Using Automation with Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches
August 01, 2024
Using Automation with Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Modules Used
- Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches
Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Catalyst Switches
We are using Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches as access layer switches in a stand alone Lab for their advanced VLAN and routing capabilities. We use the switch's ability to separate different types of traffic such as access control, regular traffic and guest traffic effectively. These switches also provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) support to power PoE cameras and Access Points (APs).
Pros
- VLAN Segmentation
- Power over Ethernet support
- Integration
- Scalability
Cons
- Delivery Times
- Cost
- Software Licensing
- Scalability
- Complexity
- Extensive Vendor Support
- Advanced Security Features
We used to have Netgear switches. Netgear switches do not allow for automation. They do not have Command Line Interface capabilities. Using Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches we are able to access them using Secure Shell protocol to access the CLI and automate configuration backups and configuration changes. We are able to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux's Ansible solution to perform these functions with ease.
The Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches allow you to create and configure Virtual LANs (VLANs) to segment network traffic based on different requirements (e.g., departments, security zones). They also allow you to customize traffic prioritization and bandwidth allocation for specific applications or services. Use of Access Control Lists (ACLs) allow the network administrator to define rules to filter traffic at the switch level.
We had previously had problems where Lab scenarios had to be restarted because network configurations were missed or misconfigured by Lab Technicians. Hours and sometimes days were wasted because data from a Lab scenario was invalid due to a misconfiguration. The ability to use automation to configure the Lab scenario correctly every time saved time and money. Netgear switches did not have this ability due to their lack of CLI access that is required of Red Hat Enterprise Linux's Ansible solution.
Do you think Cisco Catalyst Switches delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with Cisco Catalyst Switches's feature set?
Yes
Did Cisco Catalyst Switches live up to sales and marketing promises?
Yes
Did implementation of Cisco Catalyst Switches go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy Cisco Catalyst Switches again?
Yes
Comments
Please log in to join the conversation