Mixed Reviews - If you have the money
Modules Used
- Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches
- Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches
Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Catalyst Switches
Provides the layer 2 core fabric with vlan segmentation for internal usage in our own network but also as a core part of customer managed solutions. IT provides for device redundancy, and expanded campus style networks, with media conversion as needed.
Pros
- Stacking
- Throughput
- Expandable
Cons
- Smart Licensing
- DNA and feature licensing
- Cost
- It can be hard to justify versus other products on ROI, best when you can but a device and leave it in place long term, without recurrent licensing.
- Being forced to integrate with Cisco accessories ( e.g. sfps and modules) future hurt the value proposition (e.g. a Cisco SFP might be RRP $2000, whereas the non-cisco but otherwise identical sfp might be RRP 100 with no good argument beyond Cisco may make support difficult - i.e. cisco enforced difficulty.
Cisco tends to be solid and reliable and great for longer term projects where ROI can spread over longer periods. They tend to be less competitive when extended featuresets are needed, much more difficult and painful to manage service and feature licensing (especially in private networks).
Do you think Cisco Catalyst Switches delivers good value for the price?
No
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
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