Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500) vs. Cisco Catalyst IR1800 Rugged Series Routers

Well suited for10G aggregation at network edge. Small managed networks such as school districts or distributed enterprise campus. Not well suited to RPHY aggregation at network core — queuing in NCS540 results in jitter and poor RPHY performance. Allow port license purchases in smaller units. Better support for SLA performance monitoring capabilities would allow use as a box for 10G aggregation for Carrier Ethernet NNI handoff.

Incentivized

My company is not so big to test the router on its highest limits. I can tell only that it works great and does not ask us for unexpected maintenance, service or unpleasant surprises. It works perfect and makes it's job the best.

Incentivized

• Switching.
• Routing.
• Access.

Incentivized

• Partakes minimal disruptions under mobility while in use by technicians.
• Has high bandwidths
• The routers are secure from multiple network attacks.

Incentivized

• MPLS feature set on NCS520
• Full support for RFC2544, Y.1564 across the product line
• Greater clarity of the impact of smaller buffers on NCS540 when compared to other Qumran chipsets — some use cases like RPHY aggregation at network core are not a good fit.

Incentivized

• Programming can be complicated for new users
• An easier VPN setup would be a good value add to this product
• PoE for IP Phones requires an add-on daughter card
• The daughter card add expense and requires that the 800 series unit be opened to install card

Incentivized

We are already looking at more purchases

Incentivized

My experience is that there is always something that proves to be just a bit tedious to get figured out but once you do it is easily duplicated

Incentivized

Cisco routers can be configure and forgotten unless you are adding to the configuration or on the rare troubleshooting event.

Incentivized

Cisco routers can be configure and forgotten unless you are adding to the configuration or on the rare troubleshooting event.

Incentivized

People have bad days and some things are deemed not critical enough to fix.

Incentivized

My training was through a third party that had good knowledge but wasn't able to answer all of my questions.

Incentivized

The more you can plan in advance the easier the deployment will be.

Incentivized

Cisco NCS is smaller and for us newer. Better cost with similar capabilities.

Incentivized

The Cisco 800 Series Industrial ISR routers have proven to be more reliable than the standard ISR routers within moving vehicles.

Incentivized

Not every router can handle all situations and so you have to purchase the upgrade to do handle the new requirements.

Incentivized

• Relatively low cost access layer device.
• Very cost effective means of getting 10G interfaces.
• Some features available on other devices out of the box are more complex or absent on the NCS without licensing or assistance.

Incentivized

• 800 Series units are a great value for very small sites
• The 800 series have allowed us to be agile in the opening of sites quickly in under-served rural areas.
• The only downside is having to renew the support every few years.

Incentivized