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MarioCeribelli - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Specialist & Project Manager at Elmec Informatica Spa
Real User
Top 5
It is a very scalable tool that helped us grant higher availability in our data centers
Pros and Cons
  • "We can also enhance our service line with disaster recovery."
  • "Layer 3 does not have higher availability."

What is our primary use case?

We have the solution installed in many data centers, configured in spine-leaf technology configured with Nexus. We use FabricPath and VXLAN to make our infrastructure reliable in different data centers. We have multiple layers to our environment. Data Centers A to C are connected with fiber, and we used FabricPath to enhance our data center in spine-leaf technology six to seven years ago. Internally, we had VRF to separate our routing table. We use many virtualization environments, not only Cisco, but we especially use Cisco to expand layer 2 and layer 3.

What is most valuable?

For us, there is a change between a single data center with different IP addresses to a spam data center, where the VLAN could be extended between the two, so we are able to grant the service with high availability. We can also enhance our service line with disaster recovery.

What needs improvement?

We are working on layer 3 integration to completely expand our preferred center. At the moment, we are using VRF on an internal switch, so layer 3 does not have higher availability. I want to see that improve.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have used Cisco FabricPath for the last five or six years, and we have it installed in our data center.

Buyer's Guide
Cisco FabricPath
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco FabricPath. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

FabricPath is stable. Problems come when you try to integrate a different service or something else.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable because we can add new data centers by simply adding a leaf. My company has approximately 1,000 users, and we are growing year by year.

How are customer service and support?

We use tech support when we need to, and we usually get a good answer.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was slightly complex. We required around 60% of our staff to deploy the solution.

What other advice do I have?

At the moment, we are looking to deploy FabricPath on-premises. We are extending the private cloud to the customer. From our data center, we are connected with Azure and Amazon. We want to create a solution like a cloud, where our data center appears as a cloud for the customer.

Before choosing FabricPath, get the right design initially to support the right tools. I rate FabricPath an eight 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
MdZaman - PeerSpot reviewer
IT manager at a agriculture with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 10
On overall effective product with good performance and a simple setup
Pros and Cons
  • "It's very stable."
  • "The price is a little bit too high."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Fortinet as an additional solution as well. Apart from that, we are using an MPLS networking solution. We use Cisco alongside these. 

What is most valuable?

Overall, it's a good product. 

It's very stable.

The initial setup is pretty simple. 

What needs improvement?

The price is a little bit too high. They need to work on lowering the cost.

The GUI and OpSys would be better. Cisco should focus on something better for the GUI and figure out the interface.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been dealing with the solution for one and a half years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. It offers good performance. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

At this time, we have about 400 users on the solution.

We do not plan to increase usage in the next two years. 

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

We have always used Cisco. We have not used any other solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is pretty simple, pretty straightforward. It's not overly complex or difficult. 

We have five technical individuals that can handle deployment and maintenance tasks. One is a manager and four are admins. 

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

The solution is pretty expensive. 

We have to pay a yearly licensing fee. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the solution to other users and other organizations.

I would rate it an eight out of ten. We've had a pretty positive experience overall. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Cisco FabricPath
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Cisco FabricPath. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Waleed Aboda - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Engineer at UPS
Real User
Top 10
Package solution, with everything in one device but it should offer better reporting
Pros and Cons
  • "The fact that the solution is on the cloud is its most valuable aspect. If you are on the cloud, you can manage your network from anywhere, any place. It's very good."
  • "The solution should offer better reporting."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for a firewall and to control viruses. It has many uses in our organization and we can manage it all through the cloud.

What is most valuable?

The fact that the solution is on the cloud is its most valuable aspect. If you are on the cloud, you can manage your network from anywhere, any place. It's very good. 

The solution also offers services for wireless, internet, firewalls, etc. Everything is in one device, which is very helpful. It's a great package solution.

The solution is very simple and offers very high levels of security for organizations.

What needs improvement?

The solution is quite expensive. They should work on lowering the cost to make it more affordable for users.

Cisco should add a few more security features to make it more robust.

The solution should offer better reporting.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using this solution for six months now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable. We haven't had any issues with it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have about 120 people in our organization using the solution. They are mostly architects and engineers.

How are customer service and technical support?

We haven't been in touch with Cisco for this particular solution, although we were in touch with a different solution. We found their assistance to be quite good and we're very satisfied with their level of support.

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

We previously used Cisco's Firepower. It was much more complicated, in terms of setup, and we find Fabricpath to be much easier.

How was the initial setup?

The solution is a bit complex to set up initially. It shouldn't be a problem for most IT teams to handle, however. It's much simpler than a solution like Cisco's Firepower, which we found to be quite complicated.

What about the implementation team?

We didn't have vendors or integrators help us implement the solution. We did some internet research instead and watched Youtube videos. These helped us get through the process. They were quite effective.

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

The solution is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the solution. I'd rate it a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Chinthaka Kannangara - PeerSpot reviewer
Chinthaka KannangaraNetwork System Engineer at VSIS
Real User

When and as we required to build redundancy into the important link connectivity of the data center where STP cannot take place then we need to talk about fabric path. FabricPath is designed and work with intelligence of IS-IS protocol. this brings Layer 3 routing intelligence which can choose preferred paths in the network topology

reviewer1751868 - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of Information Technology at a energy/utilities company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 20
Elects the switch with the highest configured root priority as the root for MDT 1
Pros and Cons
  • "As I mentioned earlier, the durability, flexibility, and security of Cisco devices are notable. Particularly with switches, the capability to implement multiple VLANs and easily aggregate the network has been advantageous. The ability to have different VLANs and aggregate the network without complications is a key feature of Cisco FabricPath."
  • "In terms of the series, I find that the integration with other teleconferencing applications needs to be more seamless. I have suggested to Cisco that the endpoint device should allow joining calls from Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other teleconferencing applications. Additionally, I appreciate the recent inclusion of breakout sessions in the Cisco Webex application, which enhances its relevance in the networking field."

What is our primary use case?

Cisco devices have consistently demonstrated high reliability and security. The acquisition of Meraki by Cisco has enhanced its capabilities, particularly in enterprise access points. The flexibility offered by Meraki, allowing remote management of access points, has significantly benefited Cisco. Overall, Cisco devices have played a crucial role in our network, and the addition of Meraki has further strengthened its position.

What is most valuable?

The durability, flexibility, and security of Cisco devices are notable. Particularly with switches, the capability to implement multiple VLANs and easily aggregate the network has been advantageous. The ability to have different VLANs and aggregate the network without complications is a key feature of Cisco FabricPath.

What needs improvement?

In terms of the series, I find that the integration with other teleconferencing applications needs to be more seamless. I have suggested to Cisco that the endpoint device should allow joining calls from Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other teleconferencing applications. Additionally, I appreciate the recent inclusion of breakout sessions in the Cisco Webex application, which enhances its relevance in the networking field.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco FabricPath for the past 15 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco FabricPath is highly stable, and I would rate its stability at 8.5 on a scale of one to ten, with one being low and ten being high.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of Cisco FabricPath is impressive, allowing seamless expansion from one to any desired number. Cisco has effectively addressed scalability concerns.

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

We switched to Cisco for the firewall from Sophos. The decision was influenced by the ease of maintenance, flexibility, and seamless integration with endpoint protection, making it a preferable choice.

How was the initial setup?

I find it relatively easy to use, but it requires some basic knowledge. I would rate it around seven out of ten in terms of user-friendliness.I operate it, and the deployment took a few hours

What about the implementation team?

We didn't use a third party for the deployment, and the team size varied between one and four people, depending on the defined actions. Maintenance requires one to ten people based on the network size, with smaller networks needing fewer people and larger enterprises potentially requiring more.

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

It is very expensive.


What other advice do I have?

I would overall rate the solution 8 out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Imran Khan - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Technical Consultant at Orange Business Services
Real User
Fast, straightforward to set up, and easily expands
Pros and Cons
  • "The setup is straightforward."
  • "The solution is costly."

What is our primary use case?

The solution provides a broader speed of connectivity for our applications. That means if we deploy multiple applications into our data center and we don't want a delay between our application and our storage, then we have to use Cisco FabricPath for that as well as for the storage end.

What is most valuable?

We can deploy our storage on the network and we can get a wider speed for our storage. This means we can take storage from our network to deploy to any machine, to install any server, or any application.

The setup is straightforward.

It's a scalable solution.

We've found the product to the stable. 

What needs improvement?

I can't speak to any areas that need improvement right now. 

The solution is costly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've used the solution for a while. I used it most recently, about ten months ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and reliable with good performance on offer. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is very scalable; we can expand it. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very simple and straightforward. It's easy; it's not complex. 

I can't speak too much on the deployment process, as I don't handle it directly.

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

While it is a very useful product, it is expensive. We find the value we get to be worth the money we spend. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I haven't used any other vendor, so I can't compare anyone to Cisco.

What other advice do I have?

We are a user and provide support on devices. 

I'm not sure which version of the solution we're using.

If a company has to deploy multiple applications where the speed and the accuracy of communication matter, then I would suggest Cisco FabricPath. That said, if they have too many legacy applications or too many legacy requirements for the network, then a different type of technology could be more suitable.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten. 

Cisco FabricPath is a very good technology, and I have been using it within my profession.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Ahmed Salah - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Manager at Misrconsult
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Highly stable and scalable switches that provide value for money to its users
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a stable solution...It is a scalable soltuion."
  • "The product lacks AI...The initial setup of Cisco FabricPath was a bit complex."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is the switches provided by Cisco FabricPath to users.

What needs improvement?

I don't see any weakness in the product.

The product lacks AI. AI technology should be involved in Cisco FabricPath's future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with Cisco FabricPath for about eight or nine years. I am an end user of the solution.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

My company has 100 users of the product. I am the administrator of Cisco FabricPath.

How are customer service and support?

I don't use the support. I am from Egypt.

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

I was previously using switches from 3COM.

Cisco FabricPath has many useful features over any other solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Cisco FabricPath was a bit complex. The configuration of the devices was not easy at all.

The setup process was not stable at all, so it took a day or two to deploy a switch, while multilayer switches are very complicated to handle.

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

The solution falls under the pricier category, but it provides value for the price charged. The exchange rates of USD and the currency of Egypt should be taken into consideration before buying any product.

Our company has to pay additionally for maintenance or support.

What other advice do I have?

It is a very useful device. One must learn about the solution carefully before choosing it. There is a need for individuals to practice and train before using it.

Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Sandeep Roy - PeerSpot reviewer
Lead-Supply chain Operations at Orange
Real User
High quality and up-to-date but slightly complex to set up
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are the lead time and the high quality of the product."
  • "The initial setup is a little complex."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are the lead time and the high quality of the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

My company's been using FabricPath for the last twenty to twenty-five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

FabricPath is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

FabricPath is scalable.

How are customer service and support?

Cisco's technical support is very good - they always make the deadlines.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is a little complex.

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

FabricPath is very reasonably priced.

What other advice do I have?

In terms of future models, Cisco are already building up, so they're up to the mark in terms of digital turnaround. I would give FabricPath a score of seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
PeerSpot user
Chinthaka Kannangara - PeerSpot reviewer
Network System Engineer at VSIS
Real User
Central management, beneficial alerts, and quick responsive support
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature is the central management where the customer can receive all the alerts."
  • "The documents could improve for Cisco FabricPath. There are times when the relevant information is not present in the different sections of the documents, such as deployment. The documents should be more detailed and enhanced."

What is our primary use case?

Cisco FabricPath comes thru Cisco NX-OS Software that brings the strength and scalability of routing to Layer 2. it uses routing principles to scale the layer 2 network which is a bit difficult before that. because it provides loop prevention and mitigation within the data plane, it helps to ensure safe forwarding that is unmatched by any other bridge technology. Therefore this is most beneficial in data centers service for their applications that can use widely. 

What is most valuable?

This protocol requires less integration than a similar network based on the Spanning-Tree-Protocol.

What needs improvement?

The documents could improve for Cisco FabricPath. There are times when the relevant information is not present in the different sections of the documents, such as deployment. The documents should be more detailed and enhanced.

Having better documentation would benefit the engineers working on the solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco FabricPath for approximately one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Cisco FabricPath is stable. My customers are operating the solution smoothly and there have not been any major issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Cisco FabricPath is scalable.

We have one client using this solution.

How are customer service and support?

The support was helpful and their support is quite fast.

How was the initial setup?

The initial installation was not simple. We had some difficulties since it was the first time for us. They had used documents a few times and we did seek support from Cisco. I'm happy they connected the client with the correct supporting business. They were supportive.

The whole implementation process took a few weeks.

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

The price of Cisco FabricPath could be reduced, it is expensive in the market here. The solution is available as perpetual, subscriptions-based, and Tier-based licensing, if the customer wants any future integrations, or if there are any future enhancements they will have to pay. Purchasing a subscription-based license gives you the opportunity to adjust/upgrade the terms of the license (such as moving from Advantage to Premier) at the time of license renewal.

What other advice do I have?

I would not recommend this solution for small-scale networks because it is a bit expensive and particularly at this moment, Other than the price, I would recommend it technically. I rate Cisco FabricPath 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: Integrator
PeerSpot user