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Cisco Ethernet Switches vs H3C Ethernet Switches comparison

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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 Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
138
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
H3C Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
20th
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 November 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Ethernet Switches is 9.5%, down from 11.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of H3C Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Ethernet Switches9.5%
H3C Ethernet Switches2.6%
Other87.9%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Sachin-Yadav - PeerSpot reviewer
Network & Security Engineer at Arrow PC Network Pvt Ltd
Network segmentation has improved security and performance across all departments
Cisco Ethernet Switches offer various features such as L3 capable models which help me with my routing requirements, OSPF, EIGRP, and VRF for segmentation, as well as policy-based routing. Additionally, it provides a high layer of enterprise security via 802.1X port-based authentication, DHCP snooping, ARP inspection, IP Guard, ACLs, and integration with Cisco ISE. I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for more than four years, and they have provided me stability, better connectivity, and higher speed. My organization values these switches greatly.
SHARIQ ALI SHAH - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager Sales at Megaplus
Enhanced network management and good performance with vital IMC features
The primary use case is about managing network infrastructure. The H3C Ethernet Switches are used internally as switches in the system H3C Ethernet Switches have improved network performance significantly when compared to middle-class networks. The solution has been cost-effective, being much…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We use Cisco Ethernet Switches for local area networks in banks."
"The technical support is good and they respond quickly. I haven't had any problems."
"The scalability is pretty good, all you need to do is add more racks."
"Very stable solution with a very low failure rate."
"Cisco knows what they are doing and their support is great."
"You get good support for Cisco Ethernet Switches versus other products in the market."
"The queue functionality is the solution's most valuable feature, specifically because we are delivering a lot of Layer 2 services. Layer 2 protocol tunnels work well on Cisco switches."
"I know this solution for many years. I know the GUI and commands, and they are useful for me. I have all the functions that I want."
"The best feature of H3C Ethernet Switches is their reliability."
"H3C Ethernet Switches is a cheap solution."
"Network performance is very good, suggesting that stability has not been an issue."
"To date, it has proven to be highly reliable. We have encountered no issues or challenges with it thus far."
"Offering a five-year warranty, compared to competitors' one-year warranties, is a unique advantage of H3C switches."
"H3C Ethernet Switches have a fast delivery time."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are priced at around $500 per unit, which is very cheap and one of the most competitive prices out there."
"The IMC feature is valuable."
 

Cons

"There are some GUI configuration improvements that they can implement in the future for the product models."
"There are instances where the commands you are familiar with might change or be replaced with newer syntax."
"More friendly interface, less Cisco centric approach"
"Firewall features should be pre-enabled in Cisco Ethernet switches. FortiGate switches are considered more valuable because they have firewall capabilities."
"The user interface could be improved."
"The typical areas of concern for Cisco Ethernet Switches are not technical but cost including support costs. I’ve never liked the fact that end users cannot download security patches without a support contract. I’ve had trouble getting approval to renew Cisco support contracts due to the cost."
"I'd really like to see more programmability for the switches."
"It is difficult to manage one hundred switches in many areas, without having a managing board."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"The product's aesthetic quality could be improved, specifically in the design and casing. Additionally, the cloud features need enhancement, as the current offerings are still adapting and could benefit from more development."
"There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized."
"H3C Ethernet Switches could improve by widening their product range to include products like 16 port LT switches and industrial switches."
"Lacks decent cloud management."
"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."
"To enhance H3C switches for the next release, improving the user interface is crucial."
"GUI needs to merge with CLI."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Price is a pain point for us. We've lost a lot of bids, and the reason has been that we majorly quoted Cisco devices. Some of our competitors quoted other devices like Ubiquity or Microchip. Some even quoted this Chinese product TP-Link, and they won the bid over us because we quoted Cisco. Meanwhile, the major reason why we quoted Cisco is reliability and stability from day one. They also last longer. The prices could be worked on so that they become more affordable. We had to deploy a city-wide WiFi network, and we were working in conjunction with Google. Because of the price, even Google recommended a product called Ruckus, so we used Ruckus over Cisco. Its price and license were the main reasons. You have to pay to renew the license every year. Even though you also renew the licenses for Ruckus, but they are much cheaper than Cisco. So, while I would recommend Cisco any time, the trouble remains with the pricing."
"The product is expensive."
"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."
"Cisco is quite expensive. In our market, a lot of customers are forced to go with something else because they cannot afford a brand-new Cisco even though they know a Cisco switch will be more reliable."
"It is expensive. There are additional costs besides the license cost."
"There are different licensing based on the model of the solution."
"It is an expensive product."
"Customers have to pay for some of the L3 switches licenses, which are expensive."
"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."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are reasonably priced."
"H3C Ethernet Switches is targeted for SMBs because it's cheaper compared to Huawei switches."
"H3C Ethernet Switches are priced at around $500 per unit, which is very cheap and one of the most competitive prices out there."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Construction Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Outsourcing Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
University
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business60
Midsize Enterprise35
Large Enterprise55
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise2
 

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 ...
Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
In terms of ethernet switches, would you go with Cisco or Juniper?
Our organization ran comparison tests to determine whether Cisco or Juniper Ethernet switches were the better fit for us. We decided to go with Juniper. Juniper ethernet switches are a lesser-known...
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.
What advice do you have for others considering H3C Ethernet Switches?
I would recommend H3C Ethernet Switches to others. I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
 

Also Known As

Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Ying Wa College, Centro Digital Pictures
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. H3C Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: November 2026.
920,574 professionals have used our research since 2012.