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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs H3C Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
175
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
H3C Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
16th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
9
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 2.0%, down from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of H3C Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
KanwarArsalan - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers all routing protocols, functionality, and capabilities
H3C switches have strong port aggregation features including dynamic, static, and device aggregation. They also offer broadcast, multicast, or unique system suppression for PPS and BPS. These features are versatile and adaptable to various organizational scenarios, complemented by VLAN support. H3C switches offer VPN support along with various VLAN options like port-based, MAC-based, and protocol-based VLANs, including VLAN mapping and voice VLAN features. They support VLAN interfaces for both IPv4 and IPv6, ensuring compatibility and configuration flexibility. H3C switches are up to date with current market trends, offering features, routing protocols, capabilities, and functionalities that correspond to new trends in networking solutions. I strongly recommend that future users consider H3C switches for their designs, given their performance, specific features, and strong capabilities compared to competitors like Cisco. Overall, I would rate H3C Ethernet Switches as a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security."
"The configuration and command set are user-friendly."
"The product is also flexible."
"The solution is robust in terms of the equipment provided."
"Their technical support is good, one of the best in the industry."
"The new series has lots of great features, it's really lovely. From a management perspective, or a policy creation perspective, which we are seeing in the Catalyst 9000 series it is great."
"The product is stable, and it performs well."
"The performance of Cisco Catalyst Switches is good."
"To date, it has proven to be highly reliable. We have encountered no issues or challenges with it thus far."
"A good high-performance solution."
"H3C Ethernet Switches is a cheap solution."
"The best feature of H3C Ethernet Switches is their reliability."
"Network performance is very good, suggesting that stability has not been an issue."
"We can configure the switch stack on the internet. Other vendors do not offer this facility. It is fast and easy to manage."
"Offering a five-year warranty, compared to competitors' one-year warranties, is a unique advantage of H3C switches."
"The IMC feature is valuable."
 

Cons

"It would be good if Cisco Catalyst Switches could align maintenance with one version."
"I would like to see a graphical user interface for the configuration."
"Cisco needs to improve compatibility with other solutions and other vendors like SolarWinds. We've had problems using Catalyst with SolarWinds. Some devices can't be put on SolarWinds due to some ID Values and so on."
"The product’s pricing needs improvement."
"The addition of more security and privilege levels to Cisco Catalyst Switches is required as it is one of the areas with certain shortcomings."
"An area for improvement would be the documentation and training on configuring this product."
"The management of Cisco Catalyst Switches could be improved."
"The initial setup can be easier in cases where the policy and ruleset are complex."
"The only improvement needed is the significantly better lead time for delivery compared to other American products. In terms of technology, there isn't much difference, especially since X3 is a subsidiary of XP, and they use the same technology. However, the delivery time is notably better."
"Lacks decent cloud management."
"There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized."
"There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"There should be more public tools for configuration and comparing products."
"H3C Ethernet Switches could improve by widening their product range."
"GUI needs to merge with CLI."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco Catalyst Switches is a very expensive solution."
"The price of Cisco equipment is very expensive and you have to pay extra for support."
"It is overpriced. Some devices can be very expensive. Most of the clients have a contract with Cisco for two or three years."
"There is no licensing fee. All of the features are available on the switch from day one."
"The solution provides a good balance between the features and the cost structure"
"The price of the solution is expensive compared to other products from America or Europe. They should have more competitive pricing."
"The cost of a license before COVID and before the lockdown was approximately three lakh 70,000 in Indian Rupees. After this COVID situation, the cost has gone down to two lakh 46,000 rupees."
"Compared to the price of other solutions such as Huawei and HP, Cisco Catalyst Switches is a cheaper solution."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are priced at around $500 per unit, which is very cheap and one of the most competitive prices out there."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are reasonably priced."
"H3C Ethernet Switches is targeted for SMBs because it's cheaper compared to Huawei switches."
"The pricing is very affordable, making it a not-so-expensive choice. On a scale from one to ten, where one is expensive and ten is cheap, I would rate it a seven."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
62%
Computer Software Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Financial Services Firm
3%
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
Although Juniper is cheaper, Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
What needs improvement with H3C Ethernet Switches?
There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized.
What is your primary use case for H3C Ethernet Switches?
The primary use case is about managing network infrastructure. The H3C Ethernet Switches are used internally as switches in the system.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Ying Wa College, Centro Digital Pictures
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. H3C Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
850,236 professionals have used our research since 2012.