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Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs Cisco FabricPath comparison

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0, while Cisco is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise holds a 4.2% mindshare in LS, compared to Cisco’s 3.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Cisco users who would recommend it.
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch L...
Read 7 Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches reviews
  • 465 Views
  • 465 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Cisco FabricPath
Read 31 Cisco FabricPath reviews
  • 682 Views
  • 668 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Cisco FabricPath and Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches present distinct network management solutions, competing in areas like scalability, security, and reliability. Cisco FabricPath holds an edge due to its integration-friendly setup and competitive pricing, while Alcatel-Lucent excels in security features, which are seen as worthwhile investments.

Features: Cisco FabricPath's scalability allows efficient load balancing across networks. It integrates seamlessly with existing Cisco environments and offers reliable network management tools. Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches feature high reliability and robust security, providing centralized management and seamless integration in various environments.

Room for Improvement: Cisco FabricPath could improve its adaptability to non-Cisco environments, offer enhanced security measures, and provide more detailed documentation. Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches could streamline the setup process, enhance user interface complexity, and provide more cost-effective solutions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco FabricPath integrates smoothly into existing Cisco infrastructures, simplifying deployment, and is backed by responsive customer service. Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches, while requiring detailed configurations, provide comprehensive support to assist through deployment stages, which can be more involved.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco FabricPath is priced competitively with a focus on long-term ROI through scalable solutions. Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches have a higher initial cost but justify it with superior security features, offering a significant ROI, especially in environments focused on security.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs. Cisco FabricPath Report (Updated: February 2026).
Buyer's Guide
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs. Cisco FabricPath
February 2026
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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

Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch L...
Ranking in LAN Switching
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
4.5
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco FabricPath
Ranking in LAN Switching
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches is 4.2%, up from 3.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco FabricPath is 3.7%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Cisco FabricPath3.7%
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches4.2%
Other92.1%
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer2048676 - PeerSpot reviewer
reviewer2048676
App. Manager at a political organization with 501-1,000 employees
Reliable network access has improved daily connectivity and simplified graphical management
The specific network design is done by another company, and we just manage the access switches, in fact, the local access switches on the LAN. I don't think there is much prioritization in our network for the moment. I don't think that the users see much about it; it's transparent for users. Whether there is a Cisco switch or an Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switch, the user doesn't care. We are not expert users, but we are users for maintaining and keeping the situation alive, not experts of network switch programming. I'm not an expert of the switches to say what's missing. For smaller sites with 10 persons or so, it's sometimes not so easy to choose Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches.
Read full review
AF
AmrFouad
Technical Project Manager at Cairo International Airport Co.
Offers seamless integration and boosts operational efficiency with minimum downtimes
I find stability to be the most effective feature of Cisco FabricPath; it is stable. Cisco FabricPath has good scalability; I don't have any problems with scalability as I can add any switches or distributors without any problem. I utilize the multipath routing architecture feature in Cisco FabricPath, and it's good in load balancing. Cisco FabricPath's compatibility to support Dynamic Layer 2 multipath routing in complex virtualized environments is good; I don't have any problems with it. Nothing comes to mind regarding metrics for using the Layer 2 multipath routing feature; it was good, and there were no problems at all with Cisco FabricPath. Cisco FabricPath's integration with Cisco Nexus works with virtual port channel (VPC) and is good for dual home servers and edge switches. We are using VPC in every layer of the Nexus center. Implementing Cisco FabricPath positively impacted my organization by providing minimum downtimes as the service is always up; everything is working properly with the VPC and Cisco FabricPath. I have experienced operational efficiencies with Cisco FabricPath that are 200% better than the old legacy equipment and protocols.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches provide stable work with no issues, with less downtime and fewer maintenance windows."
"OmniSwitch LAN Switches' performance is very good."
"I rate the technical support an eight or a nine out of ten. So far, they've been very professional and helpful, especially when we need to raise a case for any issue."
"One of the main advantages of the solution is that the configuration is straightforward, offering various configuration options through CLI or web interfaces. I'm satisfied with the customer service and support. The solution is good and people should know about it."
"With Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches everything comes from one vendor. It operates very smoothly."
"These OmniSwitches are very manageable and easy to configure."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of configuration."
"The tool makes it easy to manage multi-layer networking and increases network efficiency. I haven't faced any challenges in integrating it into our existing infrastructure."
"The solution has excellent stability."
"The most valuable features are the security, web control, and traffic control."
"I have experienced operational efficiencies with Cisco FabricPath that are 200% better than the old legacy equipment and protocols."
"One of the most valuable features of Cisco FabricPath is its protocol freedom, which allows me to use multiple protocols at a time, such as Spanning Tree to prevent loops in the network."
"FabricPath's best features are routing, OSPS, ethernet, and performance."
"Cisco FabricPath ensures resilience and prevents collisions or loops on the network, maintaining stability."
"We have found the solution to be stable."
More Cisco FabricPath pros
 

Cons

"A customer expressed dissatisfaction with the color of the switches, preferring black over the current color, which is close to white. While the color is not a personal concern, my earlier preference was for all products to be extendable in one large stack since some equipment limits stacking to four elements instead of eight."
"There is no OEM support in India so RMAs need to be sent to France, which takes a long time if the hardware is faulty."
"There are some issues with the network firmware being deleted from the switches."
"I would like to see better third-party integration with third-party systems."
"For smaller sites with 10 persons or so, it's sometimes not so easy to choose Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches."
"n general, the way the product is put together is not well done."
"The pricing could be adjusted to make it easier to sell to clients."
"The solution is complex to set up."
"It's important to note that the graphical interface often relies on Java, and compatibility with different versions of Java can be a factor."
"I would like to see better interoperability with other IT solutions."
"The price is a little bit too high."
"Cisco FabricPath can be integrated into data centers and remote sites. For example, in a bank, we can extend the architecture to remote branches by implementing switches connected to the first and second spine for redundancy. This setup allows for VXLAN, VLAN, and SGT for user authentication. We can also use wireless technology through the data plane and route it on L3. This setup provides scalability and visibility. This technology is deployed in the USA, France, and Europe. For instance, BNP Paribas in France uses this technology."
"Lack of security features for which we need to use another solution."
"The management features are in need of improvement."
More Cisco FabricPath cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is okay. It's comparable to similar switches."
"OmniSwitch LAN Switches are cheaper than Cisco's switches."
"The license is purchased one time only, it is a perpetual license with no renewal."
"The solution’s price is at a moderate level."
"The price of Cisco FabricPath could be reduced, it is expensive in the market here in Sri Lanka. The solution is subscriptions based, if the customer wants any future integrations, or if there are any future enhancements they will have to pay. There are different license options available, such as one or three years purchases."
"Cisco is expensive but offers good-quality features, so I would rate it high on the pricing scale."
"I rate it seven out of ten on pricing as it's a bit expensive. It would be better if the price were lower, but we prioritize quality over cost."
"The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers."
"The pricing for this product is good."
"I rate the product's pricing a ten out of ten. Cisco switches cost around 15,000 dollars, and DNS licenses cost around 25,000 dollars. The total amount is 45,000 dollars, which is too expensive."
"It is very expensive."
"The solution falls under the pricier category, but it provides value for the price charged."
More Cisco FabricPath pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Manufacturing Company
12%
University
12%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
8%
Marketing Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise2
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business11
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise14
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches?
The specific network design is done by another company, and we just manage the access switches, in fact, the local access switches on the LAN. I don't think there is much prioritization in our netw...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches?
I still work with Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches. We work with internet switches, but we also use LAN switches from Alcatel-Lucent. All the switches on the sites or across sites are Alcatel...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches?
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches work well for us. I would rate this solution a 9 out of 10.
See all answers
What do you like most about Cisco FabricPath?
The tool makes it easy to manage multi-layer networking and increases network efficiency. I haven't faced any challenges in integrating it into our existing infrastructure.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco FabricPath?
Cisco is somewhat expensive, but it provides good quality products and operations, so I can't complain about licensing cost and setup costs. There is room for improvement in terms of pricing for th...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Cisco FabricPath?
In future updates, I would prefer to see features such as more AI functionality or better integration added to Cisco FabricPath; more AI would be useful.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches
Compared 43% of the time
Cisco Nexus vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches Logo
Cisco Nexus vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches
Compared 22% of the time
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches Logo
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches
Compared 20% of the time
HPE ProCurve vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches Logo
HPE ProCurve vs Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches
Compared 15% of the time
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Juniper QFabric vs Cisco FabricPath Logo
Juniper QFabric vs Cisco FabricPath
Compared 37% of the time
ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco FabricPath Logo
ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco FabricPath
Compared 27% of the time
Arista Campus LAN Switches vs Cisco FabricPath Logo
Arista Campus LAN Switches vs Cisco FabricPath
Compared 20% of the time
HPE ProCurve vs Cisco FabricPath Logo
HPE ProCurve vs Cisco FabricPath
Compared 17% of the time
More Cisco FabricPath Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches
February 2026
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches reportDownload Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches product report
Buyer's Guide
Cisco FabricPath
February 2026
Cisco FabricPath reportDownload Cisco FabricPath product report
 

Also Known As

Alcatel Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches, OmniSwitch, OmniSwitch LAN Switches
FabricPath
 

Overview

Information not available
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
Cisco FabricPath is a Cisco NX-OS software innovation combining the plug-and-play simplicity of Ethernet with the reliability and scalability of Layer 3 routing. Using FabricPath, you can build highly scalable Layer 2 multipath networks without the Spanning Tree Protocol. Such networks are particularly suitable for large virtualization deployments, private clouds, and high-performance computing (HPC) environments. The benefits of Cisco FabricPath include: Minimal commands per switch ease configuration and operation, Autodiscovery simplifies addition of new links and switches, Provision additional network bandwidth without impacting network, Supports one-, two-, or three-tier architectures, VLAN extensibility across the data center.
Cisco
 

Sample Customers

Advocate Health Care, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Azienda Ospedaliera della Provincia di Lodi, Centre Hospitalier Carcassonne, Certis Cisco Security, China Tianchen Engineering Corporation Co. LTD, City of Frankfurt, Dongseo University
Bellevue, Calligaris, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Management Science Associates, Multi-Customer, Oediv, Roper St. Francis, SNAM
Buyer's Guide
Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs. Cisco FabricPath
February 2026
Free Report: Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs. Cisco FabricPath
Find out what your peers are saying about Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch LAN Switches vs. Cisco FabricPath and other solutions. Updated: February 2026.
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