Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches Reviews

Most of our solutions rely on a multi-talent approach to address our needs. We implement straightforward switching technology that automates the provision of connectivity, IP configurations, and switching based on customer requests and requirements. In our environment, we typically have a significant number of network stacks in operation, often with ten-gigabit interconnections. 

The smallest environment we manage involves about twenty-five stacks, and the largest one comprises over two thousand nine hundred switches.

Cisco's product is excellent and highly stable with decades of experience in switching and technology. It's a top-notch solution when your entire network operates within the Cisco ecosystem, allowing for a wide range of capabilities. However, the challenge with Cisco lies in its prioritization. When integrating with third-party solutions, like Juniper, it can be somewhat challenging, but it still performs reasonably well. Setting up Cisco switches is not a straightforward process; it's complex and requires more than simply powering them on and figuring things out as you go. You need a solid understanding of switch and stack configuration because Cisco has its unique software features. Cisco excels in vendor lock-in, meaning that if you want to combine Cisco switches with non-Cisco functionality, it can be both time-consuming and costly. While Cisco offers the most extensive capabilities, it can also be less flexible and more challenging when you want to deviate from the Cisco ecosystem.                 

Cisco offers a wide range of features, and in the enterprise and mid-segment market in Europe, we make use of most of them. Some features are essential for our operations, while others may go unused. The feature set provided by Cisco is comprehensive, and there's little more we could ask for. It would be a nice addition if, in the future, Cisco switches could incorporate artificial intelligence to provide proactive feedback and guidance instead of having to search for solutions ourselves. This development is likely to come with time, and we'll patiently await such enhanced functionality.

I have been using Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches for the past 12 years.

The stability is 10 out of 10. Once deployed, the meantime between failures for Cisco switching systems is approximately four years. This means that they are highly stable, with infrequent occurrences of downtime.

There are no limits to the scalability, just budget-driven limits applies to the extent of scalability.

Cisco provides excellent support. However, when considering the resources required for these tasks, it depends on the scale of your project. If you have around five hundred switches to configure, it's manageable with a team of two people working for two weeks. This is because you need to handle tasks like firmware updates and various steps, making the setup of Cisco switches a bit more time-consuming compared to standard switches.

Cisco boasts a vast global network of support professionals, with tens of thousands of support personnel available. Cisco sets certain conditions for partners who want to provide Cisco technology as a service, such as requiring CCNA certification and deployment certification. These requirements are well-documented, and Cisco's partners are trained professionals, even though Cisco's training can be expensive. Not adhering to Cisco's training requirements means you're not eligible to deploy Cisco solutions. Overall, the support from Cisco is highly reliable.

We had deployments that extended for more than four to five months, primarily due to their complexity. However, if you aim for a straightforward setup, with a good plan, you can have your Cisco configuration up and running within a week. This applies not just to one switch but to a group of switches. The key lies in thorough preparation, which can be time-consuming.Certainly, creating a well-thought-out deployment plan is crucial. It involves designing your entire network infrastructure, including switching configurations and learning requirements. The setup itself doesn't consume much time, but the preparation and planning are critical. This level of planning is typically necessary for any networking setup, not just specific to Cisco.

Cisco can be quite costly, especially if you're looking to implement more advanced or unique configurations. When keeping things relatively straightforward, they are positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. However, it's worth noting that Cisco offers excellent support, a strong global presence, a robust operating system, and highly skilled professionals in the field of networking infrastructure. These advantages come at a premium, and there's a price associated with all these benefits.

When considering using Cisco products, the first and foremost aspect to evaluate is your budget. It's essential to weigh your financial capabilities. Secondly, you should take into account your end users' expectations and future needs. It's crucial to plan for what you require now and what you might need in the future. Looking ahead is essential. If your budget allows, choosing Cisco is a wise decision. However, if your financial resources are limited, it's not advisable to opt for a low-end Cisco solution and expect enterprise-level service. In the world of IT, price and functionality often go hand in hand. Investing more typically results in obtaining greater functionality, but the key question is whether you'll utilize all those features.

I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten. 

We are using it as an unmanaged product to which we can't take access, so we just play L2 switches. At the branch access layer, we are using the aforementioned feature.

Right now, I'm unsure where we have and how much we have of the solution since they are L2 switches. Currently, I don't have an available inventory.

I can't think of any specific feature in particular. We use it as a simple L2 switch. The solution is flexible to use because the solution consists of unmanaged switches. One needs to just plug in and play it. However, I am not sure about the performance because we are using unmanaged switches, so I can't comment on the performance part, including its commercial part.

Pricing is an area with a shortcoming since the solution is expensive. Pricing needs to be improved.

I have been using Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches for more than five years.

Since I am not aware of its stability, I rate the solution's stability a six out of ten.

I have faced no issues in the last year. I am not seeing any issue with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches.

Cisco is scalable, but speaking of Linksys, I am not sure of its scalability.

It's very hard to confirm how many users are using the solution. We are not maintaining an inventory for unmanaged switches.

The setup is a small set. Basically, we have branches near about 50 to 100 users using the solution. The L2 switches are installed in the access layer, and further, it is connected to our Citrix SD-WAN box, and Citrix SD-WAN terminates the appliance. So this is the setup. This is a small setup.

It will not take much time to deploy it. It can be done in five to ten minutes. One just needs to unbox Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches, terminate the power supply, and connect to the Citrix router.

Seven or eight of our resources, with one person as their leader, are involved in managing Citrix to look after the deployments and maintenance of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches. Speaking about the rest of the resources and the organization structure we have, one person is involved in technical follow-up, and three are involved in the technical part.

The deployment can be done in-house without any consultant.

I am not sure about the price because it was deployed six or seven years ago, and it's in use currently.

Licensing cost has not been much for the last five years. We have the same license working for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches. So it's very easy and not much complex.

Cisco is expensive, but I am not aware of Cisco Switches, especially in terms of what prices were paid during the installation.

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are stable since no issues have been reported. The solution is scalable, and the performance is accurate. Therefore, there has been no need to involve technical support or something like that. So, it's handy and scalable.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

I work as a project manager for three companies who implement the solution for customers in Libya. Cisco is very popular because it is a household name that provides reliable switches for network infrastructures. 

More than 3,000 customers utilize the solution. 

Integration is much easier than with competitor products such as Ubiquiti because it allows for segmentation inside the network.  

The solution's life cycle is long at around ten years. 

It is very difficult to obtain certified switches with licenses in Libya because there is a four-month wait list for shipping from Dubai. 

The solution used to be available within two weeks by contacting one partner in Libya. 

In 2014, Cisco left Libya so it is hard to get the solution because it requires contacting a middleman and a shipping company. 

Green market options are available instantly but most top companies require the solution be licensed to them. 

I have been using the solution for five years.

The solution is 100% stable. 

The solution is 100% scalable. 

Support is advanced and reliable because they act quickly and are always available through email, phone, and LiveChat. 

Sometimes support works on your computer via AnyDesk or TeamViewer to resolve issues.  

I rate support an eight out of ten. 

Positive

Our client was using Ubiquiti before converting to the solution. 

Ubiquiti connects all switches to one controller on the UniFi axis so the entire network goes down if something happens to that main controller. With the solution, multiple controls are used so an issue on 40% of the network will still allow the other 60% to work. 

In addition, support for Ubiquiti is horrible and only available via email which wastes time trying to get help. 

The initial setup is straightforward, advanced, and only takes minutes with a certified engineer. 

A setup with issues or an inexperienced engineer might take an hour. 

Our company employs eight Cisco-certified engineers who implement the solution for customers. 

The solution is more expensive than competitors such as Ubiquiti, Huawei, and MikroTik but is reliable and worth the money. Heavy networks for big projects should use the solution. 

An Ubiquiti switch will cost $300 but they charge less for hardware because there are hidden fees for licensing, configurations, and opening ports.

 A Huawei switch is more expensive at $1,900-$2,100.  

Cisco is the Cadillac of switches and is the most expensive at $2,500-$5,000 but some of that cost is due to requiring a middleman and shipping to Libya. 

The solution provides a big network that can handle advanced, sophisticated projects and daily work routines. 

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. The solution did not receive a perfect score because of the local hassles in obtaining equipment. 

We use the solution to establish a network infrastructure for the customers.

The solution has the best uplink features in terms of speed.

The solution's price could be better. It is a significant concern for most of the end users.

I have been using the solution for more than 20 years. I have worked with different series, including the 2900, 3900, and 9000 series.

I rate the solution's stability a ten out of ten.

I rate the solution's scalability a ten out of ten.

Customers with an SLA license contact us for technical support. The queries are related to collaboration or security.

The solution's initial setup is straightforward. The time taken for deployment depends on the requirement. For an access switch, it takes a day. For a core switch, it may take a couple of hours.

The process includes submitting design documentation and a network implementation plan to the customers. After approval, we provide templates and configuration guidelines to them. Later, we conduct a network readiness test to ensure its successful implementation. It requires two technicians to execute the process for extensive networks.

We implement the solution with the help of Cisco partners.

The solution's price is high. Although, they offer around 50% or above discount on some of their products. So, it is manageable.

I have experience working with the solution's core switches, distribution series, and regular access switches. I recommend it and advise others to have a CCNA level of knowledge to administer and support their end users. I rate it a nine out of ten.

We use the solution to add a node to network devices in the organization.

The solution is quite stable.

Integration is not easy since the device component is separate.

Integration with other solutions should be made easier.

I have been using the solution for around 30 years.

The product is stable. I would rate the stability a nine or ten out of ten.

The solution is scalable. It is quite easy. Less than 20 employees from the DevOps team use the solution. Cisco is not the only solution used in our organization. We also use Brocade switches. We might increase the number of users, but not more than 20 percent.

When we face issues with the solution, we connect with Cisco’s technical support. The engineers in the support team are quite qualified. They can resolve problems effectively.

The setup is quite complex. We need technical knowledge about the devices to set up a new device in the infrastructure.

The deployment of the solution is quite fast. It can be done in half an hour. To deploy the switch, we need to set up the switch IP and ensure the versions are right. Then we should set up the VLAN. We must also take care of the authentication method. Some users might need to authenticate themselves with certificates.

When we need to set up a device in a new building, we can copy the relevant configuration to speed up the setup.

The product is worth its money.

The solution has a yearly subscription fee. The license is not expensive.

I have used Cisco switches from various series, including 2900, 3700, 3800, 4500, and 6500. Nowadays, most solutions are cloud-based. Cisco switches are more suitable for someone like me who is quite familiar with traditional devices. I would recommend the solution to others. I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Linksys switches are usually at the edge. People usually go with other switches for the core, but this is the switch that all the desktops connect to. It's primarily used in small offices. Once you're in a position where you really need a ton of bandwidth, companies tend to move away from Linksys to Cisco, Brocade, or another enterprise switch.  Most of the companies that use Linksys have fewer than 200 or 300 users. 

Linksys switches are easy to use. You can pull the switch out of the box, plug it in, and it's going to work. 

I would like to see more manageability. That's primarily the reason why Linksys switches don't work in the enterprise space. They don't have the management and capabilities of other switches.

I have been using Linksys Ethernet switches for 10-15 years.

I haven't seen issues with them. On occasion, they'll have a bad port come up, but that's just about any switch.

I don't consider them to be scalable. As far as I know, they don't talk to each other at all. You can't put three of them together as a stack and then work off that. 

It's straightforward to set up and maintain Linksys switches. One network engineer is enough to handle it. 

Linksys switches are at the low end of the price range, but that's partly because of where they fit in the whole scheme of things. They're definitely a lower-price option.

I rate Cisco Linksys ethernet switches five out of 10. They're not very feature-rich, but they have sufficient features for the market segment they occupy. Don't expect a ton out of them. They're good for what they're designed for, but if you try to stretch them, they're just not going to perform the way you want.

We use Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches in network integration. 

The solution's efficiency is good compared to other alternatives. It supports both layer 2 and layer 3. The tool's bandwidth management and reliability are also good. 

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are expensive. 

I have been using the product for 14-15 years. 

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches' stability is good, and it has high uptime. I rate the solution's stability a nine out of ten. 

The solution's capacity is high. 

I haven't contacted the vendor. 

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches' deployment is easy and can be done in ten minutes. 

The solution can be deployed in-house. 

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. The solution is suitable for enterprise-level offices and not homes. 

I am impressed with the tool's features like routing, Layer 2 security, and port security. 

We encounter a challenge in automating the product to reduce manual work. 

I have been working with the tool for twenty years. 

Compared to Huawei, Cisco's support is good. 

I would rate the product a nine out of ten.