Arista Networks Platform vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series comparison

Arista Networks Platform vs. Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

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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

Arista Networks Platform

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

4th

Ranking in Data Center Networking

2nd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

9th

Ranking in Data Center Networking

5th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Arista Networks Platform is 4.0%, up from 3.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series is 1.2%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Arista Networks Platform	4.0%
Cisco Nexus 9000 Series	1.2%
Other	94.8%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Dibyendu Das

Director at a tech company with 11-50 employees

Ultra-low latency networking has delivered reliable video workflows and critical operations

The support of Arista Networks Platform is quite complex; it is not very easy to configure. It needs a lot of network expertise for token sheddings and different kinds of configurations. It is very difficult to configure because Arista Networks Platform does not have a flexible GUI like Huawei or Netgear; everything is a very CLI kind of mainframe architecture. Scalability at every single step has a huge upgrade cost which is required for port mapping, connectivity, and transceivers certified by Arista Networks Platform, then the fabric upgrades from a software firmware level. Arista Networks Platform should improve commercial aspects to be affordable. There is no path for growth with a perfect score because the focus is more on reducing costs globally.

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AbhinavSingh

Technical Marketing Engineer Hybrid Cloud Infrastructures at NetApp

Policy-driven data centers have delivered low-latency connectivity for critical applications

The most critical and important feature in Cisco Nexus 9000 Series is VPC. Apart from VPC, there are many other features in Cisco Nexus 9000 Series that stand out as advantages. You can apply access control lists on that. You can do Layer 3 capabilities. You can configure HSRP. You can implement VRFs. You can isolate the L3 network within your data center. It has a lot of features including network segmentation capabilities. You can apply a lot of security hardening and manage the access on the switches through auditing to see who is doing what and restrict access based on the network admin role. These are great features. The overlay technology support in Cisco Nexus 9000 Series is good for large-scale deployment where you are going to build something like a hyperscaler. You need more network segments, and with VXLAN, you can definitely build a large fabric with those Nexus switches.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward."

"Arista Networks Platform is comfortable, easy to deploy, and easy to manage, with non-blocking technology. Additionally, it has a useful CloudVision platform and automation capabilities."

"The most valuable features of Arista include low latency, scalability, and sustainability of the products."

"It is very stable. It has good hardware and very stable code. It provides good value for its price. They are a very lean type of organization, so they are very responsive, and they're able to focus more on their platform versus having multiple products out there."

"Arista Networks Platform's features have significantly improved network visibility and operational efficiency."

"The feedback from customers using Arista Networks Platform APs that we deployed has positively impacted our organization, as they have provided good service and a good customer experience compared to what they used before."

"If you are looking for an ultra-low latency network, this is the only solution."

"Arista Networks Platform has really boosted our organization to the extent that our organization does not want to think about any other platform except Arista in terms of access points and switches."

More Arista Networks Platform pros

"The features for manageability and visibility are impressive."

"For one of the biggest European customers, they deployed Cisco Nexus for their core networking and it has been running for a few years without having a single downtime."

"The stability and reliability of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series are robust, and once you put it on, it does not just fail; that takes a long time, maybe even years."

"Cisco Nexus 9000 Series is quite a complex machine, but we are using a very simple configuration with basic Nexus switching, and we don't have many issues with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series at the moment in our present infrastructure."

"There has been improvement in our connectivity with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series, and there is less drag."

"RealPresence works effectively."

"The performance in data center operations with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series is excellent; we have never faced any performance issues."

"We are using the core capabilities of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Ethernet switches, and it is performing well."

More Cisco Nexus 9000 Series pros

Cons

"The solution needs to improve their product range."

"We have decided not to expand the Arista Networks Platform because of some of the issues we have had."

"I want the solution to include a unified controller."

"The transition from a Cisco engineering environment to Arista was challenging because I needed to learn Linux commands."

"Currently, Arista is too costly for its customers."

"The documentation did not explain that we could not vary the speed between ports that are in the same block. For example, we cannot have 1G and 10G on the neighboring ports; all four ports have to be 1G or 10G, which was very annoying for us when we realized that we needed to change the configuration and the cabling that we had already prepared."

"They need to enhance their code and their EOS. They need to improve some security features, and there are quite a number of bugs in their system."

"I think there is a need for improvement in the area of their VXLAN/EVPN capability but their current solution is great regardless but may be not very scalable for a global deployment."

More Arista Networks Platform cons

"The SFP modules we are using have had issues. We have Cisco modules, but they frequently heat up or there are packet error issues."

"Even though it is expensive, I am not sure about the return on investment. It is expensive, and you will need to pay for subscription fees that also are not cheap."

"I would rate the technical support for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series an eight out of ten. This rating is not because of their lack of expertise, but just the assignment period."

"For Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches, I think we need to work on the HSRP. Whenever it flaps or something happens, it creates an issue."

"The potential for improvement lies in the licensing aspect, which is somewhat confusing. The perpetual and subscription licensing is a concern."

"I would like to see features that control traffic and maintain service continuity during the transfer of signals from physical connections to servers."

"If I have a Juniper and want to uplink with Cisco, there could be some configuration challenges."

"When trying to contact support, we had issues trying to get someone to help us."

More Cisco Nexus 9000 Series cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the product price as seven out of ten."

"The customer price for an Arista router is approximately $7,000 USD, while Cisco's is around $18,000."

"There is an annual license required to use the Arista Networks Platform."

"It is pretty pricey for a networking platform. It is on par with Cisco."

"Network devices are generally expensive. However, during the evaluation, Arista was the most inexpensive vendor."

"Specific tools definitely require a license for the subscription. But we are not using these tools in our environment. In terms of licensing, you need to spend approximately $10,000 per month."

"The price of the Arista Networks Platform could be less expensive for the hardware and license."

"I remember that when our customers were offered the Arista Networks Platform, they used a checklist to compare the prices between Arista and Cisco for their requirements, and found that the prices were almost the same."

More Arista Networks Platform pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

22%

Outsourcing Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Construction Company

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	12

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	6

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Arista Networks Platform?

The initial setup cost is high compared to others, and I find the initial setup cost to be very high.

What needs improvement with Arista Networks Platform?

Arista Networks Platform could improve its command line management. Coming from a Cisco background, the adjustment period was challenging. While similar in some areas, the AOS concept, especially a...

What is your primary use case for Arista Networks Platform?

I have worked with deploying Arista Networks Platform in data center environments, particularly for spine and leaf architectures. The configurations involved Zero Touch Provisioning, which went ver...

What needs improvement with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series?

I would appreciate improvements in Cisco Nexus 9000 Series as data center equipment. I would like to see features that control traffic and maintain service continuity during the transfer of signals...

What is your primary use case for Cisco Nexus 9000 Series?

I am working with multiple clients, approximately ten clients who use Cisco Nexus 9000 Series in their data centers. I am currently supporting clients with Cisco Nexus 9000 Series and Cisco technol...

What advice do you have for others considering Cisco Nexus 9000 Series?

In networking, I recommend Cisco for switching and data center equipment including switching, Wi-Fi, and Cisco ISE to clients every time. It is still a perfect solution due to its high pricing, but...

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Arista Networks Platform

Comparisons

Compared 27% of the time

Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches vs Arista Networks Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Arista Networks Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Nexus vs Arista Networks Platform

Compared 4% of the time

Broadcom StrataDNX vs Arista Networks Platform

Compared 3% of the time

More Arista Networks Platform Competitors

Juniper QFX Series Switches vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Compared 12% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Compared 7% of the time

H3C Ethernet Switches vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Competitors

Product Reports

Arista Networks Platform

Download Arista Networks Platform product report

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series

Download Cisco Nexus 9000 Series product report

Also Known As

7000 Series

No data available

Overview

Arista Networks Platform offers ultra-low latency and scalability with high bandwidth while simplifying network management through its intuitive dashboard. It enables robust support for EVPN and VXLAN, making it a top choice for modern data centers requiring efficient and effective networking solutions.

Designed to minimize complexity, Arista Networks Platform integrates seamlessly with a single operating system, providing streamlined operations. With automation capabilities via EOS and CloudVision, it enhances visibility and provisioning. Platinum and titanium power supplies contribute to reduced carbon footprints, aligning with sustainability goals. While configuration complexity and high pricing pose challenges, it remains a preferred choice for data center networking, offering premium performance and cost-effectiveness. It excels in environments like smart cities and finance, providing stability and scalability essential for demanding applications.

What are the key features of Arista Networks Platform?

Ultra-Low Latency: Ensures prompt data transmission and network responsiveness.
Scalability: Easily adapts to growing network demands and data loads.
High Bandwidth: Supports increased data transfer rates for efficient network operations.
Intuitive Dashboard: Enhances manageability and monitoring with streamlined interfaces.
EVPN and VXLAN Support: Provides flexible and robust networking options.
Platinum and Titanium Power Supplies: Reduce carbon footprint while ensuring reliable performance.
EOS and CloudVision Automation: Improves visibility, provisioning, and network operation efficiency.

What benefits should users look for in Arista Networks Platform?

Cost-Effectiveness: Balances premium performance with investment value.
Reduced Complexity: Streamlined integration simplifies network management.
Improved Visibility: Enhanced automation capabilities offer better monitoring and control.
High Throughput: Supports demanding applications with reliable data handling.
Sustainability: Eco-friendly power options align with environmental goals.

Arista Networks Platform is widely implemented across industries such as finance and smart cities, supporting critical applications in network security and scalable infrastructure. It is instrumental in data center networking, video production workflows, and robotic automation. Users benefit from its spine-leaf architectures and wireless connectivity, particularly in sectors requiring high throughput and reliability.

Arista

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series offers ease of use, high performance, and flexibility with support for VPCs, VXLAN, SDN, and Layer 3 capabilities, optimizing policy management and network segmentation.

This series is recognized for its stability and high-density interfaces. Integrating seamlessly with Cisco DNA and ACI, it enhances data center operations through efficient port channeling and trunking for VLAN management. The ability to support multiple connection speeds allows expanded network connectivity. Despite its strengths, Cisco Nexus 9000 can benefit from improved third-party integration, simplifying licensing, and reducing costs, while addressing traffic control and Spanning Tree protocol challenges. Regular OS patches could better support networking engineers in bug management.

What are the key features of Cisco Nexus 9000 Series?

VPCs and VXLAN support: Enhances virtualization for efficient resource use.
Software-Defined Networking: Facilitates agile network management.
Layer 3 capabilities: Offers robust routing and switching options.
Integration with Cisco DNA and ACI: Supports advanced policy-driven approaches.
Port channeling and trunking: Simplifies VLAN management.
High-density interfaces: Supports expanding network needs.

What benefits and ROI should users consider in evaluations?

Performance and flexibility: Adaptability to various networking environments.
Stability and reliability: Strong data center performance.
Connectivity options: Wide range of connection speed support.
Data center optimization: Enhanced operations through efficient management features.

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series finds its place in data centers, serving as top-of-rack, core, or federator switches. It caters to critical enterprise applications, databases, and on-premises data centers requiring low latency and high bandwidth. While integration with advanced Cisco DNA features is minimal, users predominantly implement it in non-cloud environments.

Cisco

Sample Customers

American Internet Services

Information Not Available

Arista Networks Platform vs. Cisco Nexus 9000 Series