Advantages of Cisco Routers?

I am just wondering why Cisco Routers/ Switches are so much more expensive than other brands?

Is it just their performance?

Does it really worth it?

 

This is a personal opinion
As a rule of thumb Cisco kit is over priced and you pay a lot for the name.

Some equipment is very good and the underlying OS (IOS) allows for someone familiar with the system to do some clever tweaking. Also Cisco kit tends to be good in very high load situations.

However, there is often other kit that is just as good that is a lot cheaper and easier to use. Also for most instances you don't need the extra functionality that Cisco kit can provide. High load situation are actually rare on small to medium networks and usually point to poor network design.

Cisco tends not to develop its own kit. Their business model usually relies on buying in new technology. Them buying linksys to give them a cheap end set of kit is typical. This means that they are alway a little behind the times with new technology. Don't go to Cisco if you want the latest fastest kit on the block.

They also support a business model that encourages the development of experts who spend a lot of time and money on training courses developing skills and knowledge of IOS. These people then have a vested interest in using Cisco. Personally I prefer a model where you don't have to spend weeks learning the systems before you can use them correctly.

Lastly another thing with Cisco that I find annoying is that everything seems to be a chargable extra. For example, you see a router that appears at first glance to do what you want, and is in you budget, but when you go to buy it you find you have to buy additional user licenses, support contracts, and extra modules that would be free on most competitor's equipment. This not only adds hidden cost, but makes them harder to sell, because you cannot assume that a customer will be able to do what they want with an out of the box product.

So in summary.

Is the kit bad?
No. It is usually good kit

Is it the best?
I don't think so.

Can you get as good kit cheaper?
Yes.

Is Cisco kit easier to use than other kit?
Often other kit is easier to use.

In my experience their switches aren't at all earth shattering. HP switches are cheaper, easier to use and include better waranties and support for example.

Their router can be a little fiddly to set up, but can provide functionality that isn't available in other standard kit. If you've a bog standard connection to set up, then you can get something that is easier to set up, cheaper and just as good elsewhere. If you've got a complicated multi-network system to set up a good Cisco router's extra functionality can be just what you need.

Their PIX firewalls can be a little fiddle to set up but tend to be solid bits of kit.

Lastly, networks are usually very standards compliant (wireless being an exception). Don't think that just because a Cisco router is the right solution for your core router, that you then have to buy Cisco everywhere else.

 

wow, very detailed explanation

thanks ~