Feature, future potential and use cases of Cisco Catalyst 9500 switches
June 27, 2019
Feature, future potential and use cases of Cisco Catalyst 9500 switches
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches
- Catalyst 9500 Series
We are currently using CAT 9500-40X and 9500-32C at our campus and branches. The switches are used at either distribution or core layer.
- It supports programmability
- It supports 10, 40, 100 Gig interfaces
- It can be used as fusion router in the SDA deployment
- 9500-32C is not supported in the DNA
- There are some bugs on the stackwise virtual stacking uses. The stacks get splitted and manual reboot is required to fix it
- I think it has potential for future use. We can even run the guestshell on it. So, if you want to run container environment, it fits well.
- Also, they are good if the plan is to use programmability and API to manage/maintain the switches.
We haven't used any virtualization and programmability features of the CAT 9500 yet. However, we are planning to use programming/API to configure and manage the switches. Right now we are using DNA Center for automating the switches deployment.
Other than using the DNA center to manage/configure the switches, we haven't used any advanced customization and manageability features of the CAT 9500 switches.
I have used H3C 7500 and H3C 5800 at the distribution and core layer of the network. Also from Cisco product family, CAT 4500 and 6500 series switches.
Cisco Catalyst Addtional Questions
- It is suitable at the distribution and core layer of the large sites
- It can be used as the SDA fabric switch
- It has high processing power to handle the heavy switching and routing loads
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Existing Relationship with the Vendor
The main reason is existing relationship with the vendor. So, you trusted the product after doing some POC with the switches.
I will recommend to use DNA PNP feature to provision the switches and use Day-N template to configure the remaining configuration.
We didn't use the advance services. We occasionally got the help from the different levels of Cisco support but not advance services.
Using Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches
30 - All of the users are network engineers.
30 - We have resources with different levels (Level 1 to Level 4) of knowledge.
- Only innovative ways we have used so far is using DNA center to provision the switches
- In the future we want to use the API and programmability features of the switches to automate the network infrastructure
Evaluating Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches and Competitors
Yes - We replaced some H3C 7500 switches with CAT 9500-40X
Of course the switches are costly. Yes, we could look into cheaper whitebox solutions.
Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches Support
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
Not Sure
Yes - It has not been resolved yet. The case was regarding DNA not supporting Cat 9500-32C.
They are very responsive for the TAC cases. I am very happy with their responses.
Using Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series Switches
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar | None |
- If used as the legacy networking, it is not complex
- Be careful if you want to use stackwise virtual. Due to the bug, the stack will be split and you have to reboot the switch manually