What is our primary use case?
Most of our solutions rely on a multi-talent approach to address our needs. We implement straightforward switching technology that automates the provision of connectivity, IP configurations, and switching based on customer requests and requirements. In our environment, we typically have a significant number of network stacks in operation, often with ten-gigabit interconnections.
The smallest environment we manage involves about twenty-five stacks, and the largest one comprises over two thousand nine hundred switches.
What is most valuable?
Cisco's product is excellent and highly stable with decades of experience in switching and technology. It's a top-notch solution when your entire network operates within the Cisco ecosystem, allowing for a wide range of capabilities. However, the challenge with Cisco lies in its prioritization. When integrating with third-party solutions, like Juniper, it can be somewhat challenging, but it still performs reasonably well. Setting up Cisco switches is not a straightforward process; it's complex and requires more than simply powering them on and figuring things out as you go. You need a solid understanding of switch and stack configuration because Cisco has its unique software features. Cisco excels in vendor lock-in, meaning that if you want to combine Cisco switches with non-Cisco functionality, it can be both time-consuming and costly. While Cisco offers the most extensive capabilities, it can also be less flexible and more challenging when you want to deviate from the Cisco ecosystem.
What needs improvement?
Cisco offers a wide range of features, and in the enterprise and mid-segment market in Europe, we make use of most of them. Some features are essential for our operations, while others may go unused. The feature set provided by Cisco is comprehensive, and there's little more we could ask for. It would be a nice addition if, in the future, Cisco switches could incorporate artificial intelligence to provide proactive feedback and guidance instead of having to search for solutions ourselves. This development is likely to come with time, and we'll patiently await such enhanced functionality.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches for the past 12 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is 10 out of 10. Once deployed, the meantime between failures for Cisco switching systems is approximately four years. This means that they are highly stable, with infrequent occurrences of downtime.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are no limits to the scalability, just budget-driven limits applies to the extent of scalability.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco provides excellent support. However, when considering the resources required for these tasks, it depends on the scale of your project. If you have around five hundred switches to configure, it's manageable with a team of two people working for two weeks. This is because you need to handle tasks like firmware updates and various steps, making the setup of Cisco switches a bit more time-consuming compared to standard switches.
Cisco boasts a vast global network of support professionals, with tens of thousands of support personnel available. Cisco sets certain conditions for partners who want to provide Cisco technology as a service, such as requiring CCNA certification and deployment certification. These requirements are well-documented, and Cisco's partners are trained professionals, even though Cisco's training can be expensive. Not adhering to Cisco's training requirements means you're not eligible to deploy Cisco solutions. Overall, the support from Cisco is highly reliable.
How was the initial setup?
We had deployments that extended for more than four to five months, primarily due to their complexity. However, if you aim for a straightforward setup, with a good plan, you can have your Cisco configuration up and running within a week. This applies not just to one switch but to a group of switches. The key lies in thorough preparation, which can be time-consuming.Certainly, creating a well-thought-out deployment plan is crucial. It involves designing your entire network infrastructure, including switching configurations and learning requirements. The setup itself doesn't consume much time, but the preparation and planning are critical. This level of planning is typically necessary for any networking setup, not just specific to Cisco.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco can be quite costly, especially if you're looking to implement more advanced or unique configurations. When keeping things relatively straightforward, they are positioned at the higher end of the pricing spectrum. However, it's worth noting that Cisco offers excellent support, a strong global presence, a robust operating system, and highly skilled professionals in the field of networking infrastructure. These advantages come at a premium, and there's a price associated with all these benefits.
What other advice do I have?
When considering using Cisco products, the first and foremost aspect to evaluate is your budget. It's essential to weigh your financial capabilities. Secondly, you should take into account your end users' expectations and future needs. It's crucial to plan for what you require now and what you might need in the future. Looking ahead is essential. If your budget allows, choosing Cisco is a wise decision. However, if your financial resources are limited, it's not advisable to opt for a low-end Cisco solution and expect enterprise-level service. In the world of IT, price and functionality often go hand in hand. Investing more typically results in obtaining greater functionality, but the key question is whether you'll utilize all those features.
I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.
