considering Cisco Ethernet Switches, users should assess their specific needs and whether they require higher speeds or prioritize stability and reliability. It is crucial to ensure that the switches perform as advertised, especially for critical applications. Reliability is crucial, so users should prioritize switches that can operate without downtime, particularly for mission-critical functions.

Overall, I would rate Cisco Ethernet Switches as an eight out of ten.

Our primary use case for Cisco is for access and core switching as most of our clients use it for these purposes. We also work with Fortinet for network solutions, mainly FortiGate, FortiAuthenticator, and FortiManager. Additionally, we use Cisco for campus switches, mainly the Catalyst series.

It helps our organization because Cisco switches are stable and rock solid, making them reliable for our clients.

The most valuable feature of Cisco Ethernet Switches is their stability. They are rock solid, and that's the advantage of Cisco. It is also easy to integrate.

Cisco should consider adding a GUI as most vendors now offer the ability to manage switches via a graphical user interface, while Cisco switches are managed using pure CLI.

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for more than ten years.

Cisco Ethernet Switches are stable. I would rate their stability at eight or nine out of ten.

In terms of scalability, it's pretty straightforward to expand the number of users and the network. I would rate it an eight out of ten.

Their technical support is very professional, and I don't have any negative comments.

Positive

The setup and configuration process is very simple.

The pricing of Cisco is high, which makes it more suitable for enterprise-level companies. I would rate the pricing model at four out of ten.

Apart from Cisco, other solutions considered include Juniper, Aruba, and Huawei. Huawei is considered a strong competitor due to its pricing and features.

Cisco Ethernet Switches are mostly recommended for enterprise-level companies due to the cost.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

Cisco Ethernet system serves our needs primarily for user integration and connectivity, providing access to the Internet and services. One scenario where Cisco switches significantly improved our network performance was when we faced challenges with traditional network setups. The features that proved highly effective for network management include comprehensive visibility, an all-in-one solution for management, stability, connectivity, and troubleshooting capabilities.

We use Cisco Ethernet system for user connectivity, with multicast being an advanced feature that helps alleviate some of our work challenges. In terms of scalability, we utilize stacks which have proven to be reliable and easy to manage. As for security functionalities, we rely on Palo Alto for our network's safety. I would prefer to discuss detailed information via email for a comprehensive review.

Improvement as per customer requirements. 

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for the past 4 years. 

As for stability, I have found the feature to be highly stable with minimal issues.

Although we also use HPE switches in other departments, I lean towards Cisco due to its reliability and performance.

Installing Cisco Ethernet system is relatively straightforward, especially since we are familiar with the process. However the installation may require some technical expertise.The deployment process for Cisco Ethernet system typically takes about a day with our team's support. For more complex configurations, it may require additional time depending on the customer's requirements. One major challenge we face is with licensing, especially for Cisco's wireless features. Understanding and managing license changes over time, such as moving to new licenses for VPN support, can be challenging for customers. We often need support from Cisco to navigate these licensing challenges.

While Cisco's pricing can be a concern, particularly with support fees, its overall features and support community make it a solid choice.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate Cisco Ethernet system as a 9 for its overall functionality and support, with the caveat of considering pricing and support options carefully before making a decision

We use the solution for everything. We primarily use the solution in our office and for our data center. We're using older versions. 

The main issue is that the company did grow way too fast. We have issues with merging companies and installing a network device, and it's hard to manage them. Everything is still manual around here. Nothing is centralized. 

Small business devices most of the controls have been very good.

The community is very helpful.

Catalyst switches are the same quality as Dell switches. The quality is identical. 

The solution is extremely stable. The performance is excellent.

The more expensive versions can be more expensive, and the switches cannot take the heat. Some of the rooms they are in are too hot for the switch.

We need more management tools for the solution. 

I don't have any notes for new features. 

There should be fiber switches that could be capable of doing more things. 

I've used the solution for a very long time. I've used them for probably 25 years - since Cisco first offered them.

It's very stable. I'd rate it ten out of ten. 

I do not like the way the stack feature is done on Cisco. I mostly prefer Fortinet or ESL from Brocade. It's way more flexible and straightforward, and you just need to understand the logic. With Cisco, it's a black box. It's hard to understand. 

It is possible to scale. However, you do reach a limitation with eight switches placed together. We have four switches in the data center, so we've never hit a scalability threshold. 

We have five admins on the solution, and across the company, we have 30 people that have access to the solution. 

I've never had to use technical support. I've only had a small issue on the firewall, and I reached out to the community to troubleshoot. 

I've also used Palo Alto and Fortinet. I used Brocade switches six to ten years ago. It is now Extreme Networks, and I am interested in trying Extreme. I have two Extreme switches right now. 

Fortinet is really user-friendly and easy for even non-technical people to understand. However, the information from Fortinet is really specific. With Cisco, you just have to press the questions mark, and you have a description of every menu. Extreme is like Juniper. You have to create the VLAN, which can be difficult to read if you have a lot of VLAN, although the scalability is great. 

If you are familiar with the technology, it is straightforward. You do need knowledge. It's not extremely simple. For me, since I am knowledgeable, I'd rate the ease of implementation eight out of ten.

We have an ongoing deployment. Deployments of us are never-ending. We are always working on new sites. 

Even level-one support can do a copy-paste and deploy the switches, so our process at this point is very fast.

The pricing depends on the model. The C-1000's are okay. They are not cheap yet not expensive. I'd rate the pricing seven out of ten.  

All the devices we order from Cisco come from Germany. We simply buy devices. We don't have a relationship with Cisco. 

The big thing with Cisco is the great community. It's really easy to find whatever you need online.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. It's not quite user-friendly. They do get it right with Meraki, however, that isn't for the type of company we have. If you have an internet issue and can't reach the switch from the cloud, Meraki will give you issues. 

Our company uses the solution to set up local access networks for users and route applications. We work with several models including 9300 and 9500. We plan to increase usage in the future. 

The solution effectively provides a stable connection for users. 

There is a lot of knowledge in terms of Cisco networking, so you can very quickly find technical support. 

To keep up with the market, the solution should have better evolution and innovation. 

More security features should be added. 

I have been using the solution for five years. 

The solution is stable so I rate stability a nine out of ten. 

The solution is scalable so I rate scalability an eight out of ten. 

Technical support is good so I rate it a nine out of ten. 

Positive

The setup is very simple. 

The pricing is reasonable so I rate it a six out of ten. 

Be sure you have an understanding of how many appliances you need and how many users you have to cover, so that you have a good and proper design for the solution. 

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

We are a university with around 1,000 instructors and more than 15,000 students. We use Cisco for access points and endpoint cable networks. We used the 9000 series for years, and now we are working with the Catalyst 9300. Before that, we were using a 2960 switch and a 6500 for the Cisco side.

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet switches more than 20 years.

I rate Cisco switches 10 out of 10 for stability. 

I rate Cisco switches 10 out of 10 for scalability. We design our networks to be scalable. Scaling is only a matter of procuring new devices. 

I rate Cisco support 10 out of 10. We have a good technical support provider in Turkey that offers support, and we work closely with Cisco. Everything is sorted. 

Positive

We have enough experience with Cisco, so it's easy for us to deploy and configure their switches. 

The price depends on the license type and the number of devices. Each device is licensed. It could be cheaper, especially the DNA license. One DNA license is around $3,000 for a three-year contract. 

I rate Cisco Ethernet switches nine out of 10. Cisco is the leader in networking hardware. 

I primarily work with network solutions like Cisco Ethernet switches, especially when it comes to secure networking through VLANs.

The deployment of Cisco Ethernet switches has improved organizational operations by being effective and reliable in our environment.

The most valuable features of Cisco Ethernet switches include plug-and-play capabilities, ease of deployment, and high reliability.

There is a need for improvement on the ordering and delivery side for Cisco Ethernet switches.

I have been working with Cisco switches for about ten to 15 years.

Cisco Ethernet switches are reliable, and I have not encountered any issues with their stability.

Cisco products are compatible with various industries and support scalability efficiently.

I am 100% satisfied with the technical support provided by Cisco.

Positive

I have mostly used Cisco switches, however, if a customer has budget constraints, I might suggest using Sophos switches.

The initial setup of Cisco Ethernet switches was straightforward and efficient, taking minimal time.

Initially, implementing AI-driven technologies on Cisco switches required some effort, but the results are commendable.

The solution is described as midrange in terms of pricing.

I have recommended Sophos switches to customers who have budget issues.

Cisco Ethernet switches are compatible with many industries and reliable for various network implementations.

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

Cisco Ethernet Switches are pretty reliable, and I have rarely seen one of them break. Cisco has a wide portfolio that fits every need.

Cisco's equipment is expensive, especially since it introduced the obligatory purchase of Cisco DNA.

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches since 2008.

I rate the solution an eight out of ten for stability.

Around 50,000 users are using Cisco Ethernet Switches in our organization.

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

The solution’s technical support is pretty good.

I rate the technical support of Cisco Ethernet Switches an eight to nine out of ten.

Positive

I previously used Alcatel and Aruba HPE.

The solution’s initial setup is easy.

We implemented the solution through an in-house team. Depending on the engineer's knowledge, a single switch can be deployed within twenty minutes.

Cisco's equipment is expensive, especially since it introduced the obligatory purchase of Cisco DNA. Cisco DNA is really, really expensive, and eliminating the necessity for purchasing it would reduce the solution's price. Some new Cisco switches support Cisco DNA, and some don't. You would have to buy more expensive switches to fully use Cisco DNA, which most enterprises simply don't do.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing ten out of ten.

I have utilized Cisco Ethernet Switches in production, regular office plans, and all kinds of environments. In enterprise environments, I have covered everything from offices to manufacturing and labs. We faced no challenges while integrating Cisco Ethernet Switches into our existing network infrastructure.

Cisco should definitely give customers the ability to choose whether they want Cisco DNA or not. Currently, customers need to choose Cisco DNA for at least three years, which is appalling. Customers are buying something they will never use. I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches to other users because of its reliability and simplicity.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.