Favorite Network Switches 2020
Cisco has long been the gorilla of network switches but would an upstart unseat them among security integrators?
170+ integrators responded:
What is your favorite network switch manufacturer / brand? Why?
In this report, we share detailed findings, including trends and explanations of what and why integrators preferred what they did.
These 2020 statistics is the successor to our Favorite Network Switches 2017 and Favorite Network Switches 2015.
*******
***** ***** ***** **** *** ** top ** **** ******* ******** ** just * ********** ******:
***** ****, ***** ******** ********* ***** Ubiquiti ****** ** ********** ****** (**% to **%) *** ******* ******* ** half (**** **% ** *%), ** the ********** ***** *****:
***** ************ ******** (********** ********, ********, Microtik, ***) **** ** **% **** 23% ** ****.
Cisco - **** *** ***** #*
***** ******** *** **** ******** ******** manufacturer ** ****, *** ** *** same **** ** ****. *** ******* reasons ***** **** ***********, ********, *** brand ***********:
- "***** ** ****** ******* ** ** cheap *** ******** *** ****** * lifetime ********. **** ***** **** ******* we *** ***** ******** ***** **** have ******** ******** **** **** ****** config * ****** ******."
- "****** *** ***** *****-**** **-**** ******* PoE ******* ******** *** *** ****** network. **** *** ******** ******** **** a *** **** ***** ****** *** 2 **** ***** *** *****."
- "***** ********** ***********: ***** **** ***** hardware *** **** ** *************. ***** warranty *** *******."
- "***** *** ****** *** ***** ********. Easy ***** *** *** ***** *********. Dependable"
- ** ****** *** ************* ** ***** products, **** ***** ********** ******* **'** been *********."
- "*****, ******* ** ** **** ** available ** *** ************ ***** * work."
- "***** ******** ***** ** ********, **********, SMB *** ***** ******* *********."
- "*****, ******* *** ***** ***********. **** it ** ** ** **** **** With *******."
- "*****. ****'** ********, **** ****** **** are ********* **** *** **."
- "*****, **** **** * **** ******* and ******** *******."
- *****. ***** ** **** ******** ******** by *********."
- "*****. ***********, *******, ********, **********."
- "*******, **** *********** & **** ***********."
- "*****. ***** **** ************* ***********"
- "***** *** - **** ***** *** Cisco *******"
- "*****. **** ****** *** ***********."
- "****** / ******** ************"
- "***** ******** ******"
- "***** *** ** ***********"
- "***** ***** ** **"
- "***** - ***********"
*** **** *** ***** ** ***** surveillance ** ******** ******* *********** *** customer ********** ******** ** *********** ******* on-premise ** ******* ** ****** ************ becomes * ****** **** ******.
Ubiquiti - #* *** **** **** ******* **** *********
*** ******* ******, ******** ****** ** 2nd ***** **** *** ** ****. Integrators ******* ** **** ** *************/********** and *** ***** ** **** *******:
- "** *** ******** *** **** ********** installs. ** **** *** *** ***** server *** *** ****** ****** ************ networks ********. * ** **** **** were **** ********* *** ************ ******."
- "********. ** ** * *** ** Ubiquiti *** *******. *** **/** **** POE, *** **** ******** **** **** well *** **."
- "******** ********** - * ***** ***, Layer *, ******* ****** ***** **** well **** *** ******** ***** *** Controller, **** ****** ****** *** ***** devices ** **** ******"
- "******** ****** ** *** *** ***** versatile ** *** **** ** ** VLAN *** ****** *** **** *** do ** ******* ** ********."
- "** **** **** ***** ******** *** awhile ***. **** *** *****, *** while **** **** ****** *******, **** work ****, *** *** **** ** swap *** ** **** ** **** an *****."
- "********, ** ****** * **** ***** number ** ***** *** ****** **** the ********** ********. ********** *** ** great"
- "******** - ***** *** ***********, ********* and ******* ** ****** ********"
- "******** ***** ******** *** *** ******* ease ** *** *** **********"
- "******** - **** ********, **********, *** does ********** ** ****."
- "********. **** ******** ** ** ****** unbelievable *****"
- "******** *** **** ******** *** ** and **** ** *********."
- "********. ***** *********** *** *** *****"
- "******** ***** **** *** ****** ****"
- "********, **** ** *** **** *****"
- "********. **** **** *** *** ****"
- "******** *** ***********"
******* ****** - ****
****** **** ** *** ********* ***** that **** ********* ****** ************* ***** on ***** ** *** "****-*********" ** was *** ****:
- "**** ********* *** ** **** *** almost **** ********."
- "**** ********, **********, *** **** ********** we ****."
- "*** ** ***** ***** *** ********** compared ** ***** ****** *************"
- "** ** **** *********, ******** *** limited ** ******** ***************."
- "**** *** **** ********* *** **** to *********."
- "*** ***** ***** **** *** ******* budgets"
- "**** ******** ** ** ****** ************ price"
- "*** **** *** **** *******"
- "******* ** ***** *****"
- "******** *** ********** ******."
- "***** **** *** ****** ****"
- "*** **** *** ***********"
- "***** **** *** ********"
- "**** & **** ** *****"
- "**** *********"
* ***** ****** ***** ******** ******** or ********** ************ ** ******* *** their *********.
Second **** - *** / ******* / ********
***** ***** *** ******** ***** ** a ******** **** ** ********* ** 3 ************* **** **** ********* ******** many *********, *** *** **** ****** quickly-growing ********; ***, *******, *** ********.
***
*** ******* ******** ** **% ** integrator *********, **** ****** ******* ***** of ********/*********, **** ** ******, *** good *******:
- "**** ** *** **** *** ******** (2530 ******) ** ****** ************. *** are **** ****** *** *****"
- "** - **** ********* **** ** "Enterprise ******" *** *** ***** ** snobby *** ***** ** ** *****"
- "***** ********. *****: *** ******** ** - ********* ***** **** ***: **** quality - **-***** *********"
- "** - ** *****'* *** ** sell ****** ** ** ***** *** user ******* **** *****."
- "** *****. ****** **** ** ******* and **** ******"
- "*** *****, **** *** **** ********* and **** ** *********."
- "***, *** *******, *** *************, ******** warranty."
- "*** - **** ** ****** *** good *******"
- "*** *****. ***** ********** *********."
*******
******* **** *********** ********* ** ****, but *********** ***** ******* *** ******** as ******* *** ***** **********:
- "*******. ***** **** ** ******* *** cost *********. **'* **** ****** ***** for ** **** *** *****."
- "******* ******* **** ******, *******, **** of ***, ***/***-******** *******"
- "******* * **** **** ******** ******** IEEE ******** * **** *****"
- "******* - **** *****, ******* *** warranty."
- "******* *** ********.*******. *****/***********"
- "******* ******* ******** ***** & *****"
- "*******. ***********. ********. ***-***** ***********."
- "******* ***-**** - **** & **** of *****"
- "*******, **** *** **** ******."
********
***-**** ************ ******** ****** ** ** the ****** **** ** ******* *** HPE ****, *** *-**** ****** ** gain. *********** ***** *** **** *** reliability:
- "********. **** ** **** ********** ******** this *** ****** ** ***** *** of *** ********. ** ****** ** settle ** *** *** **** ** troubleshooting *** **** ****** ** *** the ****."
- "********. ******** ***** ** ********** ****** of ********. * **** *** ***** amount ** ******** **** ****."
- "******** *** ******* *************. ** ** cost *********, ******** *** ******* ** advanced ***************."
- "********. *** ***** ***** **** *** project ******* *** **** *** ******* available ******* *** ***********."
- "******** *** **** *** ***********"
- "********, *** **** *** **** *******"
- "********. *** *********"
- "********. **********, ********"
- "********, *****, ***********"
Future *******
** ***** ** **** **** ** expect **** *****-**** *********, ** ********** Ubiquiti, ** ******** ** ******** ***** share. ****** ******* **** ***** ****** continue, ***** *****'* *********** ** ****** has *** ************* ******** *** ******** in ***** ************.
** ******** **** ** ** ******** some **** *** *** **** **** happy **** ********. *** ******** *** a ******* ** **** *** **** of ***. ********'* ********* ** * lot ********** (** ** ***** ***** better) **** *** ******. ** ********* use *** ***** ****.
** ***'* *******, *******. * ***'* like ****** ** *** ** * UniFi ********** **********. ********* * **** want ** *** ** * ****** by ******, *** ** ***** ** configure ** *** **** ** ******* a ***** *** ** ******* *** software ** * ******** **-****. * mean, ***** *** ***** **** *** the ******** ** * **********'* ******, but ** **** **** ** *** install.
*** ***** **** ******* ** ***** HP *** ***** ** ******** *******. Ubiquiti **** ***** ** ** **** easier ** ****** *******, ** *** requirement ** ********. **** ***** * few ******* ** *** *********. **** the ***** *************, *** ****** **** a **** ****** ** ****** *** firmware.
**** ** ** #* **** **** Ubiquiti *** ***** *** ******* **** is *** *****. ** **** ***** eliminate **** ** ***** ******** **** much **** ** ***** *******!!
*** ********/******** ** **** *** **** me **** **** ******** ******** ** far. * *** *** ** ****** the ****** *** **** ***** ** anyway, ***** ** *** ****, ********** software ** * ***** **, ** maybe *'** **** **** * ***** hosting **** *** **** ** ******.
***** **** * **** ** **** to **** **** ***** ***** **** to *** *** **** ******** **** the ******. **** ** *** ******, I *** *** ****/******/*** ********** *******, or ********* **** *** **** * controller.
*** *** ***** ********* ***** ***** amazing... ****, **** *** **** **** of ***-*** *****... ** ** **** dessssstiny...
********, *** ********* *** * *** thing *** ** ******* *** ****** is ******** ** *** ******** ****** (me) *** * ***** ** ***-******** persons. * ***** ** **** **** plain ***, *** ** *** ******** reason *'* **** ** ** ********, I ****** ********* **** ****** ***** use ****.
**** ****, ** *** **** *** and *** ****, *** ***** ******** use *** **** ****. ** *****'* have *** **********/***** *** *****. *** can *** *** ** ****(*) **** you're **** **. *** ******** *** not ** ********** ** **** ** Cisco *** **, ******.
*** *** **** **** **** **** cloud ***:**** - ******** ******* ********** ******
** ***** *'** **** **** * cheap ******* **** *** **** ** myself.
* ****** * **** ******* **** spreads ****** ******** ***** *** *** controller ** ****** ** ***. *** the ****** ** ******* ** ** it ***** ~$** * *****.
* ****** * **** ******* **** spreads ****** ******** ***** *** *** controller ** ****** ** ***. *** the ****** ** ******* ** ** it ***** ~$** * *****.
*** *** **** *** ********** **** the ******** ***** ** **** ****? Do *** ******** ******** **** **** just ******** ***********? *** *** *** connections **** ***** ****, ** ** HTTPS (** **** ***** ****** ********) supported?
** ** ******** *********** **** *** devices ** **** ** *** ********** so ***** ** ** ******** ************* that ***** ** ** **** ******, but ***'** **** ** **** **** to **** **** *** *** ********.
***, *** ************* ** ********* - it ** *** *****, * ** not ******** **** ** **** *** we ****** **** **** * ****** years *** **** ** ******** *** controller ** *** *****. ** * recall *** ******** ****** ******* ** unencrypted *** * ****** ********** *** is ********* *** **** ****** ****** adoption **** *** ************* ***** **** is *********.
* ******* *** ********* ***** ***** be **** ** *********** ** *** to ****** **********. **** ** **** don't **** ** ***** **** ******* rules ** *** ***********, ***'** ***** now ****** ** ****** *** ****** network (** "******** *******" ** *******) over ** *** ******** ******* *** Internet ****** ** **** *****. ****'* be * ******* ******** ******* *** any ** **********. ** ***** ** solved ** **** ****** **** *** ACL *****, *** *** ***** ** surprised *** **** ** ** ** get ** *********** ** ** **** that. ***** ******** ****** ** "** can't ** ****." **** *** ******* how ** *** ** ****, **** their ****** ******** ****** ** "** shouldn't **** ** ** ****", *** it's ** ****** ****** **** *****.
**** **** (** **** ** ************ for *********** **********/**********) *** *********** *** double *********. ******* - ******** – ******** ******** Support *** **** ******
*** ***** *********** **** **/***** ***** with *** ******, ********* ******** ** online *** ******* *** ******** ****, unlike $*******. *'* *** ************* **** response.
****, **** *** * *** ***** ago, ** ****** *** **** ******* and * *** ** *********** *****. Also, * ***'* ***** ** *** Aruba. **** ** *** ****** ******* like? *** *** ****** **** ******** with * *** ******? **** ** were ***** **, * ***** ** had ** *** * *** *****.
**** **** ***** *******, *** *'* just ** *** **** ** * just *** * *** *****.
** **** **** ********** *** ****** at * ******* **** * ***** use **** ******** ** ***** ****** you **** * ***** ****** ********** to ******* *** ****** **.
******** ******** ** **** *** ***** is *******. *** *** **** **** most ****** ******** *** ***** ********** with ** *** ** **** ***** but **** *** ******* *****.
************ *** ** ***** ******* ******* a ********** ******* **** *** **** is ***% ********. *** ******** ***** UNMS ** *** ***** *** **** - ** **** ** *** **** at ***** ** ****** ******* ** your *******.
*'** **** ********* *** ******** ** site ** *** **** ********* *** didn't **** **** ********. **** **** added *****-**** ********** ** ***** **, I ******* ******* *** ********** ** a ***** ** **** * ******* years *** ** **** ***** *** regularly ****** *******. **** **** *****, I *** *** *** ****** ** the *******, ** ** ** *****, and *** *** ****** ** *** controller *** *********. *** ****** ***********, this *** ** **** *** ****.
*** *** ***** ** **** ******** is *** ****** ***** ****** ** the ***** ******. **** **** ** an *****, *** **** ******** *** nice ** **** *** ** ******* through ****, *** **** **** **** a ** ******* ********* ** **** device. *** **** ******** **** ***** more ************* **** ***** ** **** the ***** **** ****. * ******* both ***** ******** ******** **** *** CLI, *** * ****** ** *** need ** **** **** *** *** for ********* **** *** ** ****** implemented ** *** **.
*** ****** ******* ** * *** easier **** ******** **** **** **.
**** *******. ***** ***.
- "***** ** ****** ******* ** ** cheap *** ******** *** ****** * lifetime ********. **** ***** **** ******* we *** ***** ******** ***** **** have ******** ******** **** **** ****** config * ****** ******."
*** ****** ****** ********* ** ****? We **** ***** * *** ** SG ****** ******** *** ***** **** this ******.
*********** **** ****** *** *** **** up. * ******* **** *** ** the **** ** ****** ************ ****.
****, *** * ***** **** **** a **** **** ****** *** **** form ******* **** ***** *** ***** majority ** **** ******** ****: ** rack *******, *** ******* ********** *** not ******** **** *-****, **-**** *** 24-port *******.
* ***'* ******* **** ** *** is ***** ****** ********.
** ***** ********* ***** **** **** that * ***'* **** *****?
** ** *****, **** ** ***** for ******** ** **** ******** *** be **** *** *** ****** ***** for ********. ***** **** **** ***** for ****** *** *** ****** ** make *** *** * ********* ******.
********* **** **** *** ***** ********** switches. ****'** **** *** **** ******* of *********** *** *****, ******** ******** also, *** **** *********, ****** *** form ****** *** ********* *** ***** need, ** *** *** ****** *********** the ****** *** *** **** **** mix. **** **** **** *** ***** nice ******** ****** **** **** ******* mapping, **** *********, ***** ***********, *** you ***'* **** * ********** ** a ******** *** ** *** ***** features. **** **** ** **** *** not ******** ***** ** **** ** like ******* ** ********, ***** ******** and ***** ******* *****. ****, **** we ***** ***** ******* ** ***** SMB ****** * **** **** *** in **** ******, ** ****** ********* for ****** ********* ** ***** ***** the ** **********'* ********** ** **, like "***, ***** **** *** **** using ******** ***** ***** * *** in ** *****". ****? **. *******? Yes.
** **** ** **** ********, ** Sales ** ********** ********.. *** *** reach ** **:
*****@**********.***** **** ***-***-****.
** ********** *** *********** ** **** your ********.
**** ***** *** ********* *** ** outdoor ******?
** *** * *** ** ******** but **** ****** **** ** *** better ***** ********. *** ***** ****** is *** **** ******* ***** ** these ********. ** **** ***** ** least **** *** ***** ****** ******* available *** ******** ** ******* **** would **** ******** ** **** ****** solution.