My primary use case of this solution is for connecting up drivers and desktops. I'm a system administrator and we're a customer of Cisco.
System Administrator at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Helps us connect drivers and desktops, the expandability provides flexibility
Pros and Cons
- "A very expandable solution."
- "The switches could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I like the expandability of the solution. I have a pair of 6509 catalyst switches and they use the add on boards. I also like the dual power supplies.
What needs improvement?
We are not working off the latest version so the switches on the product are very old and that could be improved. The one gig boards are strictly one gig and not backward compatible. This switch also does not have power over ethernet, so that's old.
I'd like to see a better web interface. I can't tell you what the existing generations have so I'm sure there have been improvements. These are so old and I'm sure modern switches now have much better tools to interface with them.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for over 10 years.
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Cisco Catalyst Switches
August 2025

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's clearly very stable, otherwise we wouldn't be using it anymore. The fact that we still use it shows how stable it is.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
That switch was very scalable because itwas one of the ones that had nine slots in it. So it could have additional boards within.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was fairly straightforward but we're not doing anything fancy with it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We're not paying maintenance - these switches were end of life years ago. Maintenance is separate from licensing. Now there is no additional monthly recurring cost on the Cisco switches that we are running.
What other advice do I have?
This solution has been good to us, it's very solid.
I would rate this solution a nine out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Senior Network Engineer & Technical Instructor at Improtech
Excellent for covering business needs, relatively easy to deploy, and offers good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "We have dealt with Cisco's technical support in the past. They were especially helpful and very polite. They are always there if we need them and their insights are always excellent. I would say that we have been satisfied with the level of support we've gotten so far."
- "The user interface needs improvement. Meraki has a much nicer UI. Cisco could learn a lot by looking at them. It might make them a bit more user friendly."
What is our primary use case?
We don't personally use the switches; we provide services to our clients, including implementing the switches for them.
How has it helped my organization?
Catalyst switches solutions are great. For various customers we have deployed for, business operations run smoothly and without any complain. Troubleshooting and insights are clearer.
Our customers love working with us.
What is most valuable?
Catalyst switches support a variety of features from both layer 2 and layer 3. The fetaures supported depend on the model your dealing with. Though there are various common features such VLAN, MLAG, SDM, STP, Resiliency, PoE, Wireless settings, etc....which Stacking feature happens to be the most common deployment.
Recently I laid hands on Meraki Switches and what I can say to love is its seamless network services to build high-performance networks.
What needs improvement?
The user interface needs improvement. It might make them a bit more user friendly.
The one thing that I came across with the Catalyst 2950-X switch was that I wanted to alter the dashboard, so I connected it to the management interface. I gave it an IP address and I used the browser. However, as soon as I accessed it, I realized that the system of the computer from which I was accessing it didn't support that version. I was using Linux and the OS didn't support the switch. I had to get a Windows computer to access the switch. The dashboard was difficult to manage. It would have been nice if they made it obvious that it didn't work on Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been dealing with the solution for more than two years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I wouldn't say that the switches are stable. It depends on the situation more than any fault in the technology, however.
If a customer approaches my company, we provide the best option for the client. Sometimes that's Catalyst. We do work to evaluate the client and their needs quite extensively before making recommendations. Most of the time, clients look only at the cost and not at the bigger picture. Many don't want to spend too much money. Sometimes, however, a better solution may cost more.
While a well-implemented product is typically stable, if a client says that they don't want to spend anything higher than X, you have to work within those parameters and explain what X will get them, which may ultimately be instability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Very scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have dealt with Cisco's technical support in the past. They were especially helpful and very polite. They are always there if we need them and their insights are always excellent. I would say that we have been satisfied with the level of support we've gotten so far.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Of course, we use and still use Meraki solutions. We didn't switch. Like I said, it is based on what customers need.
How was the initial setup?
The Catalyst switches take more time to implement than Meraki. How long it takes varies for each organization. It depends on the size and requirements. We have spent up to a few weeks on previous contracts setting up switches for companies.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Catalyst licensing varies from a thousand of dollars to 20+ thousands dollars , however, that might depend on the model or version you choose. There are some switches where the licenses are features-based and you need to get a specific license for specific items if you want to use them.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We've looked at Meraki, among other solutions.
While we have used Meraki, it's hard to compare them to Catalyst switches. Meraki is quite good and agile. They've simplified a lot of their processes and have some features that make actions easy to do on Meraki. However, Catalyst offers much of the same features, and are possibly more feature-rich.
Meraki is very much more focused on business needs. While it may be good for their own business model, it doesn't encapsulate everything. Catalyst does a better job in that regard. It has many more features on offer. You aren't limited, although you will want to focus on a particular kind of feature list for your deployment or your integration into your environment.
Cisco happened to own Meraki solutions now.
What other advice do I have?
Last year, we were Cisco partners, but something happened and Cisco made some changes to its partnership requirements. Right now, we are working on re-establishing the partnership with Cisco. We'd like to be partners again.
We are planning to be a distributor. For the moment, however, now that we are waiting on the partnership, we're more of an integrator.
We have deployed on-premises mostly and also a hybrid version sometimes. It depends on what the customer wants and what fits best for their needs. It also depends on the model that you are talking about. On the Catalyst switches, as far as I know, the models vary from types of deployments and features. Some features are only available on applicable switches.
In terms of advice I would give to other companies, I'd say that I like both Meraki and Cisco. I don't really prefer one over the other. It depends on the situation which one makes the most sense. Both are very large solutions but I could recommend either.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. I really do love Catalyst switches.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
August 2025

Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.
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Network & Security Specialist at Fonicom
Extremely reliable and high quality technology with easy maintenance
Pros and Cons
- "In terms of technology, Cisco is the leader in everything. I'd rather buy a second-hand Cisco switch than a brand new switch from a competitor. They're that reliable and resilient."
- "Out of the competition, Cisco switches are easily the most expensive."
What is most valuable?
The switches are the easiest to deploy and maintain out of other competitors.
In terms of technology, Cisco is the leader in everything. I'd rather buy a second-hand Cisco switch than a brand new switch from a competitor. They're that reliable and resilient.
Cisco offers many ranges of switches and you'd know exactly if you were buying an access switch or a core switch distribution. They are definitely among the top companies. They just know how to predict things and what will evolve in the following years.
What needs improvement?
Out of the competition, Cisco switches are easily the most expensive.
There's something at Cisco called a console that is used for basic configuration and everything and I think that they excluded a normal USB. Instead of that micro USB they should put in the normal one. It would make things a bit easier.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've had experience dealing with the solution since 2010. It's been about ten years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of Cisco is unmatched. We don't experience bugs or glitches or have any issues. There's been no worry of crashing. The technology is impeccable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is quite good. We've never had any issues with scaling if necessary.
How are customer service and technical support?
If the company pays for a given device's Smart Net - that's Cisco's official name for support - then the support provided is huge. It could be challenging for people that want to fix an old switch or a router but do not have paid support anymore. That's not the case for us. I do think Cisco could be a bit better at assisting in those instances instead of just putting customers in a position where they have to buy a new device where an old one just needs a repair. Beyond that, we have no complaints and have been satisfied with the level of service they provide.
How was the initial setup?
For me personally, the initial setup was very straightforward. I have experience with the product so it helps. if you are a user who has the experience, it shouldn't be too difficult to implement. Otherwise, you will have to spend some time learning about it and how it works.
What about the implementation team?
Everything depends on the size of the network that you want to design and implement. Of course, you need a consultant if you need something with 200 users or so. Or if you don't have any expertise in IT. The question is, is Cisco switch easier or harder to configure than some other brand or our vendor? And the answer is that, in my opinion, Cisco switches are not among the easiest ones to deploy, however, they are definitely the most reliable switches.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco is easily one of the most expensive on the market, but users are buying quality and reliability.
What other advice do I have?
The company I work with is a Premium Cisco partner. I've even based my career around Cisco vendors.
The solution is on a Private Cloud that we are renting (including equipment and the data center space and the LANs). We have obtained everything from Alban India, and our customers are mostly on our product site with the cloud. The customers include various financial companies, payment providers, etc. We're a systems integrator.
I would easily rate the solution ten out of ten. It's really great.
In terms of advice for other companies, I'd say that whether Cisco would work for them or not depends on the size of the network they want to cover. The small and midsize network users just really don't need to spend that amount of money on Cisco equipment, but the larger organizations and mission-critical environments definitely require Cisco.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
Network and Infrastructure Engineer at a tech vendor with 1-10 employees
Easy to configure, good documentation, and the community support is helpful
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is the ease of configuring a switch."
- "Reducing the price would be an improvement."
What is our primary use case?
I am a network engineer and work primarily on Cisco products, including the Catalyst Switches.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the ease of configuring a switch. It gives you a lot of control.
The community support is good.
I am satisfied with the documentation that is provided by Cisco.
What needs improvement?
Reducing the price would be an improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Catalyst switches for the past year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is definitely stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would say that this product is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have never used the Cisco technical support. The community support is pretty good and there are a lot of resources available online.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not used networking products by another vendor.
How was the initial setup?
Catalyst switches are pretty easy to install. It takes between 20 and 30 minutes per switch.
What about the implementation team?
I am the only person who is maintaining the switches.
What other advice do I have?
This is a product that works find and I definitely recommend it. Interface-wise, it is pretty straightforward and I haven't had any issues with it.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. partner
Works at Thomson DeRienzo Engineering
Stable and have a long service life, but they are expensive and should be more cost-effective
Pros and Cons
- "They don't ever fail and they have a long service life."
- "The price is high and it should be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for networks linking SMB Offices and remote access VPN.
What is most valuable?
They don't ever fail and they have a long service life.
What needs improvement?
The price is high and it should be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for twenty-five years.
How are customer service and technical support?
The service is good.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I'm satisfied with this solution.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Certified partner agreements
Network Engineer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
The system runs very well, we haven't experienced any downtime
Pros and Cons
- "The new series has lots of great features, it's really lovely. From a management perspective, or a policy creation perspective, which we are seeing in the Catalyst 9000 series it is great."
- "The current catalyst is probably outdated so we will most likely move to the newer version of the solution soon."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case is system integration on the client end. We propose this solution to our customers based on their individual capacities and requirements. We have also been using the basic functionalities of the tool internally, very basic not to any high-end degree.
How has it helped my organization?
I personally have never faced any kind of issues. The system is running very well and does what I need it to do. If there are any failures or problems we can resolve them quickly. We are able to get things up and running again and accomplish tasks after a failure within a few hour's time. We are very happy with what we are getting from our Cisco Catalyst Switches solution.
What is most valuable?
The new series has lots of great features; it's really lovely. From a management perspective, a policy creation perspective, and a utility perspective; the functionality we are seeing in the Catalyst 9000 series is great.
What needs improvement?
The current catalyst is probably outdated so we will most likely move to the newer version of the solution soon.
Some additional features that should be included in the next release could include the ability to create real integration, standard policy pushing, and optimizations.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product is very stable in all environments. We haven't experienced any problems.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is great. I have to say that the Cisco Catalyst solution provides the scalability directly in line with our needs.
How are customer service and technical support?
Our technical support experience has been very good. We have mainly relied on our internal team for technical support and maintenance.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past, we used a different solution but it was a long time ago and I really can't remember what it was.
How was the initial setup?
Since we are all certified engineers we found the initial setup to be straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation was done in-house.
What was our ROI?
I believe that our return on investment is excellent mainly due to the fact that we haven't experienced any downtime, no issues at all. This is one of the reasons I believe the production is a good solution; it's a sound investment. We are not losing any time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing and licensing are fine. To be honest we have found that this tool is able to meet all of our expectations at this time. This solution is agile and meets our expectations.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I can say that the Cisco Catalyst Solution is a very stable product. Technical support is good from our experience. Everybody seems to know and work well with the tool, including management cross-functionally it's a tool that we enjoy using.
I would rate it an eight out of ten. The only reason I'm not giving this solution a slightly high rating is due to the fact that we are seeing improvements in the new series of this solution. What we are seeing and what we are expecting are great improvements; the management team likes the new type of architecture we are seeing in the new series of the tool.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Information Security Analyst at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
The SmartPort feature has been valuable and helped my organization
Pros and Cons
- "We heavily use the SmartPort features. It has really helped us. The U.S. policies are handled by the auto SmartPort feature"
- "They should make so that they let users know five to ten minutes before productivity is restored in the case of power loss."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for provisioning.
How has it helped my organization?
We heavily use the SmartPort features. It has really helped us. The U.S. policies are handled by the auto SmartPort feature.
What is most valuable?
It's easy to use and easy to configure. It's easy to provision and plan ahead.
What needs improvement?
They should make so that they let users know five to ten minutes before productivity is restored in the case of power loss.
For how long have I used the solution?
One to three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is highly scalable. We have 120 users. It has high capabilities. We only require six or seven people for the maintenance. Cisco has guidelines for the maintenance that are straightforward.
How are customer service and technical support?
If I ask for any support, they're responsive. Their support is very good. We haven't had any problems.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very easy, not complex at all.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's very pricey. Compared to competitors, it's a lot more expensive. They should consider lowering the price for smaller organizations so that it's easier for them to afford.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate it an eight and a half out of ten.
They should develop more customization features. It would make things easier for the engineers.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Has become easier for us to troubleshoot but the newer models aren't so stable
Pros and Cons
- "It has become easier for us to troubleshoot and find issues faster in the management software for the switches. It saves us troubleshooting time because if the network is down it has a big impact on production."
- "The newer models are not so stable. Other products like 6800, 3750, were stable but starting from 3850 it got worse. We have a lot of issues and a lot of bugs. It's a new product so it's understandable but it should be improved."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case of this solution is for routing, switching, and for interconnecting sites.
How has it helped my organization?
It has become easier for us to troubleshoot and find issues faster in the management software for the switches. It saves us troubleshooting time because if the network is down it has a big impact on production.
What is most valuable?
The stability is the most valuable feature. We have some outages but it's 95% stable.
What needs improvement?
The newer models are not so stable. Other products like 6800, 3750, were stable but starting from 3850 it got worse. We have a lot of issues and a lot of bugs. It's a new product so it's understandable but it should be improved.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is easy. It's easy to increase the size of our network, we use templates.
How are customer service and technical support?
We haven't had to use their technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We wanted a reliable solution so we chose Cisco. We began working with them ten years ago. We have everything on Cisco and it's not worth it to switch everything to another brand.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is a bit complex but we have templates so we just have to deploy our template configuration. The VLAN configuration was complex. We have STP and different protocols which are not on the V-port so we had to enable it.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented it ourselves.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Ten years ago we used Avaya and HPE.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate it a seven out of ten. Not a ten because we are highly satisfied with all of their products but with the newer products, some parts have problems that take a while to fix.
I would say to go for Cisco. It is a stable and quality solution.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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Updated: August 2025
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