Cisco Catalyst Switches Reviews

One of the things that I like this sw range is its easy configuration at the VLAN level and port mode assignment, this catalyst range offers giga speed ports, thanks to this it improves the sending of packages in each of its ports. It also offers the security part with the port-security protocol, which helps us to have greater security in our infra-structure.

I do not like the sw of this range in several of the protocols of layer 2 are exclusive of cisco, and when we have an infrestrutura of direfente manufacturers is useless many of the commands. It would be very useful to standardize the protocols so that all manufacturers use it and get more out of this equipment.

thanks to the sw catalyst my network works at gigabit speeds, I also have them configured in stack mode to use two sw as if they were one in my access layer, to have more access ports for end users.

The handling of these devices is very practical, the catalys series in one of the most complete series of switches that are on the market, since it has many security features and very useful protocols developed by Cisco. Personally, it is the most complete team since at the configuration level, having the basic knowledge of Cisco networks, you can implement it in your internal network without any problem.

One of the failures that I find to the catalyst series is the capacity of momoria that manages, the problems that occur are a little serious since it does not allow the access to manage the equipment and slowness in the process of the packages in the network.

Thanks to the cisco catalyst switch I manage the packages in layer two. The spanningtree protocol is one of the ones I like the most at the distribution layer level, to avoid endless packet loops. the creation of VLANS, to segment the network are some of the functions that I use with the switches of the Catalyst series.

Cisco's catalyst switches provide a wide range of protocols that help you improve the efficiency of your LAN network. In the security part it has the port security sticky function, which helps us to have a security control in your network. It also has redundancy protocols such as the spanning tree protocol, in addition to its VLAN creation functions, these devices provide a fairly complete functionality.

Personally I feel more comfortable handling cisco equipment since I have 5 years of experience managing these equipment it has become quite easy to manipulate and manage them.

The equipment of the catalyst series are very sensitive to temperature change. The lack of memory of the 2960-L series that gives me constant errors at the time of being administered. The constoso of the physical team to implement it.

It has facilitated the administration of my network, under command implemented on the computer. By attaching security on my LAN network thanks to port security. I have segmented my network through the VLANs, each department I have separated by VLAN for a better organization in the network.

I apply the switches of the catalyst series for the access layer of my network.

catalyst switches are excellent switches that help a small or medium company in the solution of scalability, they are switches that adapt to the environment that each company has. It has very solid solutions, such as portsecurity, segmentation of networks (VLANS). This is one of the functions that I like most about switches because it is very easy to do and configure it, compared to other competitors.

what disgusts me about this product are its high cost, because being one of the most recognized brands and used in the world of networks is put as first place and with a high price but for a good solution offering good features and services .

I recommend this product completely if you require a small or medium business solution, it is adaptable and scalable, you must study the configurations very well since it is handled by terminal.

We have used this product to be able to segment the network also scalability since we had a switch that had been left with few available ports and the growth of the network was considerable, it was decided to acquire a 48-port switch catalyst to be able to give supply the necessary requirements, apart from having a better administration.

The consistency across the Cisco IOS platform makes configuration, troubleshooting, and learning much more efficient and beneficial when moving between different models/series. Additionally, the Cisco support structure sets a golden standard for the industry (and really any support model).

Inconsistency between some of the nomenclature for commands (e.g. port channel vs ether channel). Additionally, some of the configuration guides can be cryptic at times, and really takes a bit of trial and error (or consulting with the community).

In short, Cisco equipment is generally more expensive than other gear out on the market, but ultimately you get what you pay for. Absolutely do your due diligence and thoroughly compare products and vendors, but be sure to include Cisco as one of those vendors in your vetting process.

Aside from generally great products (note: not always perfect), their support structure is fantastic, both on the break/fix support side as well as the hardware replacement side. Cases are easy to open, engineers are (typically) very knowledgeable, and not once do you feel left in the dark; if something is urgent and severe enough, they'll stay on the phone with you until completion.

It's not always the right decision if the budget isn't there, but it's definitely worth it if you're looking for effective products, and truly exemplary support.

Converged building networks. By leveraging various Cisco platforms, we've been able to bring together systems which have traditionally been isolated and run on their own networks and infrastructure.

Catalyst switches have many features built in, many of which go unused by most users. Those features are both layer 2 and 3. Have a Catalyst switch in place and have a new requirement? Chances are the switch may already support your new requirements.

TAC provides great support to resolve existing issues or provide config guidance.

Bugs and syntax changes. Software updates sometimes change command syntax and finding the updated documentation can sometimes put your search skills to the test.

Do NOT use the software loaded on the chassis out of the box. Check cisco.com for the latest stable software for the platform. It is not unheard-of for a switch to come out of the box with software that has been deferred due to issues. Invest in SmartNet - this will pay for itself in the event a device has a hardware issue or there is a production issue to be investigated and resolved.

Provide required connectivity and support of new technologies, often with no more than a software update.

Los switches Cisco Catalyst son de lo mejor que hay en el mercado y por tanto lo mejor que puedes poner en tu empresa. Poseen una cantidad de opciones de configuración y se adaptan a cualquier tipo de necesidades. Tienes multitud de modelos para el tamaño de empresa, desde switches pequeños de pocas bocas a chasis grandes con muchas tarjetas y bocas. Cisco esta en continua actualización de las IOS de estos dispositivos y el soporte que tienen es inmejorable. También hay una gran comunidad detrás por lo que cuando surgen dudas es sencillo encontrar alguien que le he pasado lo mismo.

Es complicado encontrar cosas negativas sobre estos switches, quizá por poner alguna pega sacan algunas IOS con algún bug pero tardan muy poco en solventarlo y en sacar otra que solucione el problema. En cuanto tienes un problema puedes llamar a CISCO y rápidamente te resuelven el problema.

Si quieres diseñar un entorno de red con un rendimiento correcto y una buena calidad no dudes en usar Cisco Catalyst

En mi empresa todo lo que tenemos es Cisco Catalyst, por rendimiento, seguridad y fiabilidad no hay otra cosa mejor. Además estamos integrando todos los switches con CISCO ISE lo que no da una potencia infinita para hacer cosas. También los switches que tenemos nos proporcionan POE con lo que alimentamos por cable RJ45 todos los teléfonos, evitándonos los transformadores de corriente en los puestos de usuario.

Cisco catalyst switches are the best network device that you can use in your company. There are a lot of Cisco catalyst switches for all kind of requirements you have, since small business switches with 8 ports to a big deployment switches as Cisco 4510+R where you can install 8 x 48 ports line cards. The support is the best because you can search in Internet and you have a lot of support information, including the official free support community’s. You can ask to Cisco TAC team too, of course

Nothing, when I was some problem, I contact with Cisco TAC support group and they help me very fast, and it’s very estrange that device fails, always should be caused for external factors.

If you want to deploy an environment with guaranties of a correct performance and a good quality without headaches, select Cisco switches

All my services including Cisco switches, in the past we have other switches as 3Com, HP or similar, but the performance, compatibility and the support is very different of Cisco

Gigabit speed, SFP+ ports and the automated deployment, configuration and software deployment via the free APIC software. We have well over 200 locations and have never hand any issue with these switches. The hardware has been completely trouble free, easy to install and virtually silent (only the 48 port models have active cooling, which only ramps up when the temperature rises. The 8 and 24 port models are completely passive cooled and therefore 0dB noise.)

As long as you don't need very advanced features these switches are fine, setting up the APIC software was a bit cumbersome.

Use the product guides to determine the correct model for your business.

Easy to deploy and manage, fast gigabit speed, enough SFP+ options to connect to fibre and other media.

All models we use have support PoE+ for Wireless Access Points and IP phones.

The Catalyst 3850 Series switch has given us a flexible, reliable and secure access layer that is able to provide us the ability to be proactive and prepared for what the business units can throw at us.

The Catalyst 3850 creates a lot more Sound than the previous series of switches. Luckily we have network closets that aren't close to office areas. You might have to invest in sound reducing rack enclosures if you plan to install them close to users.

I you are thinking about 802.11ac V2 the Catalyst 3850 line has a model that has 10G ethernet ports on the last 12 ports of the switch to connect you AP's.

The Cisco Catalyst 3850 is our current standard Access Layer switch. With it's implementation we are now moving into deploying VOIP across our Enterprise along with an Enterprise managed wireless solution.

Las empresas que eligen Cisco saben que la inversión inicial de costes puede parecer

engañosa. Es fácil de olvidar que el coste de la compra inicial de su red asciende

tipicamente al 20 por ciento de los costes totales de propiedad. A menudo, el 80 por

ciento restante procede de los gastos de costes operacionales, mantenimiento y soporte.

Sin embargo, con Cisco el coste total de propiedad desciende, debido a la reducción de

costes operacionales durante la vida del producto.

Las empresas que compran únicamente un switch por precio (por ejemplo, escogiendo un

producto de consumo, en vez de uno diseñado específicamente para empresas), no

suelen tener en cuenta el impacto de su decisión. Generalmente, no tienen en cuenta la

importancia de considerar factores tales como la escalabilidad, si la empresa creciera, y la

fiabilidad. Esto resulta a menudo en costes ocultos tales como caídas de red y pérdida de

productividad.

El soporte técnico y las opciones de financiación de Cisco ofrecen a las empresas soporte

continuo, ayudando a superar muchos de estos problemas y añadir valor al dinero a largo

plazo.

Incluso porque la tecnología de Cisco es de la más alta calidad, y está diseñada para ser

fácil de gestionar, el coste total de propiedad es generalmente más bajo que los

productos de la competencia.

No me disgusta ningún aspecto, lo único que todos sabemos es que el precio de los equipos Cisco es un poco alto, con lo cual se hace difícil en ciertas situaciones la compra del mismo equipo.

Ventajas en contra del precio

Fiabilidad (simplemente no pueden afrontar los costes debidos a la inactividad del

sistema).

Seguridad avanzada (protegiendo los activos de sus datos y por consiguiente la

integridad y continuidad de su negocio).

Tecnología que pueda crecer con su negocio (para que puedan capitalizar el potencial

de la tecnología y aplicaciones, tales como VoIP y tecnología inalámbrica).

Garantía de Producto (de modo que sepan que la inversión de tecnología está

protegida).

Excelente producto

Ninguno, se esta usando la configuración básica y funcionan perfectamente.

High availability; open to developments, upgrades and updates.

I do not have any dislike situation for these series of switches. Price could be little bit lower

I don't have any hesitation for these series of switches. If you have budget enough, you can purchase the product without pay attention too much for examination. Only be clear about your business needs and check features of these series. Probably it supports all your needs for many years.

We solved product capabilities problems by using this product and will continue meet your needs a few years more. Also it helped us about creating internal/operational efficiencies and improving business process agility.

The cisco cli is legendary for being easy to use and powerful. The ability to upgrade sups and not switches.

When running SUP 8's losing the 16 10gb ports I physically have, kind of frustrating to have 16 10gb ports between SUP8's and only be able to use 8

I'm not sure, follow what your knowledge base is. if someone in your shop is not familiar with Cisco products there are a lot of resources at your disposal online to learn. Also with the upcoming DNA product.

Distribution and core collapsed. I've noticed the stability and reliability of this particular line. We've had multiple models in the 4500 line up and all of them have been work horses. Hot swap able blades are a plus as well. in service upgrades

With the new sup and the "organa" 80ports dualfiber linecard, it´s a super plattform for FTTH. not to big, and quite good scale on the customers it can support.

the plattform is old. It should come out with a new chassis that can serve much more traffic. A new sup that can have several 10/40 and 100G interfaces. New 80 ports linecards that support 1/10Gbit on each port. It could also support 2.5 or 5Gbit if that gets standardized.

FTTH to residential customers. Been using the plattform for almost 15 years. But it haven´t improved much over that time.

Incredible stable and robust. Good performance for reasonable price.

Sometimes new features do not work as they should. If you dont use latest features it is stable as rock. If you need newest features - think twice before upgrade and test it thoroughly before installing on production

Good solution for spread environments where you can install device and forget about it. Dont need constant maintenance. With very few skilled engineers You can achieve reliable and stable network on L2.

Less effort on servicing devices.

The amount of features available on these switches is great. We are able to provide all the functionality that our end users need to keep the business going. These switches are also very reliable, and have yet to show any major issues.

I would have a hard time finding things about these switches that we dislike. Maybe that they don't brew coffee for us? In all honesty, we have not run into any situation that has shown any negative light on this product.

We are using these switches as our standard access layer, and it is solving the issue of providing the port capacity needed for access on a dependable platform. We have seen benefits when incorporating these switches into other platforms such as Cisco ISE.

I am a network administrator and these switch catalyst seem to me to be the most complete switch on the market, since it allows me to manage my network optimally and efficiently.

One of the few things that I dislike about the switch is its limitations in RAM

good value for money

I'm solving problems at layer 2 level, thanks to its portsecurity option I solve the problem of broadcast storms and connection without authorization

Catalyst switches just work. We only use Cisco catalyst switches because we can set and forget them until new needs require changes in their configuration.

We have had some issues with fans going bad soon after deployment. Cisco replaced them immediately.

All stores use catalyst switches for regular connectivity as well as switching between primary and secondary WAN connections. We also use VLANs to segregate our store networks into general and high Security networks. Lastly, we use them as edge switches for our corporate networks.

Easy to configure.

Supports wide range of features like tacacs, firewall rules, dhcp server, routing both static and routing protocols, PoE or not. Makes excellent switches.

If stacking with stack cables getting the correct server set to master can sometimes be troublesome.

Great choice. But if unsure Cisco is often willing to provide demo equipment to test.

Layer 3 switches for smaller offices where 4500 or 6500 series are overkill. Also they are great access switches with poe for phones, access points, and pc’s

They are extremely reliable, even in certain circumstances (Site/Datacenter remodelation), once finished with the starting configuration everything becomes easy using the GUI, and you can even keep a tag for each and every port.

The end of life and support period is relatively short on the catalyst series, the GUI is extremely basic and feels forced.

Consider your buy as something that will be helpful to your network infrastructure for years to come, with their exceptional performance and reliability.

In our company the resources we have for infrastructure budget is not too big. The CISCO Catalyst series have helped us by keeping an exceptional performance after years of 24/7 usage.

High throughput on these switches is great, all the best features from previous generation products. The quality of the c3850 is above par for cisco quality products i forsee these switches running for a long time with excellent support.

It always comes down to something little and or petty, such as price. I dont have much room to complain though as the ROI for most cisco products, this one included is well worth it.

Mainly having throughput availability for demanding power end users, making sure they are able to get what is needed when its needed without any bottlenecks. These switches do that and way more, an incredibly valuable product to have.

IOS feature set, especially IOS-XE currently allows me to be flexible enough to accommodate business requirements quickly enough, with the adequate security levels.

Stable, felxible and extensive, I have yet to come across a worthy adversary (exaggeration for effect) :-)

Currently, seems like Cisco is struggling to deliver the code base quality I was used to in IOS(-XE). Might be because they have to rush features out into the field before their competitors.

Secure segmentation - added security measures and control points

Network availability - VSS, StackWise (and virtual), ISSU and dynamic routing get us as close as possible to a zer-downtime environment.

The switches provide the basic needs of an access layer device and are at a reasonable price. This would suite small offices well.

There's not a lot to dislike. You get a basic set of features for a lower price than many of Cisco's other models.

We use these for out of band management of our network and servers. We don't require high resilience or any advanced features for this.

We use the 3650 in a variety of situations from collapsed core in midsize user deployment to top of rack in a data c

They can get expensive if you do not actually need the horsepower. There are cheaper alternatives if you don’t need the options and sp

We needed a switch that could be a workhorse and keep going under tuff cond

This product is very nice because it is very mobile, you can have it on all the time.

It might bug and there is a delay in the mobility mode.

The best thing is mentioned above, it is mobile, I can get stuff while on the go and not have to be at one place.

Everything is pretty straightforward like etherchannel or enable a port span compared to other vendors

Making a MLAG is not possible with campus switches and of course is not cheap but name some excellent vendor that is free?

It is easy to understand and configure but with a support contract i can guarantee that you will never ever suffer

With the 6500 and VSS we have really great solutions related to high availability and with campus switches we have an awesome behavior with multicast and definitely with etherchannel

life time warranty

efficiency and port.

it is an easy switch to configure and is very good for small offices as well as district and trailers.

we have most 2960X deployed instead of 2960S

we have observed that the port die and no more POE has been an issue.

support and smart net is expensive so we just RMA the switch when we have an issue

it is a reliable switch and is stable.

This switch allow is to connect users with faster speed. it is a reliable switch and crash rarely

Work horses. Never have problems. Ease of use with CLI. The support team enjoys working with them and TAC support is always good.

Price. I don't enjoy the cost but we've had them working for years. I wouldn't say that balances out because they are still expensive.

Medium size business or higher. You can get these for small business but their are other options. These scale well in the large enterprise environment.

Powering our VoIP network. Stable switch that we rely on compared to other vendors.

ETA, Performance, Security, Throughput, Architecture, Integration, SDA

Price...but you get what you pay for. No other company has the integration and feature set of the 9300 and to get that you have to pay for it.

Stop looking and buy this switch!

SD-Access and being able to globally deploy and enforce security policies.

Ease of configuration and understanding

stacking capability

security features

nothing switches have all the feature i require

Great switches can't go wrong with these. tons of features and security and upgrades for new features always available

good end-user connectivity

stacking capability allows for easy port upgrades/downgrades

Performance, reliability and flexibility

I can’t find a real dislike but if I have to say one is the limitation of only two switch in Virtual Stacking

I evolved a lot of Campus architecture with this hardware and I’m still surprised by total reliability

Worth the price to pay for high quality networking equipment. Very energy efficiency!

Is just pricey, but is a very great product. It is very worth the pay.

It helps us run a better network of a faster Ethernet. The benefits of Cisco they provide very high security to business.

I like the EIGRP named mode and the UPOE support

I wish it would come with a shelf like the 6509's did. Makes it easier to install.

Moving from a 6509 to a 4510 we gained and extra 48 ports plus the benefits of using EIGRP named mode and UPOE.

Lo mejor de los switches Cisco 2960 Es su capacidad para ser administrados tan fácilmente

El no poder intercambiar slost de sfp en la administración.

En un ambiente 24/7 Lo que necesitas es galleta y los switches 2960 te lo dan.

It is pretty easy to use and it can also become a wireless lan controller if needed Otto support wireless networks

The GUI of wireless lan controller is not that user friendly and easy to use.

Wireless

Availability of chassis sizes to meet all needs, redundant power supplies and many port card options

There is nothing I dislike about this product.

Redundant pairs in an HSRP configuration is a powerful combination and almost bullet proof. If installing in an enterprise type location, I would recommend it if the budget allows it.

We use these as core routers for main campus locations in redundant pairs leveraging HSRP to ensure reliability and almost 100% uptime for our enterprise type environment.

I like the different options with/without PoE+, 1G or 10G uplinks, 8, 24 or 48 ports models and the stacking options.

Very slow boot time. And slow firmware upgrades.

We needed PoE on all ports and 10G uplinks.

Automatiza la instalación del software para una implementación sin contacto. Configura los puertos automáticamente según el tipo de dispositivo. Proteje contra el robo de direcciones IPv6. Muy fácil de instalar Se autogestiona y tiene un gran aumento con respecto a los enrutadores estándar

Ya no es totalmente compatible con las vulnerabilidades.

Este es un producto realmente fácil de instalar y excelente que servirá funcionalidad básica mínima, especialmente en un entorno pequeño.

Valor por dinero y simple de instalar

I deploy these switches in wiring closets that may not always have dedicated HVAC. These units perform great and I have not experienced any overheating issues. Add in advanced port security features and these are a no-brainer at the cost point.

So far I can't find anything that we don't like. Maybe adding more layer 3 capabilities, but that would put it at the next pricing level.

Buy more ports than you need.

Advanced security and performance.

They are easy to configure, and have a lot of features that help to improve the network performance.

The GUI interface is not so good, I rather use the CLI.

Microsegmentation and Inter VLAN routing.

The 3850 switches provide great access layer connectivity for us. We are utilizing them with PoE at the access layer to power voip endpoints.

They are a bit pricey compared to some alternatives but are great in converged implementations.

We use them for the higher bandwidth throughput and PoE to power our voip endpoints. We get great reliability with the comfort that we have great support behind the brand if we need assistance with complex issues.

Uniformity in IOS commands along with wirespeed performance incorporating latest features create a robust and reliable infrastructure

Web config lack of features not helpful to newcomers

Compatibility across standards and clarity of operations

Stable switch with very few bugs. Our switches currently have an up time of 2 years.

Not much to dislike. High volume of traffic with few bugs or issues.

If you need a switch that can scale to your requirements but don't want to spend the required amount for a Nexus, this is the switch for you.

Needed a robust core for a decent cost. Using the 6880-X was a perfect solution for us.

Features available for implementing secure and scalable networks

Running into strange behavior of the switch when doing stuff that is not very common.

Implementing security through the whole nfrastructure

The form factor of this unit.

It's 1 RU with 32 - 10 Gig ports.

Throughput is nice.

Also, we like VSS And HA feature.

I wish if we can increase the deep buffer capability on this platform. Then implementation of QOS will be much more efficient.

Definitely use it because of it's form factor and 1 RU size.

We are mainly using it as

Campus edge device

Aggregation device

Core unit

features for a secure access and transport, QoS, NBAR, stacking of the switches with high bandwidth, management of the switches, stable hardware,

sometimes you have to discuss the price with the customer, because there are other solutions on the market, which are cheaper, but not with feature parity

stable hardware which can stay long in production

many features for secure access

building global managed LANs for our customers

The switches were easy to deploy,provided great performance,and a relatively low cost

I have not found anything so far that I dislike

We are solving our refresh moving away from older access layer switches

Different models. Modular approach. Mixed speeds. Ability to allow us to grow at our own pace.

No 100 meg option for legacy systems. Would have liked to have more options on port density.

It's a great L2/L3 switch for the Core of an enterprise environment.

We had to replacing equipment almost 10 years old. Wanted to invest in a platform that could grow with our needs.

Very reliable and stable switch, VSS feature make 2 physical become 1 virtual switch.

Support all different line cards from 10gb fiber to 1 gb copper to FEX.

Also support most recent SD Access.

not really, if this switch can support 100GB and 40GB interface that will be more ideal.

for a medium sized company, having 2 x 6800 VSS as core is very reliable solution.

New Cat9k introduces some fancy features for security purposes like ETA (Encrypted Traffic Analytics)

There are some interoperability issues but i think is normal due Cisco usually releases features after a long quality development check.

Network Automation, Security Automation. I like the ability to enforce security across campus (Access Control, Isolation, Detection) not only on the perimeter with traditional network security products.