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Cisco Catalyst Switches

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Overview

What is Cisco Catalyst Switches?

Cisco's Catalyst is one of that company's brand of network switches.

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Recent Reviews

Catalyst Switch Review

10 out of 10
February 09, 2024
Incentivized
So in our organization, Catalyst Switches is what everything is connected to get on the internet. So in our organization for ourselves we …
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Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Video Reviews

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Cisco Catalyst Switches Review
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Cisco Catalyst Switches Review
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Cisco Catalyst Switches Review
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Product Details

What is Cisco Catalyst Switches?

The Cisco Catalyst family of switches includes enterprise LAN access, distribution, and core switches. The vendor says the switches are designed for an entirely new era of intent-based networking, deliver stellar performance and functionality, and prepares a network for the future with breakthrough innovations for security, mobility, IoT, and the cloud.

Cisco Catalyst switches offer advanced security capabilities, scale for IoT, and cloud readiness.

Cisco aims to transform how people connect, communicate, and collaborate. Cisco and its valued partners sell Cisco hardware, software, and services to businesses of all sizes, governments, service providers, and consumers.

Cisco now offers a two-question, two-minute interactive tool to identify the Cisco products and services available to help users solve up to 5 network challenges.

Cisco Catalyst Switches Screenshots

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Cisco Catalyst Switches Technical Details

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cisco's Catalyst is one of that company's brand of network switches.

HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches, Huawei Ethernet Switches, and Juniper EX Series Switches are common alternatives for Cisco Catalyst Switches.

Reviewers rate Configurability highest, with a score of 10.

The most common users of Cisco Catalyst Switches are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(721)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 358)
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Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
They are used in wind turbines and in the turbine core network.
  • IE3300
  • C9300
  • C9500
  • IE3200
  • C9800
  • IE3000
  • IE3100 needed POE support
It can be used as a loop switch in the wind turbine loops, example the rugged series IE9310 and IE9320.
February 12, 2024

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Edge & core switching, multi gig and POE. We use Cisco Catalyst Switches to connect end users to clinical data and medical imaging. Connectivity for remote sites and switching for Wi-Fi access points.
  • POE
  • Multigig
  • Power Stack
  • Data Stack
  • Price
  • Physical size, multi gig switches are large
We use them throughout our hospital campus, great many options for SFP & QSFP etc. uplink modules. Lots of power resilience
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using the Cisco Catalyst Switches on all layers like Access-Layer, Distribution-Layer and Core Layer. On Acess-layer we use Catalyst Switches with PoE function to gain power to desk phones or Wireless Access Points. This is working very well. We also use Catalyst Switches in all of our branch offices. We did not see any business problems yet.
  • Connect computers
  • Deliver poe
  • Stable
  • Access layer
  • Distribution layer
  • Core layer
Cisco Catalyst Switches are well suited in access- distribution and core-Layer network to us. In access-layser, we connect endpoints like user computers, printer, desk phones and wireless access points to it. there is also a PoE capacity which powers up desk phones or wireless access points via the LAN network cable. We don't use Catalyst Switches in data center enviroment as we need low latency solutions in there.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Cisco Catalyst Switches are used in my company to interconnect clients in office and manufacturing environments.
The quality of routing and forwarding allows us to keep the production at the fastest rates assuring also the right level of segmentation and security (through dot1x authentication and integration with ISE Profiling and authorization capabilities).
  • Dot1x Authentication
  • BPDU guard
  • VRF handling
  • Web management interface
  • R-SPAN support on all switches
Well suited:
1) high performance networking scenarios for office areas
2) high performance networking scenarios for manufacturing areas
3) dot1x integration with ISE

Less appropriate:
1) less challenging networking scenarios for office areas
2) pure internet exit networks in small offices or areas
3) SDN scenarios where no routed access layer is present
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Cisco Catalyst Switches in Data Centre (APIC) and in SD -Access Fabric. Deployment of those switches is making it easier for us as a company to deploy such a huge deployment, using hundreds of switches in such a manner that with one click of a button the switches are added with extra configuration.
  • Fast access to the switches
  • Super fast and efficient hardware
  • Efficient and quick reboot of the switches
  • Ability for more bandwidth
  • Virtual stackwise
  • Ability to use LISP/BGP in the same fabric for all Cisco Catalyst Switches
I would think that Cisco Catalyst Switches would be recommended in any kind of environment, from huge data centres and fabric sites dotted around the citites around the world.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Cisco Catalyst Switches because they work with no problem!
  • Reliability, work with no issues
  • Scalability, we add more equipment easy
  • Good performance
  • advanced customization and manageability
  • For the moment they work very well, no issues!
  • Customization is okay, but it's not fully fledged because if it's not modular switches, you can not change it. Cost-wise, they are expensive, but the service they provide is very good. However, the solution should aim for a little bit more cost-effectiveness. There is room for enhancement in customization and pricing models.
We use Cisco Catalyst Switches with good result for Voice and Data LAN Enterprise
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our infrastructure is built around all Cisco Catalyst Switches. They allow us to deliver reliable cabled infrastructure in a predictable way. Distribution and access is easily deployed and scaled using Cisco Catalyst Switches. The varied product range provide the needed product depending on the location and need so it's a flexible product line.
  • Reliability
  • Scaling
  • Integrations
  • Some previous models have had less reliable software
  • Pricing
  • Licensing model
Cisco Catalyst Switches are suitable for all types of access, distribution and core scenarios. They scale well and have many different cabling options, both for copper and fiber.
February 09, 2024

Catalyst Switch Review

Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
So in our organization, Catalyst Switches is what everything is connected to get on the internet. So in our organization for ourselves we do have a catalyst center that manages all our catalyst switches and all our users are regularly connected to the catalyst switches.
  • The Switches package is very well with very low latency.
  • I would say in my opinion, it's very user-friendly or if you have been in the game for Cisco. I have with my education where we usually use Cisco, it's very user-friendly.
  • The design maybe, I don't know, maybe some black color or something maybe. Well for what it's supposed to do, which is switch packages and being the first layer of access for your network equipment, it's doing that already really well with all these new takes with the DNA center and stuff like that, we get so many information already from the products. Then I would say that it would be a software that has maybe some tweaking that could be a little bit better, stuff like that. But mostly it does what it is it's supposed to do, I would say. Very good.
So in every scenario where you have to take one port and create, make it so that you can have more devices connected. So there will be like in a normal office area where you have an internet connection and you have to have 40 or 20 clients connected. That's where definitely Catalyst Switches becomes a very important part of this. The whole thing, scenarios where it's not very usable, I can't really see a scenario where you wouldn't be needing a switch to. There would be a very unlikely scenario because mostly you would need to connect more than one device to a router or something like that. So you would need to have a switch scenario I would say. Then it would be in some sort of scenario where you only had a need to have a directly connection to a router or something else where you wouldn't need to have more ports. So like a peer to peer connection or something like that. But I can't really see any other scenario where wouldn't you wouldn't be needing a switch.
February 09, 2024

Scalable products

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Simplicity, speed and PoE
  • Stacking
  • Scalability
  • Product range
  • Smart licensing mechanism
On businesses that are connected to the internet, and for Cisco Catalyst Switches behind a firewall it is difficult sometimes to do the smart licensing.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Cisco Catalyst Switches are used in our Wi-Fi networks, collaboration and campus networks and even our data center network.
  • Less latency
  • Good retention
  • Best performance
  • Suggesting trainings
  • Getting familiarized with the new products
  • Expanding the solutions to work with other solution brands
Cisco Catalyst Switches are well suited in campus networks and Wi-Fi and collaboration infratructure.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We utilise Cisco Catalyst Switches within all our retail deployments to facilitate access for our customer facing experience.
  • Ease of use
  • Power management
With the product line there are many options that will suit all needs. I think in small businesses it might not be feasible.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We design and implement projects using the catalyst series switches. With regards, to problems it is quite an obvious answer, its bugs,
  • Can integrate really well with other Cisco products
  • High performance
  • Great efficiency
  • Not much number of bugs
Can be implemented anywhere
February 06, 2024

Cisco Catalyst Switches

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Connectivity for all business. Reliable and provides great bandwidth. Easy to use and with a variety of options for connectivity. POE and with redundant power supply. We basically use all Cisco Catalyst Switches in all our offices including Wi-Fi connectivity since they have a multi gig along with 10 gig connection.
  • Multi gig
  • 10G sFP
  • Stack capability
  • Pricing
  • Licensing cost
Well suited for edge connection. But for Data center we use Nexus.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The Cisco Catalyst Switches are used for lab distribution in my network and I am very satisfied with that. In the LAN network I used Cisco Catalyst Switches which we have for more than 15 years and it still working, are more stable and it works very well. In conclusion, we continued to use them in our area network because are more stable.
  • More stable in network LAN
  • Easy to use
  • In some moments, the example the graphic interface could be more unfriendly for inexperience users
We use the Cisco Catalyst Switches in area network and in the LAN network for end users and so far I haven’t any problems.
February 06, 2024

Most flexible

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I install and administer for our customers. Stacking with longer cables helps get the switches in where there is space if it cannot be planned. Some of our customers have to only use Cisco.
  • Stacking
  • Software upgrades (with Failover)
  • Adding and removing from stack
  • Downgrades (stack reboot required)
  • Broken ports (out of about 100 delivered catalysts there were 8 switches with just a few ports broken mainly 9200 series)
  • Stop the buttons on the front from being used to reset the switch
Scenarios - all - have just completed a DMZ swap from old CAt3k/6k to 9k - now I am going to use 9600 and loads of 9300 for Campus renewal.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Access Switches and Core Switches in traditional networks. EdgeNodes and BorderNodes , Intermediate Nodes in our companies SDA fabric. We have a complete overview of our network central site and also branches. We have control software updates and a whole view of the connected clients. With Cisco ISE we have a strong security model, using NAC for Wirless and Wired Endpoints to prevent network access for unknown devices.
  • Switching
  • Different POE profiles up to 60W
  • Easy sw upgrade
  • Virtualization by using stackwise virtual technologie
  • Flexibility in different line speeds on same switch
  • Software being more constant when doing an upgrade (features are working different, e.g. port profiles which haven’t been there in version before)
  • Issu
Well suited for enterprise and medium size customers, less appropriate for price sensitive customers. A negative point is the whole theme about licensing and smart account registration. The whole process of the online licensing is a mess. The opportunity to use catalyst for switching and routing, also for complex routing protocols as IS-IS, OSPF,BGP make them ideal for a fabric enabled network.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We continue a deployment for remote sites local networks. The Cisco Catalyst Switches are professional devices with strong software we trust in. A lot of services are used with these devices like security, QoS, wifi and of course switching and routing. All switchs will be integrated very soon into a Cisco Catalyst Center to provide us automation & central management.
  • Switching
  • Routing
  • Security
  • Datacenters
  • DMZ
  • remote sites
The Cisco Catalyst Switches are well suited for the classical Cisco infrastructure model: core, distribution, access. This is a standard for us for all sites, datacenters or remote sites. I would tell that in our industrial model, there is no unappropriate situation where we do not deploy Cisco Catalyst switchs.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Cisco Catalyst Switches are used as the main access switches in all of our office deployments globally in both standalone and stacked configurations with deployments that range from single devices to campuses with literally hundreds of switches. They provide a simple and method of access and have proven to be a stable and reliable choice.
  • reliability
  • well understood configurations
  • form factor
  • security
  • resilience
  • availability (chip shortage was a pain)
  • simplicity of the configuration out of the box
Cisco Catalyst Switches is the sweet spot as an end user access switch. It's not great for a DC deployment - but you have other models for that!
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Cisco Catalyst Switches 's access layer C9300 provides user access and access point connectivity
  • Easy to configure
  • Good Power Management
  • Stable Devices
  • Licensing
  • Size - Foot Print
All Access Layer requirements at the edge
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Cisco Catalyst Switches to connect our users to business applications, customers, and devices. They allow our users to connect from wherever they are.
  • Remain available
  • Configuration
  • Adaptability
  • Compatibility with other providers
  • Size
  • Price
Cisco Catalyst Switches work well in every situation and are easily supported by a vast number of vendors and partners
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use Cisco Catalyst Switches because I need a reliable and scalable network.
  • Switching
  • Routing
  • Stacking
  • Software fixes
In larger offices, Cisco Catalyst Switches is good, but not for small coffeeshop-like offices.
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