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reviewer1363563 - PeerSpot reviewer
ICT Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Jun 17, 2020
Good user interface and security but costs too much
Pros and Cons
  • "The quality of service is one of the main reasons we use Cisco in our organization. It's quite high and very reliable. The switches also end up working for a long time, so there's less need to replace them as often as others. We have some switches in our company that has been running since 2006, for example. They are quite old, but they still work."
  • "The cost is very prohibitive both for us as well as other organizations. It's very expensive to buy Cisco switches. Among our colleagues, we find that we're not alone in thinking it's too high. Everyone's complaining about this."

What is our primary use case?

We have a few different buildings within our premises, and we typically use the Cisco switches as the core backbone of our LAN. They are connected with fiber. We use them for our network to handle security and connectivity mainly.

Our core business is to sell beverages, so we're not your typical telecom or banking institution that would be a typical Cisco client.

What is most valuable?

The quality of service is one of the main reasons we use Cisco in our organization. It's quite high and very reliable. The switches also end up working for a long time, so there's less need to replace them as often as others. We have some switches in our company that have been running since 2006, for example. They are quite old, but they still work.

The security and the user interface are both good. Mainly, I end up using the command lines, but it's okay for me and the way I work. It's my preference, although it's not ideal for everyone.

There are quite a few features that Cisco offers, but for our business, it's not really necessary. If you are a telecom or a banking institution, you would probably find them to be quite useful.

What needs improvement?

The cost is very prohibitive both for us as well as other organizations. It's very expensive to buy Cisco switches. Among our colleagues, we find that we're not alone in thinking it's too high. Everyone's complaining about this. 

We have many switches that we've used sine 2006 and that are on the old OS, but we don't want to switch them out because the cost to do so would be quite high.

The graphical user interface could be a bit better. When we have new employees, we want them to onboard quickly and to be able to understand the switches. Having a better graphical interface would help us do that and help them understand the switches faster. While I prefer command line, many are not good with it or do not prefer that method.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using the solution since 2006. It's been more than ten years, so we're quite well versed in the technology.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
January 2026
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is quite stable. Cisco is a brand that's known for its stability. Our switches have worked for well over 10 years in some cases, without fail.

How are customer service and support?

We never really directly deal with Cisco, so I can't speak to how well they are from a customer service perspective.

How was the initial setup?

We moved from a different type of switch originally. We found switching over was quite straightforward and didn't run into any difficulties. However, now our office and our infrastructure are much more complex, so there is a bit of a learning curve. Companies with complex infrastructures will find that there will be complexity in the setup. They'll have to sort through that when they get started.

Originally, when our offices were smaller and more straightforward, deployment didn't take to much time. We handled it over a weekend, from Friday to Sunday or Monday. However, at the time, we weren't yet doing segmentation traffic.

What about the implementation team?

We had a consultant in Belgium who came in over the weekend to help us with the process when we originally set up the switches. Normally we work within our own team and have our own in-house workers that handle the configuration.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I don't handle the licensing aspect of the solution, so I can't speak to the exact pricing. However, I am aware it's one of the more expensive options on the market. The last time I bought a 24-port switch, which was a while ago, I paid about five or six thousand Euros. In this part of the world, that's quite expensive for us.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I did compare Cisco to Ubiquiti. I was doing this research for a friend who was trying to open a resort but had limited funding. He didn't want to deal with Cisco as he knew the pricing would be out of his budget, so he asked me to look into another option. He asked that I look at Ubiquiti. For him, Ubiquiti ended up being a good option and was quite affordable. I believe you can also use Ubiquiti at an enterprise level as well. 

What other advice do I have?

We mainly work with Cisco ethernet switches at our organization.

Aside from the cost, the Cisco switches are quite stable and easy to use. 

If you have the money as an organization, I would highly recommend Cisco.

We are just a customer of Cisco. We don't have a special relationship with the company in any way shape or form.

I would rate the solution 8.5 out of ten. I would rate it higher, but the price is too high, in my opinion. It's quite good for me in terms of the usage I get out of it, but I find that I don't use other features that Cisco offers now.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Network consultant at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Dec 2, 2023
Secure and reliable switches with a straightforward setup process
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches are rugged, secure, and scalable. It provides smart devices and reliable switches."
  • "There are instances where the commands you are familiar with might change or be replaced with newer syntax."

What is our primary use case?

The use case for Cisco Ethernet switches is foundational networking, which includes packet switching and routing within the organization's network. It facilitates communication between devices and networks, ensuring data packets are appropriately directed to their destinations.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are rugged, secure, and scalable. It provides smart devices and reliable switches.

What needs improvement?

There are instances where the commands you are familiar with might change or be replaced with newer syntax. They could provide details to know about the changed processes. Additionally, its pricing needs improvement.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable platform.

How are customer service and support?

We can find references in the product's knowledge base to resolve the technical issues.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup process is straightforward. It involves understanding the user's configuration requirements. Setting up IP addresses or configuring security features like authentication can be accomplished within three to four minutes. Further, we configure security features like passwords, consoles, and connectivity to help prevent unauthorized access. It requires one technical executive for deployment and maintenance.

What was our ROI?

The product is worth the investment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive. However, it is cost-effective, considering its durability. There is only a need for licensing in case of specific security requirements or advanced configurations where we need to activate certain modules. We need to buy licenses for wireless controllers or VPNs. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches to others and rate it a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Ethernet Switches
January 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
PeerSpot user
Supervisor of IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Reseller
Top 20Leaderboard
Nov 13, 2023
Has impressive reliability, I have not experienced a failure
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches have great enterprise features like Cisco DNA Assurance. Cisco DNA Assurance features advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Cisco AI Network Analytics, a capability within Cisco DNA Assurance, allows easy management of all devices and services, prioritizes and resolves network issues, and ensures a better user experience across the network."
  • "The typical areas of concern for Cisco Ethernet Switches are not technical but cost including support costs. I’ve never liked the fact that end users cannot download security patches without a support contract. I’ve had trouble getting approval to renew Cisco support contracts due to the cost."

What is our primary use case?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are the product line I have the most experience with and have been my go-to solution for many years with mid to large organizations over the years. They are still top contenders for environments that need layer 3 functionality in a switch. They have a product line that covers the entire spectrum of switching technology from the high-end Nexus products through the traditional enterprise catalyst models and all the way down to the small business solutions. They seem to have the market covered with a solution to meet any IT shop's needs.

How has it helped my organization?

Cisco switches provide layer 3 functionality on the network taking that load off the security appliance and not requiring a router on the network. This prevents single points of failure for internal data routing and keeps internal routes off the security appliance workload. The CLI is the industry standard and most network professionals learn it and can use it.

The reliability of Cisco Ethernet Switches is amazingly impressive. Maybe I’m lucky but I have not experienced a Cisco Ethernet Switch fail unless caused by a power event such as lightning. I highly recommend connecting switches via fiber-optic connections due to the lack of electrical conductivity. I learned this the hard way when a building with the electrical systems not properly grounded caused a cascade of switch failures during a lightning storm.

What is most valuable?

The CLI is very valuable as it allows network professionals to work fast and customize the configuration however they need.

Cisco Ethernet Switches have great enterprise features like Cisco DNA Assurance. Cisco DNA Assurance features advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning. Cisco AI Network Analytics, a capability within Cisco DNA Assurance, allows easy management of all devices and services, prioritizes and resolves network issues, and ensures a better user experience across the network.

Also, appreciate the industrial line of switches for SCADA or other environments where switches are placed in unconditioned space and the temperatures fluctuate a lot during the seasons.                        

What needs improvement?

The typical areas of concern for Cisco Ethernet Switches are not technical but cost including support costs. I’ve never liked the fact that end users cannot download security patches without a support contract. I’ve had trouble getting approval to renew Cisco support contracts due to the cost.

The additional charges for the DNA capabilities of the switches further prices the switches are out of contention for a lot of IT shops. I understand the development of this technology is expensive but costs are sometimes borderline ridiculous.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have 28 years of experience with Cisco switches.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are some of the most rock-solid hardware I’ve had the pleasure of using.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are extremely scalable and have the broadest line of solutions in the market.

How are customer service and support?

Cisco's technical support has deteriorated over the years. They have call centers all over the world and sometimes the techs experience levels seem to vary. This seems to be the industry standard though in my experience.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches my entire career. I really like them but they are not always cost-effective.

How was the initial setup?

If you know the CLI interface the setup is straightforward. If not you are in for a bumpy ride.

What about the implementation team?

We deploy with in-house talent.

What was our ROI?

ROI is longer than other solutions in the enterprise space but comparable in the small business area of Cisco’s product lines.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Find a Cisco partner that has a lot of volume and pressure them for a better price. There is a lot of markup on the higher end devices. Plan for support contract expenses for the life of the device. Also check the EOL details prior to purchase so you don’t purchase an older device that will not get the years of software updates and security patches you need. EOL dates are starting to decrease in length.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We compared it to Meraki if cloud management would be helpful. Cisco has more recently started to offer Meraki dashboard management for traditional Cisco switches.

What other advice do I have?

You will not be disappointed with a Cisco solution from a technical perspective. Learn the OS via CLI and you will always have job security too.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Kalyan  Chowdhury - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 10
Apr 2, 2023
Is stable, scalable, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a scalable solution, and we have more than 35 customers who use it."
  • "We have experienced some issues with Cisco SG350 switches. We have not been able to use this switch at normal temperatures as it automatically reboots."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches in government offices that are in multiple locations.

What needs improvement?

We have experienced some issues with Cisco SG350 switches. We have not been able to use this switch at normal temperatures as it automatically reboots.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability at ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution, and we have more than 35 customers who use it.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support staff usually get back to us in 30 minutes to four hours. It took them 24 hours to respond only once. Therefore, I would rate technical support at ten out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. For the deployment and maintenance, we have seven technical and non-technical staff members.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price is very high though it is priced right for the level of quality.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches and rate it at ten on a scale from one to ten. However, it may not be as available in certain countries such as India.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
ERICK KAGWEZA - PeerSpot reviewer
Network and Collaboration Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Feb 27, 2023
Easy to deploy, stable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "Remote access is a valuable feature."
  • "Currently, we have to wait up to eight months for a switch."

What is our primary use case?

We use the Cisco 9200 and 2960 Ethernet Switches to connect our devices to the network.

What is most valuable?

Remote access is a valuable feature.

What needs improvement?

Cisco can improve its supply chain. Currently, we have to wait up to eight months for a switch.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We have 1,000 people using the solution.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is quick to respond.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward and easy to deploy.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Office Ohrid at a government with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Feb 25, 2023
Extremely stable, scalable, and easy to deploy
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches have good performance."
  • "The price of the solution has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Ethernet Switches to connect our infrastructure and application communication.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches have good performance.

What needs improvement?

The price of the solution has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for a couple of years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I give the stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I give the scalability a nine out of ten.

We currently have around 5,000 people using the solution. The amount of people is determined by the license we have. To scale up we need to increase our license.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is helpful.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not complex. The deployment time depends on the level of setup but on average between two to four days.

What was our ROI?

When the solution is stable and we don't receive any complaints we see a return on investment using the solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Cisco offers annual and three-year license options.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution a ten out of ten.

Having a Cisco Ethernet Switch is beneficial when selecting a network environment. It is advantageous to compare all the necessary components from different manufacturers, but ultimately, Cisco covers all the areas that will be necessary for the future.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
IT Specialist at a tech company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Jan 21, 2023
Simple to implement, stable, and quick support
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco Ethernet Switches have a lot of valuable features. One that stands out to me is its ease of implementation."
  • "The ease of use of Cisco Ethernet Switches could improve. It is different to use them if you do not have prior knowledge."

What is our primary use case?

We have been utilizing Cisco Ethernet Switches to establish networks tailored to the customer's needs. For instance, if they want to set up a network for their office or personal use, but not for large corporations. I am not as proficient or experienced with implementing it for large enterprises.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Ethernet Switches have a lot of valuable features. One that stands out to me is its ease of implementation.

What needs improvement?

The ease of use of Cisco Ethernet Switches could improve. It is different to use them if you do not have prior knowledge.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Ethernet Switches for approximately six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of Cisco Ethernet Switches is great. Once we did have a problem Cisco was quick and fast to solve it.

How are customer service and support?

The support was quick to solve one of the issues we were having with stability.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Cisco Ethernet Switches can be simple, but it does require some level of experience and certification. Once you have that, it's easy to apply all your knowledge and scripts to real-world scenarios.

The deployment took some time because we had to configure each one individually and troubleshoot any issues that arose. Once we were able to successfully ping the last router and access the internet, we were finished. However, some of our trouble may have been due to our lack of experience and professionalism as some of my colleagues who work with Cisco and other solutions did not have as much difficulty. It ultimately depends on how much hands-on experience you have with the products.

I rate the initial setup of Cisco Ethernet Switches a seven out of ten.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution has different prices depending on the features that you want to have.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Cisco Ethernet Switches for those who have prior knowledge because they can be difficult to use.

I rate Cisco Ethernet Switches a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Implementer
PeerSpot user
EVP – Central Asia,Kazakhstan, Ukraine at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Apr 3, 2022
Easy to install, reliable, and the technical support is good
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Cisco Ethernet Switches is their capacity."
  • "The quality of Cisco Ethernet Switches could be better."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco Ethernet Switches is their capacity.

What needs improvement?

The quality of Cisco Ethernet Switches could be better.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Cisco Ethernet Switches for approximately 10 years.

We use many different versions.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are stable.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is good. I would rate them a five out of five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. It is easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Cisco Ethernet Switches are more expensive than Huawei Ethernet Switches.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I compared Cisco Ethernet Switches to those of other vendors, such as Huawei Ethernet Switches. I would say they are equal.

What other advice do I have?

We are partners.

I would rate Cisco Ethernet Switches a ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
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Updated: January 2026
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