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3Com H3C Switches vs Cisco Catalyst Switches comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

3Com H3C Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
27th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.4
Number of Reviews
8
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
196
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of 3Com H3C Switches is 1.6%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 4.5%, up from 3.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Switches4.5%
3Com H3C Switches1.6%
Other93.9%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

AA
Manager at Necsol
Has improved operational response times and reduced downtime across departments
There is no negative impact, but to some extent their software side needs improvement because most people are familiar with iDRAC for the Dell product. Their software product is quite different and is new software. You have to take some time to learn their programming and other things such as installation of the media, Windows or office applications, or anything else. It is not complex. It is because it is a new thing and we had to face a little more problem for the installation at first. But now after some time, it has become easy for us because we have been working with Dell and listening about Dell for a long time, about decades. 3Com H3C Switches has occupied our market and has been working now for the last two to three years. 3Com H3C Switches has gained this much reputation and the brand is at its peak. It will be a matter of time and with the passage of time the learning stage will improve.
Md Rafique - PeerSpot reviewer
Desktop support Engineer at a outsourcing company with 51-200 employees
Reliable switching has improved segmentation and reduces downtime with faster troubleshooting
One area I would like to see improvement is making configuration and troubleshooting more straightforward, especially for engineers managing a large number of switches. Some tasks can require multiple CLI commands and checking different outputs to identify an issue. Better centralized visibility, more intuitive automation tools, and clearer troubleshooting information would make day-to-day operations more efficient. That said, the CLI gives experienced network engineers a lot of control, so I would see these improvements as making the existing capabilities easier and faster to use rather than replacing them. For on-premises deployment, I would like to see easier centralized management and more automation for larger switch environments. Firmware upgrades, configuration changes, and troubleshooting can take significant time when they have to be handled across many physical devices. Better zero-touch provisioning, simplifying firmware management solutions, stronger integration with monitoring and IT management platforms, and more proactive hardware health alerts would make operations easier. I would also like better visibility into hardware capabilities and lifecycle status from a single dashboard so we can identify potential issues before they affect users.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Total cost of ownership and consolidation of the switches is very good."
"They're straightforward and stable."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the durability."
"Their customer service is instant with a tracking system and follow-ups for human access."
"The user interface is upgraded to the latest GUI technology, allowing configurations like VLAN to be done through the interface rather than the command line, making it more efficient."
"3Com H3C Switches products are available at a low price, and the second most important factor is their services, availability of parts, and warranty claims, with main service centers in all major cities of Pakistan."
"They are easy to use, they are cheaper, and it's a trusted brand."
"The hardware side is a very big advantage. We use it 24/7 and we haven't had any problems so far with the switches."
"They are extremely stable; we've been running them for 12 years, and we lost the uptime only due to power loss."
"Power over Ethernet (PoE) is one of the most valuable features. It eliminates the need for power supplies every time."
"We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of switches."
"I am satisfied with the performance of these switches and would recommend them to others."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches are very stable."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches are able to communicate to all the other hardware very well."
"Catalyst Switches are reliable. We don't have major problems like lost connections, and we only have a minor issue with something every few months. In the last five years, a switch broke down once, and that was due to human error."
"We have to use the QoS (CBWFQ) function... and it is easy to use."
 

Cons

"The configuration of 3Com H3C Switches could be better."
"If I had to go back in time, I might go with HP."
"When we try to do configuration changes sometimes it malfunctions."
"I think there's nothing that needs to be improved because the company is no longer in existence."
"To some extent their software side needs improvement because most people are familiar with iDRAC for the Dell product."
"The technical support services need improvement in terms of communication."
"We found some security holes in some of their switches, but overall it's fairly stable."
"The cost and the integration with other solutions could be better."
"There is a lot of overhead, and I have to have so many technology people to manage so many Catalyst switches."
"The technical support, in some cases, should be faster and could improve."
"The management of Cisco Catalyst Switches could be improved."
"For the time being, Cisco Catalyst Switches are working well, but they are not PoE switches, which is why we would consider replacing them."
"The solution is quite expensive for our clients. It's a pain point for some companies. They should work to reduce the price."
"I have experienced some downtime crashes occasionally."
"The only drawback I saw with Cisco Catalyst Switches is that it's not cloud-managed."
"Reporting could be improved as well as integration possibilities with other platforms."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost could be improved, but it is cheaper than the others."
"3Com H3C Switches have a competitive cost. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten."
"The price is in an affordable range and everything is included."
"The price is on the higher side."
"When compared with other products, the solution is kind of on the expensive side."
"It's expensive."
"If you compare Cisco to other products, Cisco is more expensive. If you choose a 7000 series switch it will be a very pricy system. The support from Cisco is an additional service."
"Cisco Catalyst Switches is an expensive solution."
"It's very pricey. Compared to competitors, it's a lot more expensive."
"I would say that the pricing of the solution falls within the moderate to higher range."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
9%
Outsourcing Company
9%
Construction Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Outsourcing Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Construction Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business7
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business85
Midsize Enterprise30
Large Enterprise91
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for 3Com H3C Switches?
Price is the major factor. You cannot say it is much better because all servers and all products have a few things in common, which are the processor, storage, and RAM and other things. Mostly the ...
What needs improvement with 3Com H3C Switches?
There is no negative impact, but to some extent their software side needs improvement because most people are familiar with iDRAC for the Dell product. Their software product is quite different and...
What advice do you have for others considering 3Com H3C Switches?
I personally did not work over the management, but I supplied to some of my other clients. I would rate this review a 9 overall.
Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
My experience is that Cisco Catalyst Switches can involve a relatively significant upfront investment, especially when you consider the hardware, support, and licensing requirements. The total cost...
What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Switches?
One area I would like to see improvement is making configuration and troubleshooting more straightforward, especially for engineers managing a large number of switches. Some tasks can require multi...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

British Columbia Assessment Authority, DreamWorks, DRV
Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Find out what your peers are saying about 3Com H3C Switches vs. Cisco Catalyst Switches and other solutions. Updated: November 2026.
920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.