Cisco MDS Series vs NetApp AFF A-Series comparison

Cisco and NetApp are both solutions in the Enterprise SAN category. Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 10.0, while NetApp is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.7. Cisco holds a 5.9% mindshare in ES, compared to NetApp’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 80% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of NetApp users who would recommend it.

Cisco MDS Series

Read 9 Cisco MDS Series reviews

745 Views
708 Comparison Views

80% willing to recommend

NetApp AFF A-Series

Read 8 NetApp AFF A-Series reviews

446 Views
156 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco MDS Series

NetApp AFF A-Series

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco MDS Series and NetApp AFF A-Series based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Enterprise SAN solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco MDS Series vs. NetApp AFF A-Series Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco MDS Series vs. NetApp AFF A-Series

January 2026

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Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

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 MDS Series

Ranking in Enterprise SAN

4th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

NetApp AFF A-Series

Ranking in Enterprise SAN

5th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

All-Flash Storage (18th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Enterprise SAN category, the mindshare of Cisco MDS Series is 5.9%, down from 12.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetApp AFF A-Series is 2.2%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Enterprise SAN Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco MDS Series	5.9%
NetApp AFF A-Series	2.2%
Other	91.9%

Enterprise SAN

Featured Reviews

OğuzKalaycı

system engineer at Yaşar Holding

Ensures consistent availability during updates and integrates seamlessly

I am using Cisco MDS in SAN environments for storage connections and server connections The product is very stable and performs well. During the update periods, the devices do not need to reload, ensuring constant availability. It is easy to set up and use. I do not have a central management…

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MartinSandell

Senior Storage Engineer at Orange Business

Efficient data management leads to significant cost savings through advanced inline deduplication

NetApp's inline deduplication and compression are unmatched compared to other vendors. With both deduplication and compression inline, we experience no cost in terms of performance on the systems, however, we have huge savings on the storage side. We can turn it on for everyone and save storage space, allowing us to sell more to customers. NetApp also provides us with an interface for VLAN separation that no other vendor can provide, allowing our customers distinct, separated network layers in between.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"SAN switches in Cisco MDS Series are a valuable feature of the solution for our company."

"The most valuable feature of the Cisco MDS Series is security."

"The product is very stable and performs well."

"The most valuable features of this solution are the devices, databases, and zoning."

"The features I found most valuable are the ease of deployment, it's easy to upgrade, easy to configure and easy to administer. There is no need for vendor professional services which saves project cost. The usage of WebUI for all primary features like hostname, IP address, SNMP traps, zone sets, addition and deletion of zone members or zone sets, backup of switch DB is very simple."

"The issues with these switches are extremely rare, and the whole product line is very predictable and stable."

"The most valuable feature of the Cisco MDS Series is its reliability, support, and scalability."

"The product is easy to use."

"NetApp's inline deduplication and compression are unmatched compared to other vendors."

"The amazing thing is that whenever we have come up with an issue where we need to get something done, and it wasn't necessarily available, they could do things for us, usually within the next revision of the software."

"NetApp AFF A-Series is faster and more robust compared to the all-flash storage of NetApp."

"NetApp's hot and cold storage are its most valuable features. We currently use the A series. Immutable snapshots are another advanced security feature that is positive."

"NetApp helps us get the fastest output."

"NetApp support is fantastic."

"We've reduced downtime. Without all of NetApp's benefits, we would have had to reconfigure parts of storage that would have required downtime. We have dramatically reduced our downtime through successive generations of NetApp, allowing us to get Five 9s availability."

"The deduplication and compression options from NetApp AFF A-Series are good to use for efficient storage capacity."

More NetApp AFF A-Series pros

Cons

"I do not have a central management software to manage these products due to the licensing cost. It would be beneficial to have central management software for easier handling."

"The solution's management interface and GUI need improvement."

"The licensing model could be less complicated."

"The GUI client is Java-based and we know that Java is not secure, so everyone disables it."

"Cisco MDS Series could improve by adding more gigahertz. However, they are doing this over time."

"Cisco MDS Series can improve by having API functionality for automation and programming."

"It is quite a stable product. It should be shipped with the latest firmware to avoid download and upload schema at the beginning of the initial setup. There should also be the possibility of downgrading the firmware when required. WebUI needs DCNM instead a web-based GUI should be made available like Brocade san switch."

"The product is very expensive."

"We have several problems with the limitations of NetApp systems in terms of volume shares. We have a brick in a 700 or a controller, and we sometimes make small volumes, but Kubernetes container volumes don't allow us."

"I really don't have a lot of complaints. In the past, there were issues, however, they've really done a great job of reaching out."

"It would be helpful if our partner organized a yearly session with my team to discuss the new feature sets on our current solutions and other ways NetApp can help us. Perhaps we are missing some information to help us make the right decision."

"The solution's ransomware protection could be improved."

"NetApp is shifting to the cloud and adopting AI, but it is not improving its core technology to deliver faster storage. We're still waiting to see if it improves speed with solutions like the 90 series."

"NetApp AFF A-Series should work on cost. The solutions, especially enterprise-level storage, should be more affordable to improve their appeal to businesses."

"Pricing could always be lower."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the Cisco MDS Series is high."

"Pricing cannot be considered an advantageous trait of the solution since it is expensive. I rate the solution's pricing a three out of ten."

"It's perpetual licensing and maintenance is a recurrent cost."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

14%

Government

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Healthcare Company

10%

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Large Enterprise	8

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco MDS Series?

The pricing could be improved as the solution is very expensive. I am on a yearly payment basis.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco MDS Series?

I do not have a central management software to manage these products due to the licensing cost. It would be beneficial to have central management software for easier handling.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco MDS Series?

I am using Cisco MDS in SAN environments for storage connections and server connections.

See all answers

What needs improvement with NetApp AFF A-Series?

NetApp is doing great with cloud integration; however, there may be room for improvement in integrating with existing VMware devices for better support, especially since many companies are looking ...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering NetApp AFF A-Series?

It would be great to see some automation from NetApp. I rate NetApp AFF A-Series a nine out of ten.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NetApp AFF A-Series?

With respect to pricing, NetApp can be competitive but hasn't been explored to a large extent.

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell Connectrix vs Cisco MDS Series

Compared 25% of the time

HPE B-series SN6000B Fibre Channel Switch vs Cisco MDS Series

Compared 14% of the time

Dell PowerVault vs Cisco MDS Series

Compared 11% of the time

INFINIDAT InfiniBox vs Cisco MDS Series

Compared 10% of the time

IBM SAN24B-4 Express vs Cisco MDS Series

Compared 10% of the time

More Cisco MDS Series Competitors

Dell PowerStore vs NetApp AFF A-Series

Compared 36% of the time

NetApp AFF C-Series vs NetApp AFF A-Series

Compared 35% of the time

Fujitsu Eternus AF Series vs NetApp AFF A-Series

Compared 15% of the time

NetApp ASA vs NetApp AFF A-Series

Compared 14% of the time

More NetApp AFF A-Series Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Enterprise SAN

January 2026

Download Cisco MDS Series product report

Buyer's Guide

All-Flash Storage

January 2026

Download NetApp AFF A-Series product report

Also Known As

Cisco MDS 9100, Cisco MDS 9222i, Cisco MDS 9700

No data available

Overview

Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches have met and often exceeded the demanding requirements for storage area networks for more than a decade. They offer a combination of performance, non-stop operations, and multiprotocol flexibility.

Cisco

NetApp AFF A-Series is ideal for high-performance storage in enterprise environments. It efficiently handles large-scale data and provides reliable storage for virtual machines, databases, and critical applications.

NetApp AFF A-Series stands out for its speed, reliability, and robust data protection features. Users find its management easy and appreciate the efficiency in handling large workloads. Its seamless integration with cloud services and high data transfer speeds with reduced latency enhance its appeal. Scalability and support for various applications make it a top choice for enterprises. However, there is room for improvement in documentation, technical support response time, and third-party application integration.

What are the standout features of NetApp AFF A-Series?

High Performance: Delivers fast data transfer speeds and reduces latency.
Data Protection: Robust features ensure data integrity and security.
Ease of Management: Simplified administration enhances efficiency.
Cloud Integration: Seamless integration with cloud services.
Scalability: Easily handles growing data and application demands.

What benefits should users look for?

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined management processes save time.
Increased Reliability: High reliability ensures continuous operation.
Improved Data Security: Advanced data protection features safeguard information.
Cost-Effective Scaling: Efficiently scales to meet growing storage needs.
Better Cloud Utilization: Leverages cloud capabilities for more flexibility.

NetApp AFF A-Series is implemented across industries to support virtual machines, large databases, and critical applications. It's particularly valuable in financial services for fast transaction processing, in healthcare for managing extensive patient records and imaging data, and in tech companies for supporting development environments and big data analytics.

NetApp

Sample Customers

National Rugby League

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Cisco MDS Series vs. NetApp AFF A-Series

January 2026

Free Report: Cisco MDS Series vs. NetApp AFF A-Series

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco MDS Series vs. NetApp AFF A-Series and other solutions. Updated: January 2026.

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