Cisco Catalyst Switches Implementation Team
We have around 108 Cisco switches, and it took a couple of hours to deploy each switch. The whole installation took around a couple of weeks. We had to connect to the console of each switch and configure it before configuring the next switch. It took some time to deploy the switches because they were on-premises. We could have configured the switches remotely if they were on the cloud.
We implemented the solution through a reseller. We placed the order with Cisco, and they had their partner do it for us.
The implementation is done in-house. There might be contract resources that get involved in the deployment, but we don't go outside to another company to get people to do it for us.
View full review »KV
reviewer2000751
IT Manager at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
If we have decent knowledge, everything can be done in-house.
View full review »Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
770,394 professionals have used our research since 2012.
DI
reviewer2330706
Network Administrator at a transportation company with 501-1,000 employees
I was a part of the deployment team. We had already designed what needed to be deployed. We have multiple locations and multiple airports. Each airport was not in the same condition as the other ones.
For example, each airport had its own separate preexisting network. So, there were different strategies that we had to use in each airport to deploy the switches without disrupting the airport functions. It was not the same thing everywhere.
In general, we had a pretty simple design of what we needed, how many switches were sized, and what we expected in terms of customers. It was a pretty standard design to construct a backbone and distribution point within the airports. So, it was pretty much doing three or four templates. And just changing the variables on those templates. That was it.
We don't need a lot of resources or staff members for the deployment part because it depends on the size of the airport again. Like, if there were 300 devices to be deployed, we would need 15+ people. So, it depends on size.
Also, the time depends on the physical properties of the site that you are on. Where are the switches going to be installed? Where, in what condition is this place? Is it still under construction? Is it already constructed? Is it somewhere that's difficult to reach? All these are variables that should indicate how many people you need.
However, maintenance could be a bit more automated. Maybe if Cisco have a central management console or something, then it is more automated. The way we do it, we have to upgrade by ourselves. Like, it's stuck, or it's switched separately by hand. Using FTPs and FTPs and the old way of doing stuff. So, if there's a management, it's a central management tool. When we do maintenance, it's a hassle.
View full review »If everything is ready and set up, including detailed information and physical products, it takes around two to three hours, max.
It's not difficult, but it requires maintenance. They have engineers for that, and they come for regular maintenance, check, and update or replace parts if needed. They also have AMCs for regular maintenance.
View full review »PS
Parimal Sardar
Senior Manager - SBR Technical Services at Reliance Industries Ltd
I help the team to deploy the solution. We have a different deployment process. When a user requests a deployment, we first discuss their network and how they want it distributed. We then discuss the feasibility of the request and suggest the best possible option available to meet their requirements.
We have an on-premises team who helps us if there is an issue with the device. If the team cannot resolve the issue, we either get a replacement device or ask an expert for help with deployment. If there is a requirement to use multicast streaming, we need to check if our current network supports it. We also need to consider the bandwidth, network resources, and uplink and downlink ports.
We can deploy the tool in-house.
View full review »VA
Vajahat Ali
Senior Network Engineer at High Frequency Trading
The deployment doesn't always involve us, as we are not always able to travel to the locations. Instead, we ask them to contact the vendor to install and connect the device.
The implementation is done through a vendor and our team.
View full review »NG
Nelson Gonzalez
Assistant Information Technology Director at City of Coral Gables
We have experience in both cases.
More complex and mission-critical deployments are handled by consultants. Less complicated deployments are handled by our staff.
View full review »KT
Kevin-Tafuro
IT Manager at CLOUDJET GROUP
Once the solution is set up, the process of deployment and configuration is almost seamless. It takes around one hour to be fully completed.
Cisco Catalyst Switches' deployment is very easy. You can use it from the box if you don't need any specific configuration. If we have any deployment-related questions, we open a ticket in Cisco TAC, and their engineers resolve our problems.
View full review »XS
reviewer1548180
Network Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
I handled the implementation myself. I did not need the assistance of a consultant or implementor. I have enough experience to handle it at this point.
View full review »We have five technicians for the deployment and maintenance.
View full review »CM
Cliff Matonda
System Administrator at Finlays
I installed it on my own, but most people prefer to hire a consultant.
View full review »MM
MinaMagdy
Senior Infrastructure Solutions Specialist at Fiber Misr
We implemented through an in-house team. We are partnered with Cisco and have our own professional service team certification in data center, networking, security, and collaboration systems.
View full review »AR
reviewer959808
eTrading Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
We have a team of, perhaps, 20 people who are responsible for the deployment.
We configure the solution for our customers within 30 minutes. You can open the switch console on the device and configure it.
View full review »The deployment of the solution is based on specific networking needs so the timing and the whole process depends on the complexity of the project.
AH
Adli Hajarat
IT Consultant & Administrator at ETCOM
You need someone with experience to implement this solution.
View full review »PC
Pierre Claver B Traore
Head, IT Division at USTTB
I can do it by myself.
View full review »IK
Issam-Kawash
Sales project manager at Saraha
We implemented and finished a big project for a company. The company is still working with the same components that we installed. For deployment, I have two people with me, but in our company, we have a big team of 20 people.
View full review »VD
reviewer1251825
Senior Network Engineer at a marketing services firm with 51-200 employees
I am responsible for network maintenance. It includes updating the routers and adding new devices. I will deploy the Nexus switch that we bought recently.
View full review »MC
Magno Castellar
Project Manager at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
I implemented the solution myself. I did not need an integrator or consultant to assist.
View full review »OH
Ossama Helmy
Telecommunication Department Head at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
We had a manager that was able to handle the initial setup. We didn't hire any consultants or integrators.
View full review »RK
reviewer1155498
System Administrator at a university with 5,001-10,000 employees
Because we have a good team in the organization already who were already familiar with the previous equipment and we have good access to support materials use an integrator, we did not need a reseller or a consultant to help with the deployment.
JO
JOHNOKUNADE
Network Support Engineer at Nigeria LNG Limited
I was able to handle the implementation process myself. I did not need the assistance of an integrator or consultant.
View full review »JM
reviewer1541169
Converged Network Administrator at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
In terms of maintenance, one person could support a thousand people, but that would be a very busy job. It is better with a team.
View full review »I handled the implementation myself.
View full review »AM
Ali Mansouri
Network System Specialist at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
We're actually consulting and doing a project for a state company in Tehran, for more than 800 switches. We can assist clients in the implementation process if they would like s to.
View full review »ZP
reviewer654672
Owner & General Manager at a media company with 1-10 employees
We deployed this solution by ourselves.
View full review »KR
reviewer930159
Senior Executive at a leisure / travel company with 201-500 employees
You can do the installation yourself.
This solution is being maintained by a team of three people.
View full review »DM
reviewer1429659
facility manager
I'm just an end-user. Our IT department handled the installation and it was very simple. They didn't need the assistance of consultants or integrators. They handled it in-house themselves.
View full review »VK
reviewer1289523
Network Engineer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
I've handled the installation myself. I did not need the assistance of anyone. We didn't need to hire consultants or integrators.
View full review »AD
reviewer2332008
Co- Founder at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
The solution can be deployed with help from an in-house team.
We integrated the solution ourselves.
View full review »DR
reviewer1456230
Head Cyber Security at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
We generally do a first model and we have an execution team. They take care of the implementation and everything.
View full review »We handled the implementation ourselves in-house.
View full review »IM
Iman Mo
Senior Network Administrator at Calm blue ambassador - abcallcenter
We did the implementation of the solutions.
View full review »AA
reviewer1125813
IT Support Team Leader at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
We can handle the implementation ourselves. We do not need any integrators or consultants.
View full review »JJ
NetworkEb6ab
Network Engineer at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
We implemented it ourselves.
View full review »KB
teamlead968247
Team Leader Presales at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
We were able to set up the solution ourselves, in-house. It's not a complex process, and therefore, we did not need outside help from integrators or consultants.
View full review »JG
reviewer1523253
IToV Implementation Engineer at a renewables & environment company with 5,001-10,000 employees
I implemented it myself.
View full review »GC
reviewer1042635
Science Technician at a government with 201-500 employees
We used a consultant for the implementation.
View full review »IY
Ismail-Youssef
Product Specialist at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Three or five engineers are needed for the implementation of large projects.
View full review »MC
Manoj Chitgopeker
Region Head - S1@Dimension Data India at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
You can install Cisco Catalyst Switches yourself.
View full review »I deployed it myself. We have three network engineers to manage the entire network.
View full review »TG
reviewer1480044
CEO at a construction company with 11-50 employees
We deploy and maintain this solution for our clients. We have a team of between 12 and 15 engineers.
View full review »US
reviewer1567812
Senior Manager, Information Technology at a university with 201-500 employees
We were able to implement the solution on our own. We have three Network Engineers on our technical team that handles the deployment and maintenance.
View full review »CN
reviewer1662204
IT Manager at a construction company with 1-10 employees
We have a team of two engineers that do the implementation of the solution.
View full review »DG
Dercio Gulele
Consultant at a comms service provider with 501-1,000 employees
We had some help from Cisco it implement these switches.
View full review »LW
Lange Wu
Deputy Chief Engineer at SYSCOM COMPUTER ENGINEERING CO.
I install this product on my own. We have about 10 IT staff who can work with these switches.
View full review »AL
reviewer1609476
Infrastructure Manager at a non-profit with 51-200 employees
We are using managed services for the implementation of the solution.
A normal deployment can take from one to two months. However, this depends on the size of the site.
View full review »AV
reviewer938739
CEO at a consumer goods company with 1,001-5,000 employees
I implemented through an in-house team.
View full review »SS
reviewer1715952
Senior Consultant
Cisco does the maintenance of the solution for us.
View full review »GG
reviewer1572795
IT Production Engineer at a consultancy with 201-500 employees
We have a team of 10 engineers that do the implementation and maintenance of the solutions.
View full review »PW
Paul Woods
Founder at SDWAN Clan
It is best to use a technician that understands the configuration file needed for the deployment and then there is some testing that is needed.
View full review »TS
Tomislav Stanojevic
Network & Security Specialist at Fonicom
Everything depends on the size of the network that you want to design and implement. Of course, you need a consultant if you need something with 200 users or so. Or if you don't have any expertise in IT. The question is, is Cisco switch easier or harder to configure than some other brand or our vendor? And the answer is that, in my opinion, Cisco switches are not among the easiest ones to deploy, however, they are definitely the most reliable switches.
View full review »We did it in-house with help from the vendor.
View full review »YS
reviewer938022
Lead Presales at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Support is helpful in regard to the implementation process. My team didn't find any issues with installation.
View full review »We have CCNA and CCNP certified engineers that do the implementation and maintenance of the solution.
View full review »TH
reviewer1442112
Product Manager at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
We can assist our clients with implementation if they request the service.
View full review »SR
reviewer980556
Network Engineer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
The implementation was done in-house.
View full review »AB
Akshay Balaganur
Founder and Lead Network Consultant at Airowire Networks
We used an integrator for the deployment. We had a good experience with them.
View full review »RJ
reviewer1457472
Firewall Engineer at a marketing services firm with 1-10 employees
I have done the implementation myself but in some circumstances, I need assistance from Cisco.
View full review »WW
Wesley Wang
DevOps System Engineer at Monash University
I did the implementation myself.
View full review »ML
NetworkE1c8f
Network Engeneer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
We implemented with MTS Austria. They were really great. They know what to do.
View full review »LK
reviewer1689987
Network Operations Center Engineer at a tech company with 51-200 employees
We have a fiber team that handles solution maintenance and helps us with some technical issues.
View full review »DP
Devanand PR
IT Support Executive at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
The Catalyst switches are all maintained by our vendors, so we don't have to concern ourselves with maintenance.
View full review »IC
reviewer1454037
IT & Software Manager at a energy/utilities company with 51-200 employees
I deployed it myself.
View full review »VK
reviewer1447320
CISO at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
The entire implementation was done by the vendor, but we are managing it in-house. We have a Cisco-certified vendor to do all kinds of implementation and train our people. The overall project was for six months, but because of Covid, it got delayed. We have finished it may be a month back. We have four different locations. The vendor deployed technical manpower of six to eight members for each location.
We had just one issue with a switch, and the replacement was done within a week. The connectivity was not going through, and it was giving packet drops. The issue was identified, but because of Covid, there was a delay from Cisco. Our vendor was able to ensure that there was no installation delay. Because we had 3% to 4% stock over and above the inventory for installation, they used the switch from that particular inventory, and later on, they provided the switch within a week.
MB
ChiefDepbed6
Chief Deputy Quality Audit
We used a Cisco representative for the initial deployment. We didn't have any problems with them, it was a good experience.
View full review »DN
reviewer935562
Senior Buyer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Installation can be done on one's own.
We have two people responsible for the deployment and maintenance.
View full review »PT
reviewer1188324
IT PM at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
We do it ourselves, and we use consultants and integrators.
View full review »MM
reviewer1365339
Network and Infrastructure Engineer at a tech vendor with 1-10 employees
I am the only person who is maintaining the switches.
View full review »Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
May 2024
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Catalyst Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2024.
770,394 professionals have used our research since 2012.