ExtremeSwitching Reviews

We are utilizing Extreme products in many cases, including a significant project in Antalya, Turkey, involving five five-star hotels, as well as several municipality projects around a million. Mostly, we are selling our products to enterprises, hospitality verticals, governments, railways, stadiums, and manufacturing companies.

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. With fabric technology, customers are very happy since they don't need to perform new configurations in the core, distribution, or access site, but only some configuration in access switch ports, as the network automatically knows where services start and end. It is definitely secure and very easy to install.

We are utilizing ExtremeSwitching's automated network management feature, and when we sell our products to clients, we always offer Extreme Site Engine or now Platform One for cloud.

Having this automated network management helps streamline operations by requiring less manpower, as infrastructure is hard to manage, but with the visualization provided by network management systems, clients only need to use a few clicks to deploy new services. There is no need to create multiple ports or VLANs, allowing even one or two individuals to operate very large networks.

ExtremeSwitching's intuitive management interface has improved network performance significantly. For instance, Extreme Networks currently utilizes a very good AI system. When users need to perform configurations like MLAG, they can simply log in, ask for the configuration, and receive recommendations. This capability makes clients very happy because the management software inspects the entire network and provides valuable recommendations that lead to significant improvements.

From a marketing perspective, I would like to see Extreme Networks expand its product line to include small and medium business (SMB) solutions, as many customers do not have large budgets. 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.

I have been working with ExtremeSwitching for around nine years, which reflects my long-term commitment to this technology.

I cannot report any crashes or performance issues with ExtremeSwitching; the stability and scalability have been consistent and reliable.

To evaluate Extreme's technical support, I give a 10 out of 10. Their technical assistance center operates effectively, offering tailor-made professional services and utilizing their own engineers, who often possess over eight years of experience. Typically, cases are handled without needing service escalation, as 90-95% of issues can be resolved by the initial contact.

I rate their technical support a ten out of ten; if there were an eleven, I would give that rating.

Positive

I have some experience with Cisco and Aruba technologies. For instance, when you buy Cisco, they sell you a mandatory DNA license that is often unused, which is a waste of money. Aruba's situation is complex because clients aren't sure what to expect after Juniper's purchase, and with Mist cloud being purchased from Juniper, uncertainty exists regarding future product direction.

When it comes to the initial setup of ExtremeSwitching, I find it straightforward. Upon powering on the switch, it starts with a script asking for configuration details like IP and spanning tree. By simply responding to a few questions, you can have your switch operating effectively.

We are distributors of Extreme Networks, and we provide the implementation, conduct demos, and we have our own experience center with numerous demos. If our partner needs some implementation support, we are giving professional services as well.

Regarding pricing, I find it very competitive, especially in Turkey, where markets in the Middle East and Africa tend to be price-sensitive. Our prices are very competitive when compared to Cisco and Aruba, and while I can't say we compete directly with Huawei or Ruijie, we don't lose projects based on price when competing against Cisco and Aruba.

I have hands-on experience working with Extreme Networks, and when you mention hands-on, I certainly understand the importance of practical expertise.

The Extreme products we work with include data center switches, campus switches, wireless, and some routers, although we cannot call them ISP grade routers since they are mostly border gateways for data centers. Essentially, we have a product line that includes switches, access points, and management network management systems.

I have experience working with the modular design for deployments, although I would appreciate clarification on whether you mean modular switch chassis or something else.

Extreme Networks does offer switches with modular designs, although they can be quite large. We often discuss the pay-as-you-grow technology, highlighting that one U rack space devices can supply around eight or 10 terabytes. If you install fabric and later need more performance, you can deploy another core switch, multiplying your bandwidth. Therefore, there is no need to invest heavily in modular chassis, which are harder to operate and occupy too much space, along with ongoing service fees.

On the security features side of ExtremeSwitching, they have a network access controller, a NAC solution, and when integrated with fabric technology, the security is definitely very robust. They also produce a zero-touch provisioning ZTNA product, which has made our customers very happy with its capabilities.

For anyone considering using Extreme, my advice is to understand that selling it may be challenging since the brand isn't as prominent as Cisco or Aruba. However, if they invest effort into learning about Extreme, they will realize the benefits and likely fall in love with the product. I would rate this review a 10 out of 10.

We use ExtremeSwitching for Network Management. Because we have a different product here, it is called Extreme. We have ExtremeSwitching Network and we are using their product for monitoring networking performance and monitoring tools. We are using ExtremeSwitching.

This is only for the access and distribution switches and some core switches.

The benefits include its robustness and sturdiness. It gives very few problems from both hardware and configuration perspectives. It is very easy and user friendly. From a service perspective, we are getting fantastic service from them. These are the main advantages. The customer is happy with the performance of the switches and service. ExtremeSwitching is definitely a good product by all means.

Because I am not a networking specialist, I do not know much about the things in detail. I have only an overview of it. If you ask me to dig deeper down, it would be difficult for me to answer those questions.

We have been using the solution for more than 15 years.

Stability is absolutely fine without any issues at all.

It is for our customer. The requirement is not that great from the customer because the main purpose is to use it as a core switch, access switch, and distributor switch. For the last 10-15 years, we have not faced any challenges from the ExtremeSwitching perspective. Whatever the customer's requirements have been, we were able to do the configuration accordingly and achieve the expected results.

We get very good support from ExtremeSwitching. Compared to big players such as Cisco and others, it is definitely cost effective. Since the customer has been loyal to us for the last 20-25 years, ExtremeSwitching offers special pricing to the customer. They have been loyal to ExtremeSwitching for the last 20 years, so we are getting very good support from ExtremeSwitching in terms of prices and other aspects.

Positive

We have stopped working on the NetWorker product because last year, we had this renewal of the product and we did not get it. It has gone to some other different company. At the moment we are not working on the Dell product.

Automation is one of the features, but since they are coming up with the platform one features, I think that issue will definitely be taken care of.

We do it on our own and never use any consultants. Sometimes we directly get help from the TAC from ExtremeSwitching.

It is absolutely easy and not difficult. The customer is open to improvements, but at this point in time we are using only 40G. 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.

We are partners with both the customer as well as ExtremeSwitching.

We are working with HP, but not for backup solutions. These are all hardware things. We are working only on hardware and the OS part. HP OS is there, the CMU is there, that Custom Management.

We have been working with wireless for the last seven to eight years. At the moment, the customer has decided to go with a different brand. We are only dealing with the wired switches, not the wireless ones.

We use ExtremeSwitching only, not Enterasys. Enterasys was the old one.

I am not a networking person, so at this point in time I do not have much working experience on the switches. We have a separate team here who are working on these products.

We have not reached that stage yet, but definitely in the near future we may use this kind of feature. Recently they have introduced platform one, which is an AI-based automation tool. That is definitely on the cards. Maybe in one year, we may start using that option as well.

First of all, the product is robust and they are also coming up with new features. The second part is the support is excellent from ExtremeSwitching. They maintain delivery time and follow through on their commitments properly. The performance we expected, we are getting from ExtremeSwitching. All these requirements we have are being met with the product, features, and support. It is cost effective. I rate ExtremeSwitching a nine out of ten.

My use case for ExtremeSwitching is that the product is very robust. It is somewhat costlier, but the product is very good, and the service is excellent. We are getting the updates as well.

Regarding the functions of ExtremeSwitching, the product is very good, as we are not experiencing any faulty related issues. If we encounter any issues, there is service available at our fingertips. Generally, we are not getting any types of problems with the switches.

Regarding the main benefits of ExtremeSwitching, for the provisioning of the services, once we have installed it, everything works smoothly. There is no hurdle after the configuration, and power failures do not affect the switches. We get this kind of smoothness and services through this switch. Most of our switches are ExtremeSwitching, so we are not dealing with heterogeneity, and that might be the reason everything is working smoothly, including the core switch, which is also from Extreme.

Regarding what could be better with the product, I am not aware of how much AI functionality is provided in ExtremeSwitching. Everyone is talking about AI, so there should be AI facilities provided in these switches so that it should be plug and play. Auto provisioning should be included, so in cases where more users are connected to one access point, the load will be distributed to the second access point automatically, and users will be shifted. There should be some AI features that will make the administrator's life easier because not everyone is skilled enough to configure if there are problems. If problems arise, they should be auto-recovered, or the system should suggest to the user the nature of the problem and how to troubleshoot it. Everything should be automated in this way. This might be an existing feature, but I am not aware of whether it is there or not. If it is not there, it should be provided.

I have been working with Extreme Wireless for the last three years, and regarding ExtremeSwitching and HP switches, I have been working for the last 10 to 15 years.

The stability for ExtremeSwitching is excellent. This is the feature I particularly appreciate from Extreme.

Regarding scalability for ExtremeSwitching, I would rate it an eight out of ten.

I would rate the technical support from Extreme a nine to ten out of ten.

The initial setup for ExtremeSwitching is moderate in complexity because I do not directly work with this configuration. My administrator handles the configuration. From their feedback, I understand that it's neither very easy nor complicated, but somewhere in between.

I would rate the pricing for ExtremeSwitching six to seven out of ten.

When comparing ExtremeSwitching with products from other vendors, I find that Extreme is suitable for our needs, particularly regarding cost and configuration. When comparing Extreme with other products, after Cisco, I find that this product is somewhat costlier.

I can recommend ExtremeSwitching to other users. It is a very good product that you can implement, but you have to consider the cost. Otherwise, the product is excellent. I rate ExtremeSwitching an eight out of ten.

The use case for ExtremeSwitching is enterprise core and Wi-Fi coverage.

Difficult to say because, basically, we just support the devices. I wasn't part of the turnover process when we switched, so that's not something I can comment on.

Some of the most valuable features of ExtremeSwitching are Fabric Attach and BGP, as well as the price point, which are superior in the market.

While it is true of all vendors, there may be a slightly higher failure rate in terms of the replaceable Fan and Power modules 

From my primary experience, I have used the solution for four years.

There is a small hit on reliability, however, without a good basis for comparison, I would rate the stability an eight on a scale of one to ten.

While not exclusive to Extreme, the stacking options are useful. We've had some success there, as well as expandability between core VSPs and edge switches. It's been quite convenient. On a scale of one to ten, I would probably rate scalability as a nine.

Support has a high degree of availability and expertise. They are in or near our time zone, cordial, and knowledgeable. These are important elements. I find this makes up for the lack of a ubiquitous knowledge base for ExtremeSwitching.

No

The initial setup is relatively comparable to other enterprise-grade devices. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the easiest, I would call it a seven.

The deployment involves about twenty or so individuals including roles such as analyst, network engineer, and technician.

When it comes to an ROI conversation, I can't really comment on it as that's not my side of the business.

I am not heavily involved with pricing, but my general understanding is they are competitive on the licensing and cost standpoint. When you compare equal features in the market, they are probably the most competitive.

Primarily, we are an extreme shop. We are looking at Netgear and Cisco for a number of solutions.

I would recommend Extreme Switching for their good value proposition in terms of cost to reliability.

I'd rate the solution 8 out of 10.

Our primary use case for ExtremeSwitching is for costing, access networking, routing, and meeting network requirements. We have sold it in defense, government, and IT industries.

ExtremeSwitching significantly adds value to customers because maintenance is minimal. Once the network is set up, there's hardly any need for intervention, which implies zero maintenance on our part. Support tickets have been drastically reduced, highlighting the solution's effectiveness.

The valuable features in ExtremeSwitching are its capabilities in routing and switching. It's easy to configure, and the commands are intuitive. The performance of ExtremeSwitching is outstanding, and it holds the ultimate position in terms of performance.

For improvement, ExtremeSwitching should provide command lines more readily without needing in-depth searching on their support portal, especially for unique configurations.

I have been using ExtremeSwitching for more than three years.

There have been no stability issues, as the product is very stable.

ExtremeSwitching is highly scalable. We have experienced scaling up to eight packing switches with excellent speed.

The support is superb and responsive; technical support is rated very good.

Positive

The initial setup is definitely easy to set up. I would rate it ten out of ten for ease of setup.

In terms of return on investment, the value addition is significant because the maintenance cost is zero, and the setup reduces the need for ongoing support.

The device cost, including support, is very expensive compared to other brands.

Prospective users should know that ExtremeSwitching is very stable, performs well, and has convenient configuration options. The support is excellent.

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

It’s for switches. One of the reasons that the customers get ExtremeSwitching is that the technology is good. The product has relatively advanced technology. 

Also, the price is affordable.

We have different industries. We have a telco. We have utilities, particularly water supply. And then we also have manufacturing, which covers one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, which also owns San Miguel Brewery, known for San Miguel beer.  And we also have a university as a customer in the education industry.

One of the features of using AI for analytics is part of the Pilot IQ. There are different IQs. That’s Pilot and Copilot, and more. But essentially, this is the cloud management platform of Extreme Networks. What it does is, if you get that portion through subscription, the highest model allows you to predict when a switch should be replaced before it breaks down. They call it eleven nines [11 9s], which is 99.999999% reliability. The old standard was five nines [5 9s], meaning 99.999% reliability. In this case, it’s eleven nines.

That’s how it works. Based on their worldwide database, they monitor your switch and provide information similar to other switches in other locations. They can predict when it will break down and give you an alarm, so you can replace the switch before it breaks down. This way, you have the possibility of not having any breakdown on your switch because you replace it before it breaks down.

You replace it before it breaks down. Such a feature saves business costs. In this case, you avoid downtime, which is actually a business cost. So, if you do not have any downtime, then you potentially save a lot for your business.

One feature I like, although it is composed of several technologies, is reliability. Different technologies are involved to provide reliability. One such technology is the support for ring topology, which provides Telco-grade reliability.

It is very reliable because one of the reasons is the non-blocking architecture of Extreme Networks. This means that even if all the switches are fully loaded and running at full capacity, they will still operate under that condition. Some of the competition cannot support full capacity. Even some competitors cannot support it, but ExtremeSwitching supports it.

One good thing is that the NMS, the network management system, is actually one of the better ones. According to one of the customers who has tried a lot of other switches, it’s among the best, if not the best, network management system.

The network management system is very easy to use. It’s intuitive. And then it has a lot of features. It’s not limited to NMS or network management systems. ExtremeSwitching calls it a single pane of glass, meaning it’s integrated. 

For example, sometimes you have one NMS for switches, one NMS for your Wi-Fi, and so on. So you have to use multiple NMS. In the case of Extreme, a single NMS can manage your entire network. It can even manage or at least monitor third-party products, meaning competing products. 

It also provides additional features. You can integrate it, for example, to do analytics on the same platform. These are separate modules, so it’s essentially a very good NMS.

Maybe ExtremeSwitching should come out with simpler but lower-cost switches that are more suited to the Asian market.

Because right now, some of the competition, especially China-made products, are lower in cost.

One of the major issues, actually, is that in the past, ExtremeSwitching had a single operating system. However, because of its acquisition of several companies, these have different operating systems. 

Although you have a choice, it’s more suited to you, and the integration is actually on the NMS side because, technically, right now, you can still manage even if you have different operating systems. But perhaps if they can simplify and come out with fewer operating systems, it would be easier for the end user to choose what’s best for them.

ExtremeSwitching should integrate its operating systems and come up with fewer operating systems. However, I recognize that sometimes it does not make sense to come up with a single OS because of its features. Sometimes, it’s difficult to combine everything with a single OS. ExtremeSwitching is trying to work on it. But they can simplify and do more integration with fewer operating systems. So, more integration and fewer operating systems.

I have a lot of experience with ExtremeSwitching.

I have been working with this product since 2003, and it has been around for almost 21 years or more. 

The system is reliable. ExtremeSwitching is quite reliable. Although we have recently encountered some switches that have issues right out of the box. These are just a few, but in comparison with the older switches, we have very few issues like this. Although for now, these are just a few and relatively not that often. But we see that compared with the older ones, there seem to be more.

Sometimes, we’re not sure what exactly the issue is because it’s the technical assistance center of Extreme that would make the decision to replace the switch, especially if these are new. Rather than addressing some issues in the field, the technical assistance center would rather pull it out and replace it with a new one. Maybe it’s simpler for them that way.

Once they are in, they are very reliable. I would put it as a nine out of ten once they are set up. The issues I mentioned are during implementation or at least in the next few weeks after implementation. But once they are more or less a couple of weeks old, they are very stable and normally do not encounter any issues.

The customer service and support are very good.  

I’m happy with the customer support of Extreme Networks.

Positive

It is relatively quite easy to set up because you can do it remotely. You can also copy configurations from one switch to another. So, if you have a copy of the configuration, just copy it to the other switches or the serial address. 

If they’re exactly the same, then it’s good. If not, then maybe just make a little adjustment. You can do all of this remotely.

I would rate my experience with the initial setup a nine out of ten, with ten being easy, and one being difficult. But because of the complexity of the possible operating systems, people see that maybe it can be a bit difficult 

It is easy if you use just a single OS. You have the choice of which OS to use. Although technically, you can use multiple OS in your network. So if you implement a single OS, it’s a nine out of ten. If you use multiple OS, then maybe it’s an eight out of ten. 

Our customers use ExtremeSwitching both on-premises and in a cloud environment. Our older customers are usually on-premises. But the new ones, most of them are already moving to the cloud. We still have some customers who want on-premises, but most of them are basically going to the cloud.

Deployment depends on how many switches you have. But, actually, in most of our deployments, around three days. Two to three days if it is a single site. If you have multiple sites, then you need to account for travel time for multiple locations.

Although technically, there are ways to cut it short if you can preconfigure the switches and then send them to all the sites. And if your customer has people on-site with a little technical experience, they can set it up and plug in the ports without doing any configuration. 

Just plug in the power and the ports. Then, you can remotely do the configuration and testing. So that would cut short a lot of time because our team does not have to go outside.

ExtremeSwitching helped our customers to save costs while they implemented this solution. A lot of our customers are happy with the product. 

The pricing is not expensive. I would rate the pricing and licensing model a seven out of ten, with ten being expensive. 

Overall, I would rate this solution a nine out of ten. My only recommendation is that people should sit down with a good partner, an Extreme Networks partner, who really understands the technology of Extreme Networks because Extreme Networks has so many technologies. So it’s important that they understand the available technology so they can make the right decisions on which technologies are important and should be implemented. 

Because Extreme Networks have several operating systems. For example, in switching,  Extreme Networks has two. It used to be three, I think. And in Wi-Fi, I think Extreme Networks have at least two. So it’s important that they understand the available technology. 

A good partner who understands network technology can make the necessary advice and recommendations so the customer can get the network with all the features users want.

Our primary use case for ExtremeSwitching is for business customers in sectors such as hospitality, business transfers, IPTV solutions, Wi-Fi solutions, IP telephone solutions, and manufacturing. It is used for multiple business applications.

The most valuable feature of ExtremeSwitching is the Extreme Fabric, specifically the switching fabric. This feature is crucial for the deployment and installation of switches, making administration less problematic. Both we and the architects we work with appreciate this aspect.

ExtremeSwitching's software stability could be improved, as it sometimes crashes.

I have more than four years of experience working with ExtremeSwitching.

I would rate the stability of ExtremeSwitching between seven to eight out of ten.

ExtremeSwitching is highly scalable, and I would rate it as nine out of ten.

The technical support is rated as six out of ten. We have experienced some cases being closed without resolution, requiring improvement in the technical support provided to customers.

Neutral

The initial setup is straightforward.

The return on investment is high. Most implementations have a one to three-year period to see returns.

ExtremeSwitching is priced in the mid-range, not too expensive nor too cheap.

I would recommend ExtremeSwitching to others. Based on my experience, I would rate the overall solution as eight out of ten.

ExtremeSwitching is a good, stable platform. There is no comparison between Cisco Nexus Flex and ExtremeSwitching. Cisco Access uses a standard model of the Flex content, which comes with the Cisco model for 96 ports and Fortinet support. We compared Cisco Nexus with Flex connectivity to extend the server connectivity with the 96 and FortiG uplink ports. The cost for Cisco was too high, so we were trying to go with some other models. First, the configuration part and all other content are readily available online. Second, there is no issue with the hardware and performance because many Flex switches, including older models, are still working. Specifically, Flex switches with serial numbers 5548 and 5596 are outdated but still working. We must replace these switches with 9000 or 9300 series switches of the same capacity.

Experiences with ExtremeSwitching depend on the customer. It keeps changing, but it has a high capacity, with more throughput and more ports for data centers. For regular customers, it is extremely good. We must go with increased capabilities and throughput for SMEs and data centers.

I have used ExtremeSwitching for five or ten years back.

The product is stable.

ExtremeSwitching is scalable to a certain extent for SME-segmented IP. In India, people mostly choose Cisco for data center networks, but ExtremeSwitching is a good option for SME-segmented IP networks.

The technical support is good.

Neutral

The initial setup is good. We have already configured ExtremeSwitching for many customers.

ExtremeSwitching is good, stable, and reliable. However, a few customers here use it for four to five years without any issues. There is no downtime, no breakage, and nothing else. The hardware is suitable. The configuration part is different if you compare it to other products. Many companies use score-based content, and ExtremeSwitching has a different command line type. If you can find out how to configure it, you can use it. Overall, I rate the solution a nine or ten out of ten.

We use the solution for Compass projects with fabric and Wi-Fi.

ExtremeSwitching fabric technology is a unique technology used to protect against viruses. ExtremeCloud IQ is a very good and feature-rich solution compared to Cisco, Ruxi Networks, or Huawei.

Extreme Networks does not have any entry-level products. This is a problem for them because Aruba has an Instant On series, which is new and cost-effective. Cisco also has the 1000 series, and other brands offer entry-level products.

I have been using ExtremeSwitching for more than eight years.

The solution’s stability is very good. I’m not facing any hardware problems. Even if there is, they offer a lifetime warranty and smoothly exchange the switches.

The product’s scalability is excellent. In Turkey projects, we use more than 7000 ports in one branch, which is very good because fabric technology gives us tremendous flexibility.

There are more than 2,000 end users of the product in Turkey.

ExtremeSwitching has the best after-sales technical support. Sometimes, when we face problems, we create a case, and the guys who attend to the case are very capable and good. Because of this, some clients even purchase white glove services from Extreme Networks' premier support. They are very satisfied with after-sales operations.

The initial setup is straightforward since they are offering very good cloud services.

Deployment took around a couple of hours for small branches, but for large sizes with about 5000 ports, it will be about four or five days maximum.

ExtremeSwitching offers very good pricing plans for their licenses. Compared to their rivals, ExtremeSwitching's prices are very affordable and reasonable. This is why our customers are happy to pay for their service critical support. ExtremeSwitching also offers a great portal to track clients, further satisfying our customers. They are always happy to pay for the service every month. The pricing is very reasonable.

All ExtremeSwitching products are compliant with on-premises and cloud environments. In Turkey, the cloud is a new market; as of now, on-premises solutions still account for 60% of the market.

I advise focusing on the technologies rather than the brands because there are too many fans of Cisco or Aruba. Try to see how powerful the technology behind the external networks is. We’ve sold many ExtremeSwitching to Aruba and Cisco customers; they continued to buy ExtremeSwitching because the brand is not a good thing.

Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

We deploy the switches in a spine and leaf model, which is the current requirement. Earlier, we used to have a tier three model, like core distribution and access tier. Now, in the database center, we don't do this. 

We connected all our servers to the leaf and read out to the traffic via the spine. And we enable EMVPN and LT routing on that switches. All meshed networks we configure with seamless connectivity to ISO. 

We have a target market or small and medium-sized businesses. ExtremeSwitches is the perfect match for them. I will go and recommend ExtremeSwitches due to its cost-effectiveness. A small or medium business probably doesn't have the capital of a large-scale industry. Their net worth or turn turnover would be less than high capital gain companies like Apple or Google. ExtremeSwitches is the best solution for small or medium businesses in terms of cost-effectiveness and scalability. 

That said, if a company doesn't want to compromise security features and performance, then Cisco is better.

It is meeting our expectations in terms of performance as well as cost-effectiveness.

The product is scalable.

In terms of support, they could be better. 

They need to enhance their vulnerability assessment and security features. 

There are latency issues that need to be addressed. 

I've been using this and related solutions for about 16 years. 

The performance is good. 

That said, quite often, the solution can crash. It is not meant for a large-scale business. It is meant for only small or medium businesses. There is some room for improvement required in the convergence time of the switch. Whenever we see the premise, there are certain protocols that go down at convergence. 

There are so many clusters in the backend that failover. Sometimes we see the database crash. It could be a bit more reliable; however, it is fine for smaller businesses. 

The solution scales quite well and quite easily.

We have had almost 2,000 users on the solution. 

When I see the tech engineers, they join the calls whenever there is any performance issue. Whenever there is an RMA required to replace the switches, they don't commit to the timelines.

Also, the support is not straightforward. There are so many processes in between. They lack responsiveness. Whenever we open a priority one case, they don't respond quickly at all.

If there is an outage, we don't have any options. Sometimes we feel embarrassed providing support to our business. In contrast, I don't see any issue in the support model of Cisco. They are timely and respond fast. Everything is on time, actually. Even RMA delivery, if we are enrolled with their smart support, they can deliver the product within four hours, which is quite good actually. In terms of the support model, ExtremeSwitches is lagging.

Neutral

I've been in this industry for about 16 years, so I've had the chance to work with multiple vendors and technologies. Other than ExtremeSwitches, most of the time, I worked on Cisco technologies or Brocade. 

We deployed the switches in a spine and leaf architecture-based model.

It's pretty straightforward in terms of configuration. The complexity comes into the picture when you are looking for robustness in the network. If it's a simple network, it's simple to deploy, however, with the advent of new technologies and with the advent of a low latency network and so many protocols and so many features being introduced, it can get complex. It all depends on what kind of business you are working with and how many features you want to enable in that particular switch.

The complexity comes when you enable many features in your switches or your environment. If you are working for Apple, they definitely look for security features. If you are working for a small or medium business, they will look for a cost-effective solution. 

We have a team of eight people that can handle deployment and maintenance tasks. They have been able to extend support to businesses.

We handle the initial setup. We do not outsource the tasks. Whenever we do any configuration changes and deployment altogether, we are the one who is responsible for making decisions and deploying the solution on the ground.

We have seen an ROI in terms of using the solution. I'd rate the ROI potential at a three out of five. 

The solution is very cost-effective. It's not overly expensive at all. 

If you are an SMB and looking for the most cost-effective solution, then you should definitely go for ExtremeSwitches. However, if you are not ready to compromise with the performance, then don't use it. Cisco or Brocade is much better in that regard; however, it also comes at a price. 

Overall, I would rate the solution eight out of ten.