Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500) vs. Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)
Score 6.5 out of 10
N/A
The Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500) is a highly secure and highly available access-routing platform for service providers.N/A
Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Score 9.7 out of 10
N/A
Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms are singular devices providing enterprise, public sector, and service providers high-performance routing, security and network services. Catalyst offer ultra-fast encryption performance, greater tunneling capabilities, along with the latest in firmware defenses and public key infrastructure (PKI) management for secure connectivity to the cloud. Catalyst 8000 offer these capabilities in a modest form factor, able to be connected for secure direct internet access (DIA)…N/A
Pricing
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Cisco Routers
Cisco Routers
Score 8.8 out of 10
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Routers
Cisco Routers
Score 8.8 out of 10
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Likelihood to Recommend
8.2
(3 ratings)
8.6
(23 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
7.8
(2 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.7
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
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.
Read full review
Cisco
With the flexibility of sizing options, the Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms has worked to deliver solutions for our various needs. Smaller systems offer strong connectivity for office developments. Mid-range options have served our larger campuses well. Our data center deployments of the larger systems have provided up to 100G connectivity and advanced routing solutions. The Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms continues to meet our needs and exceed our expectations.
Read full review
Pros
Cisco
  • Switching.
  • Routing.
  • Access.
Read full review
Cisco
  • More resources for tunneling
  • Ability to use sdwan softwre
  • More memory for tcam tables
  • Ability to utilize T1 lines for PRI
  • Ability to act as a SBC for VoIP communication
  • Rfid usage
Read full review
Cons
Cisco
  • 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.
Read full review
Cisco
  • Adding more NIM slots on motherboard
  • Adding PVDM slot for use cases where the router is used only for trans coding
  • Adding more granular tiers for DNA licensing. For example it is a big gap between 2000Mbps (400 Mbps agg) and 1Gbps (2 Gbps Agg)
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Because I have had no issues with this product line and have grown go really trust in it. One of the besr thing is that this has had less vulnerabilities that the past cisco router that I have dealt with. In my line of work needing to upgrade code is always something that needs to be done after hours and most likely on weekends.
Read full review
Usability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
it`s very easy to use it
Read full review
Support Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
I have always had great response time and have never been let down by cisco support. I have had issues where the person who was assisting me was not able to provide a resolution but by utilizing his team members they where able to come together to provide a answer and resplve the situation.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
the licensing is messy
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Cisco
Cisco NCS is smaller and for us newer. Better cost with similar capabilities.
Read full review
Cisco
Compared to the Cisco 2000 Series Connected GRID Routers, CGR2010, the Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms is more powerful in processing, and it has the capability to do the segment routing. It is easier to install physically and occupies less space in the rack, consumes less power, and saves more for the company.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Cisco
  • 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.
Read full review
Cisco
  • Improving the performance and the availability, it has increased the SLA we can ensure to the customers and so the sales has increased
  • The initial expense is really high so the breakeven point is not so near
  • The opex for licensing is high too
Read full review
ScreenShots