Item: Cisco Routers
Rating: 10
Author: Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Routers

Cisco Routers Product Series

Cisco ASR 1000 Series

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

This router can be used as the Internet edge router peering with BGP. We also use this router to establish site to site VPN to external business vendors. This enable us to have network connectivity with the Internet and with external business partners.

Pros and Cons

Pros

To establish connection with Internet Service Provider.
To establish site to site VPN connections with external partners.
Virtualize the router so we can handle different network segmentations.

Cons

Terminate Direct Internet Access connection with ISP. Run BGP routing to affect inbound and outbound Internet traffic.
Establish IPSec VPN connections to external partner. Run BGP routing to affect inbound and outbound traffic with different partner networks.
Using the VRF configuration to virtual the router to different network segments. This enables us to handle traffic to different partners independently.

Return on Investment

The router virtualization allows us to use single hardware to support different use-cases the same time, thus saving hardware investment.
The technical support from Cisco is very strong and is willing to advise on different configuration options to address the requirement.
Cisco equipment is more expensive than other router vendors, and the support cost isn't cheap either.

Cisco Product Compatibility

In my typical use-case, the compatibility is not as important. However, it is worth mentioning that many network monitoring tools have support for Cisco Routers via SNMP as well as other specialized options. This is an advantage.

Cisco Router Security

No, not currently. We typically would use dedciated devices to handle security protection, instead of running security services on the router.

Cisco Router Access

The Cisco Routers has been running for a long period of time without issue. The stability is very good.

Alternatives Considered

Cisco Meraki MX

For small office, we may use the Cisco Meraki product. But for big enterprise environment, the Cisco ASR router would provide the capacity and flexibility (connection options) that we prefer.

Key Insights

Do you think Cisco Routers delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco Routers's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Routers live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco Routers go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco Routers again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Check Point 4000 Appliances, Cisco Firepower 2100 Series, Cisco Firepower 2100 Series

Likelihood to Recommend

The Cisco Routers support many port configuration options for a wide range of connection options. The VRF configuration gives us the flexibility to handle different partner connections independently. The full support of BGP routing and various IPSec VPN configuration options are another advantage.

Cisco Routers Additional Questions

Business Processes Supported

Internet
Branch
Data Center
SDWAN

Key Differentiators

Scalability
Ease of Use

There are many available hardware and software configuration options, allowing us to fit to many different use cases

Configuration Lessons

Enable NTP and Syslog services. Enable config change logging. Apply ACL to control remote admin login to the router via SSH and/or HTTPS

Pre-Sale Experience

The sale team is very active and eager to work on the sales. One major issue is that many Cisco products have long wait list after placing the order. This could be a big concern if you try to deploy the router in a timely manner

Post-Sale Experience

Typically, the post sales experience is not bad. Any quesitons or issues would typically addressed quickly. They also are good in replacing DOA equipment

Cisco Services Usage

We work with their SME (subject matter expert) on some inital design and requirement issue. We also use their professional services in deployment. Typcally, the experience is not bad, although in a few cases we did have problem with their professional services. But in the end Cisco is able to address our issues

If applicable, how would you rate the services and experience provided by Cisco Services?

Support Rating

Cisco support is very good. Of course, sometime you will run into support guy that isn't up to the task. Buf overall, the support system is well structure. You know if this support isn't able to help, you can esclate the situation to find another help. Also, their documentation is well developed and can be very useful.