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Catalyst switches get your SD-Access journey started
June 09, 2023

Catalyst switches get your SD-Access journey started

Dr. Christian Attinger | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Modules Used

  • Cisco Catalyst 2960 X/XR Series
  • Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series
  • Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series
  • Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series
  • Cisco Catalyst 9500 Series

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Catalyst Switches

We mostly deploy homogeneous Cisco Catalyst networks and service them for medium-sized to enterprise-grade businesses and we use the Cat9k series for our access, distribution, and core layers. Some even for simple routing purposes. QoS is implemented in some, we make frequent use of HA options (SVL, HSRP).
  • Software Upgrades in ISSU
  • MACSec at wire speed
  • Dot1x authentication and troubleshooting
  • StackWiseVirtual
  • boot up time for some 9500 series switches
  • simplicity of routing protocol configuration
  • more options for 10G/25G Uplinks on 9300
  • bring back SVL for 9300 Series
  • energy costs dropped by around 11 per cent on the access layer
  • management has become easier with DNA Center
  • ISSU software upgrades and fabric deployments have significantly reduced "planned" down times
  • network speed has increased, latency is at an all-time best within our own LAN

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

Microsoft 365, Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), Adobe Acrobat, Proxmox VE
  • Webex Meetings
  • Webex App
  • Cisco Aironet and Catalyst Access Points
WebEx was great to have meetings and use whiteboards together. Also we used it for some technical support issues where it was crucial to take over control of a customer's client in a secure and controllable environment that the customer trusted.
I think the Catalyst Switches are ideal for customers that have to refresh their network equipment and still do a considerable amount of "traditional networking" but want to be ready to leverage SD-Access in the near future or want to go full fabric and adopt a VXLAN/EVPN in their data centre in the foreseeable future. Also SGT and other zero trust integrations are easily done with Cat9k. For smaller businesses or businesses that only need to refresh their network equipment but want to stay "traditional" I think there are cheaper and better options available. Also smart licensing and having to have DNA licenses for even simple assurance and lifecycle tasks is not always embraced by each and every of our customers.