

ExtremeSwitching and Cisco Catalyst compete in the advanced network hardware category. ExtremeSwitching appears to have an advantage in cost-effectiveness and flexibility, whereas Cisco Catalyst offers a broad feature set and proven reliability.
Features: ExtremeSwitching provides deep packet inspection, cloud management, and advanced automation through Extreme Fabric technology, making it desirable for scalability and cost-efficiency. Cisco Catalyst is known for its PoE capabilities, diverse VLAN options, and comprehensive security features, appealing to enterprises due to its load balancing and wide professional familiarity.
Room for Improvement: ExtremeSwitching could benefit from boosting its entry-level products and enhancing training resources for smooth transitions from Cisco environments. Consistent pricing and precise delivery times are additional areas for improvement. Cisco Catalyst could reduce pricing and simplify its licensing model, as users seek more cost-effective solutions and easier integration with other platforms.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ExtremeSwitching is praised for flexible deployment options and supportive customer service but needs better training resources. Cisco Catalyst offers reliable support and efficient RMA services, excelling in known deployment scenarios with its strong support and configuration capabilities.
Pricing and ROI: ExtremeSwitching is perceived as cost-effective, particularly in ROI-sensitive deployments due to competitive pricing and straightforward licensing. Cisco Catalyst, while pricier, is valued for its depth of features and historical reliability, often justifying its cost for users prioritizing robust technology.
I can say in terms of money saved because up until now, in the previous places where I have worked and also now, we still use the older model, the 2960 model Cisco Catalyst Switches, which has been in existence for almost 20 years and up until now it still functions very well.
From an investment standpoint, deploying Cisco Catalyst Switches offers tangible benefits, including cost reductions.
The return on investment is high.
In the future, we can convince the customer to make use of 100G capability to suffice their requirement, but at the moment we are using 40G only.
When requesting an RMA, they replace defective items in just one day.
On a scale from one to 10, I would rate the technical support of Cisco at 10 out of 10.
Cisco's support is good, one of the best supports that you will get.
Typically, cases are handled without needing service escalation, as 90-95% of issues can be resolved by the initial contact.
Requiring improvement in the technical support provided to customers.
The scalability of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very much scalable, as it supports the stacking feature and growth; for instance, with 94K modular switches, based on the requirement, we can even increase modules for more bandwidth.
Unlike Meraki, where I can bring a switch online, join it to the portal, and it becomes operational immediately.
The auto-scaling and zero-touch provisioning kind of support for Nexus switches is lacking.
ExtremeSwitching is highly scalable, and I would rate it as nine out of ten.
The stability of Cisco Catalyst Switches in my environment is somewhat problematic: legacy Cisco Catalyst Switches, even though they have licenses and support, present many hardware-related issues, such as interfaces going down very repeatedly, SFP modules failing in most cases, and hardware ports becoming faulty.
What you tell it to do is exactly what it does.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are stable.
I cannot report any crashes or performance issues with ExtremeSwitching; the stability and scalability have been consistent and reliable.
The stability for ExtremeSwitching is excellent.
Cisco should provide some level of software that I can bring on-premise where I can add all my Catalyst switches for central management.
Currently, I don't see much AI integration with Cisco Catalyst Switches; though they've started, it still needs improvement.
It is the highest cost in the market.
Unlike Cisco, Aruba, and Huawei, Extreme currently lacks SMB products in the market, but if they produce such offerings, many more customers would engage with Extreme Networks.
ExtremeSwitching's software stability could be improved, as it sometimes crashes.
Because I am not a networking specialist, I do not know much about the things in detail.
Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite pricey.
Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors.
Our prices are very competitive when compared to Cisco and Aruba.
ExtremeSwitching is priced in the mid-range, not too expensive nor too cheap.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valuable for their reliability and performance.
With Meraki access points, I do not have to have a wireless controller for them. I can configure the wireless device directly from the switch, making the setup cleaner, and that is a major reason for my preference.
Cisco Catalyst Switches provide high performance and security features that stand out in my daily work, where they handle a high volume of traffic with low latency, making them suitable for bandwidth-intensive applications, web applications, VoIP applications, video streaming, and major data center workloads.
The most valuable feature of ExtremeSwitching is the Extreme Fabric, specifically the switching fabric.
The best features in ExtremeSwitching that I appreciate include the technology known as Extreme Fabric, which our customers find miraculous because it enables automated networks.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Catalyst Switches | 18.5% |
| ExtremeSwitching | 7.7% |
| Other | 73.8% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 81 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 29 |
| Large Enterprise | 79 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 12 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 8 |
| Large Enterprise | 7 |
Cisco Catalyst Switches are renowned for their Power over Ethernet capabilities, performance stability, and dependable security. They support features like DHCP, stacking, and dynamic routing, offering ease of management, scalability, and reliability across different sectors.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valued for their robust architecture and global reputation, supported by numerous trained professionals. They ensure consistent performance and adaptability across industries such as finance, education, and hospitality. With features like CLI and software integration, these switches offer ease of management, scalability, and strong technical support. Users appreciate modularity, speed, and network segmentation versatility. There is room for improvement in cost reduction, licensing simplification, usability, third-party integration, and security enhancements. Calls for improved configuration, product compatibility, faster support, and advanced training are noted.
What are the key features of Cisco Catalyst Switches?Organizations utilize Cisco Catalyst Switches for diverse applications, including data centers, campuses, and WAN connectivity. Supporting enterprise networking, VLAN configurations, and user access, they integrate smoothly with existing infrastructure. These switches enhance connectivity for access layers, core components, and edge networking, catering to industries like finance, education, and hospitality for reliable and scalable performance.
ExtremeSwitching delivers robust security and scalability, valued for deep packet inspection and cost-effectiveness. It simplifies deployment and enhances network management with innovative features, despite requiring improvements in cyber attack management and 5G capabilities.
ExtremeSwitching is designed for seamless performance in networking environments. Its ease of configuration, coupled with advanced fabric technology, simplifies deployment. However, challenges include software inconsistencies and pricing issues. The intuitive interface provides enhanced visibility and control, yet could benefit from simplification. Reliability and innovative functionalities contribute to high satisfaction, although support resources require enhancement. Integration of AI features could benefit usability for less skilled administrators, and improvements in entry-level options are needed.
What are the key features of ExtremeSwitching?ExtremeSwitching assists sectors like education, hospitality, IT, and manufacturing. It supports networking infrastructure, Wi-Fi, and enterprise core functionalities, ideal for projects such as smart city development and government networks. Its deployment aids connectivity in LANs, campuses, and data centers, ensuring reliable system and user networking.
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