Cisco MDS Series vs IBM SAN24B-4 Express comparison

"It enables us to integrate and load balance between multiple layer one fiber vendor links, which is very useful."

"The most valuable feature of the Cisco MDS Series is its reliability, support, and scalability."

"The issues with these switches are extremely rare, and the whole product line is very predictable and stable."

"This solution is required for any type of IT infrastructure for Storage Networking and provides high availability for storage service."

"The product is very stable and performs well."

"SAN switches in Cisco MDS Series are a valuable feature of the solution for our company."

"Cisco MDS 9148 SAN switch model is the best product, highly reliable and low cost, easy to deploy, easy to upgrade, easy to configure, easy to administer, and it gives effective performance when used for SAN switch connectivity between hosts and storage boxes."

"The features I found most valuable are the ease of deployment, it's easy to upgrade, easy to configure and easy to administer. There is no need for vendor professional services which saves project cost. The usage of WebUI for all primary features like hostname, IP address, SNMP traps, zone sets, addition and deletion of zone members or zone sets, backup of switch DB is very simple."

"In my experience, it is one of the most reliable options in SAN switches."

"I find it difficult to operate and troubleshoot."

"Data Center Network Manager is good but it is not free and requires purchasing a separate license."

"I do not have a central management software to manage these products due to the licensing cost. It would be beneficial to have central management software for easier handling."

"The solution's management interface and GUI need improvement."

"The licensing model could be less complicated."

"It is quite a stable product. It should be shipped with the latest firmware to avoid download and upload schema at the beginning of the initial setup. There should also be the possibility of downgrading the firmware when required. WebUI needs DCNM instead a web-based GUI should be made available like Brocade san switch."

"Cisco MDS Series can improve by having API functionality for automation and programming."

"Cisco MDS Series could improve by adding more gigahertz. However, they are doing this over time."

"This product can improve in the out-of-the-box features; for example, licensing 16 ports instead of 8."

"It's perpetual licensing and maintenance is a recurrent cost."

"The price of the Cisco MDS Series is high."

"Pricing cannot be considered an advantageous trait of the solution since it is expensive. I rate the solution's pricing a three out of ten."