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Cisco Nexus Reviews

Vendor: Cisco
4.2 out of 5
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What is Cisco Nexus?

The Cisco Nexus family of switches is designed to meet the stringent requirements of the next-generation data center. Not simply bigger or faster, these switches offer the following characteristics: infrastructure that can be scaled cost-effectively and that helps you increase energy, budget, and resource efficiency, transport that can navigate the transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet and unified fabric and can also handle architectural changes such as virtualization, Web 2.0 applications, and cloud computing and operational continuity to meet your need for an environment where system availability is assumed and maintenance windows are rare if not totally extinct.
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Cisco Nexus is the #4 ranked solution in top LAN Switching solutions and #5 ranked solution in top Data Center Networking solutions. PeerSpot users give Cisco Nexus an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Cisco Nexus is most commonly compared to Dell PowerEdge R-Series: Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerEdge R-Series. Cisco Nexus is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 42% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus
January 2026
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Cisco Nexus mindshare

Product category:
LAN Switching
As of January 2026, the mindshare of Cisco Nexus in the LAN Switching category stands at 8.7%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco Nexus8.7%
Cisco Catalyst Switches22.8%
HPE ProCurve11.6%
Other56.9%
LAN Switching

PeerResearch reports based on Cisco Nexus reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryLAN SwitchingJan 26, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersJan 26, 2026Download
ComparisonCisco Nexus vs Cisco Catalyst SwitchesJan 26, 2026Download
ComparisonCisco Nexus vs Aruba Instant On SwitchesJan 26, 2026Download
ComparisonCisco Nexus vs Cisco FabricPathJan 26, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Dell PowerEdge R-Series4.5N/A98%268 interviewsAdd to research
NETGEAR Switches4.17.7%88%57 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Jan 25, 2026

Valuable Features

Cisco Nexus boasts features like advanced routing, high port density, and impressive scalability. Users appreciate its stability and ease of management. It supports high throughput and modularity, making it valuable for data centers. Virtual Device Context and Virtual Port Channel offer flexibility and redundancy, while automation and programmability streamline network management. High performance and integration with security tools are enhanced through visibility and configuration options.
  • "The deployment of Cisco Nexus was very straightforward."
  • "I would recommend Cisco Nexus for large enterprises and the government sector, as they can afford it."
  • "Regarding maintaining infrastructure, we have achieved uniformity."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Nexus users suggest improvements in GUI friendliness, interface modernization, enhanced multi-context and programmability, improved integration with diverse systems, and simplified licensing. They express a need for more port diversity, efficient multi-chassis management, and expanded automation. Concerns were raised over stability in specific contexts, configuration challenges, and the cost. Enhanced documentation and training, alongside better technical support, are also areas for advancement according to the users.
  • "However, we have a very frequent issue with Cisco Nexus, particularly with the SFPs. Every time a port or the SFP heats up, it gets faulty."
  • "It might be pretty expensive for other companies."
  • "All solutions are very expensive and not an economy solution."

ROI

Users find Cisco Nexus offers good return on investment. Their expenditures, though initially steep, are justified by its reliability, stability, and performance. The redundancy and uptime have proven valuable, yielding cost savings and enhanced productivity through streamlined processes. Upgrades from previous platforms have shown evident returns, while automation and orchestration in ACI mode provide significant savings. Even amid steep initial costs, longevity and hardware reliability contribute considerably to its favorable financial impact.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating Cisco Nexus report varied experiences regarding pricing and licensing. While some find the initial hardware price competitive, others highlight that ongoing licensing and support can be costly, with fees ranging from $2,000 to $800,000 annually. Users frequently mention the complexity of Cisco's licensing models, including both subscription-based and perpetual options. Despite costs, the device's quality and features are often deemed worth the investment, though there is room for improvement in pricing management and customer support.
  • "In most cases, there is a need to secure perpetual licenses to be able to use the product. When I set up the product, there isn't just a one-time cost that is involved."
  • "Cisco Nexus is not cheap compared to Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Check Point."
  • "Cisco Nexus is not a cheaply priced product."

Popular Use Cases

Cisco Nexus is primarily used for data center environments and high-capacity network connectivity. Users employ it for core infrastructure, high throughput, layer two and three switching, network aggregation, and VLAN extensions. It supports secure and reliable connections for enterprise servers, storage, and collaboration with other networking equipment. Organizations frequently choose Nexus for its scalability, port density, and ability to integrate with various network architectures, making it essential for managing complex networks.

Service and Support

Cisco Nexus customer service and support are generally considered good, reliable, and responsive. While some describe the service as outstanding with quick response times, others feel it could improve, especially in initial contact. Many users rate the support highly, appreciating the fast ticket response and technical expertise, particularly for complex issues. The convenience and reliability make it appealing for various businesses, though costs can be significant for comprehensive support packages.

Deployment

Cisco Nexus's initial setup is typically described as straightforward by many users familiar with the technology, though some found it more complex due to learning curves or additional features. Users noted similarities with previous models and highlighted helpful documentation. Experiences varied based on prior knowledge and the specific requirements of deployment, with some noting the importance of pre-planning and understanding network configurations. Familiarity with command-line interfaces seemed beneficial for easier setup.

Scalability

Cisco Nexus is known for its scalability, allowing extensive expansion when needed. Different models offer varying degrees of scale, with some providing significant capacity and flexibility. While some users note that scaling may require financial investment, others highlight easy expansion through additional hardware. Many appreciate the ability to support large numbers of users and devices. Despite some acknowledging potential challenges, Cisco Nexus is frequently praised for accommodating growth effectively in enterprise environments.

Stability

Cisco Nexus exhibits strong reliability and consistency, praised for its minimal downtime and robust performance. Multiple users highlight its dependability, with many experiencing no technical issues. However, some mention occasional bugs, particularly with MACsec and OpenFlow, although these incidents are rare. Stability has improved over time with regular updates, making it a preferred choice for critical infrastructure. Despite some challenges, it maintains a reputation for being trustworthy in demanding environments.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Cisco Nexus Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise13
Large Enterprise61
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business137
Midsize Enterprise74
Large Enterprise153
By visitors reading reviews

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Cisco Nexus customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

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Product Categories

Product Categories
LAN Switching
Data Center Networking

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Cisco Nexus Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Sr. Network Administrator at i2c4.5I've used Cisco Nexus for nine years in a basic, on-premises setup without programmability or ACI, and while deployment is straightforward, migrations are complex and hampered by VPC limitations, SFP overheating issues, and equipment compatibility challenges.
Global Head, Network Endpoint Connectivity at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees3.5I use Cisco Nexus for our data center due to its valuable VPC feature and automation capabilities, enhancing traffic management and network operations. Though initially unstable, the platform now offers improved stability and beneficial software-defined capabilities, speeding response times.
Systems Area References Specialist at Fondazione Poliambulanza4.0We use Cisco Nexus on-premises, achieving infrastructure uniformity and a 20% ROI. It runs efficiently without special features. Though stable, it's costly. We considered alternatives like Radware for cloud WAF but haven't integrated network software. Dell manages specific solutions for us.
Director at WAJDA GROUP2.5I've worked with Cisco for years and find Cisco Nexus reliable, especially for large enterprises, though it's expensive and less common in corporate sectors. Support is good, but overall, I’d rate the solution a seven out of ten.
Network Engineer at Craw Security3.5I work in a cybersecurity company focusing on networking-related tasks. While Cisco Nexus is useful, Cisco Catalyst offers better processing power, additional features, and faster ports. Both devices could benefit from improvements in networking and troubleshooting capabilities.
Systems Engineer at GAD Municipal de Guayaquil5.0We primarily use Cisco Nexus as core network switches, benefiting from features like in-service software upgrades, programmability, and virtualization. Although configuration synchronization could improve, Nexus has proven reliable, replacing problematic Catalyst 6500 switches and justifying its cost.
Sr, Manager- Network Solution Architect at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees4.0We use Cisco Nexus for dynamic routing in our data centers, leveraging features like MPLS for efficiency. Its integration with third-party security tools is beneficial, though we sometimes prefer other vendors for layer seven security. Cisco offers competitive pricing.
Information Technology Division Director at Ethiopian Roads Administration4.5I use Cisco Nexus in my company to connect servers and nodes with core switches, finding its effective network segregation valuable. However, the network's instability and limited VLAN visibility need improvement to enhance functionality.