Favorite Network Switches 2020

Published Aug 31, 2020 13:15 PM

Cisco has long been the gorilla of network switches but would an upstart unseat them among security integrators?

IPVM Image

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 * ********** ******:

IPVM Image

***** ****, ***** ******** ********* ***** 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 ***** ************.

Comments (27)
SD
Shannon Davis
Aug 31, 2020
IPVMU Certified

** *** * *** ** ******** but **** ****** **** ** *** better ***** ********. *** ***** ****** is *** **** ******* ***** ** these ********. ** **** ***** ** least **** *** ***** ****** ******* available *** ******** ** ******* **** would **** ******** ** **** ****** solution.

(2)
(8)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Aug 31, 2020

** ******** **** ** ** ******** 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.

(3)
SD
Shannon Davis
Aug 31, 2020
IPVMU Certified

**** ** ** #* **** **** Ubiquiti *** ***** *** ******* **** is *** *****. ** **** ***** eliminate **** ** ***** ******** **** much **** ** ***** *******!!

(1)
Avatar
Daniel S-T
Aug 31, 2020

*** ********/******** ** **** *** **** me **** **** ******** ******** ** far. * *** *** ** ****** the ****** *** **** ***** ** anyway, ***** ** *** ****, ********** software ** * ***** **, ** maybe *'** **** **** * ***** hosting **** *** **** ** ******.

***** **** * **** ** **** to **** **** ***** ***** **** to *** *** **** ******** **** the ******. **** ** *** ******, I *** *** ****/******/*** ********** *******, or ********* **** *** **** * controller.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Aug 31, 2020

*** *** ***** ********* ***** ***** amazing... ****, **** *** **** **** of ***-*** *****... ** ** **** dessssstiny...

********, *** ********* *** * *** thing *** ** ******* *** ****** is ******** ** *** ******** ****** (me) *** * ***** ** ***-******** persons. * ***** ** **** **** plain ***, *** ** *** ******** reason *'* **** ** ** ********, I ****** ********* **** ****** ***** use ****.

**** ****, ** *** **** *** and *** ****, *** ***** ******** use *** **** ****. ** *****'* have *** **********/***** *** *****. *** can *** *** ** ****(*) **** you're **** **. *** ******** *** not ** ********** ** **** ** Cisco *** **, ******.

(3)
(3)
MM
Michael Miller
Aug 31, 2020

*** *** **** **** **** **** cloud ***:**** - ******** ******* ********** ******

(3)
(3)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Aug 31, 2020

** ***** *'** **** **** * cheap ******* **** *** **** ** myself.

* ****** * **** ******* **** spreads ****** ******** ***** *** *** controller ** ****** ** ***. *** the ****** ** ******* ** ** it ***** ~$** * *****.

(2)
AN
Arun N
Sep 01, 2020

* ****** * **** ******* **** spreads ****** ******** ***** *** *** controller ** ****** ** ***. *** the ****** ** ******* ** ** it ***** ~$** * *****.

*** *** **** *** ********** **** the ******** ***** ** **** ****? Do *** ******** ******** **** **** just ******** ***********? *** *** *** connections **** ***** ****, ** ** HTTPS (** **** ***** ****** ********) supported?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Sep 03, 2020

** ** ******** *********** **** *** devices ** **** ** *** ********** so ***** ** ** ******** ************* that ***** ** ** **** ******, but ***'** **** ** **** **** to **** **** *** *** ********.

***, *** ************* ** ********* - it ** *** *****, * ** not ******** **** ** **** *** we ****** **** **** * ****** years *** **** ** ******** *** controller ** *** *****. ** * recall *** ******** ****** ******* ** unencrypted *** * ****** ********** *** is ********* *** **** ****** ****** adoption **** *** ************* ***** **** is *********.

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Sep 03, 2020

* ******* *** ********* ***** ***** be **** ** *********** ** *** to ****** **********. **** ** **** don't **** ** ***** **** ******* rules ** *** ***********, ***'** ***** now ****** ** ****** *** ****** network (** "******** *******" ** *******) over ** *** ******** ******* *** Internet ****** ** **** *****. ****'* be * ******* ******** ******* *** any ** **********. ** ***** ** solved ** **** ****** **** *** ACL *****, *** *** ***** ** surprised *** **** ** ** ** get ** *********** ** ** **** that. ***** ******** ****** ** "** can't ** ****." **** *** ******* how ** *** ** ****, **** their ****** ******** ****** ** "** shouldn't **** ** ** ****", *** it's ** ****** ****** **** *****.

(3)
AS
Andrew Somerville
Sep 03, 2020

**** **** (** **** ** ************ for *********** **********/**********) *** *********** *** double *********. ******* - ******** – ******** ******** Support *** **** ******

(1)
JS
Jonathan Strauss
Aug 31, 2020

*** ***** *********** **** **/***** ***** with *** ******, ********* ******** ** online *** ******* *** ******** ****, unlike $*******. *'* *** ************* **** response.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Aug 31, 2020

****, **** *** * *** ***** ago, ** ****** *** **** ******* and * *** ** *********** *****. Also, * ***'* ***** ** *** Aruba. **** ** *** ****** ******* like? *** *** ****** **** ******** with * *** ******? **** ** were ***** **, * ***** ** had ** *** * *** *****.

JS
Jonathan Strauss
Aug 31, 2020

**** **** ***** *******, *** *'* just ** *** **** ** * just *** * *** *****.

MM
Michael Miller
Aug 31, 2020

** **** **** ********** *** ****** at * ******* **** * ***** use **** ******** ** ***** ****** you **** * ***** ****** ********** to ******* *** ****** **.

******** ******** ** **** *** ***** is *******. *** *** **** **** most ****** ******** *** ***** ********** with ** *** ** **** ***** but **** *** ******* *****.

(2)
(2)
AS
Andrew Somerville
Sep 02, 2020

************ *** ** ***** ******* ******* a ********** ******* **** *** **** is ***% ********. *** ******** ***** UNMS ** *** ***** *** **** - ** **** ** *** **** at ***** ** ****** ******* ** your *******.

Avatar
Kyle Folger
Sep 01, 2020
IPVMU Certified

*'** **** ********* *** ******** ** 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 **** ******** **** **** **.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #2
Aug 31, 2020

**** *******. ***** ***.

AB
Alexander Bakke
Aug 31, 2020
  • "***** ** ****** ******* ** ** cheap *** ******** *** ****** * lifetime ********. **** ***** **** ******* we *** ***** ******** ***** **** have ******** ******** **** **** ****** config * ****** ******."

*** ****** ****** ********* ** ****? We **** ***** * *** ** SG ****** ******** *** ***** **** this ******.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Aug 31, 2020

*********** **** ****** *** *** **** up. * ******* **** *** ** the **** ** ****** ************ ****.

(1)
(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Aug 31, 2020

****, *** * ***** **** **** a **** **** ****** *** **** form ******* **** ***** *** ***** majority ** **** ******** ****: ** rack *******, *** ******* ********** *** not ******** **** *-****, **-**** *** 24-port *******.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #6
Aug 31, 2020

* ***'* ******* **** ** *** is ***** ****** ********.

** ***** ********* ***** **** **** that * ***'* **** *****?

JH
John Honovich
Aug 31, 2020
IPVM

** ** *****, **** ** ***** for ******** ** **** ******** *** be **** *** *** ****** ***** for ********. ***** **** **** ***** for ****** *** *** ****** ** make *** *** * ********* ******.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Sep 01, 2020

********* **** **** *** ***** ********** switches. ****'** **** *** **** ******* of *********** *** *****, ******** ******** also, *** **** *********, ****** *** form ****** *** ********* *** ***** need, ** *** *** ****** *********** the ****** *** *** **** **** mix. **** **** **** *** ***** nice ******** ****** **** **** ******* mapping, **** *********, ***** ***********, *** you ***'* **** * ********** ** a ******** *** ** *** ***** features. **** **** ** **** *** not ******** ***** ** **** ** like ******* ** ********, ***** ******** and ***** ******* *****. ****, **** we ***** ***** ******* ** ***** SMB ****** * **** **** *** in **** ******, ** ****** ********* for ****** ********* ** ***** ***** the ** **********'* ********** ** **, like "***, ***** **** *** **** using ******** ***** ***** * *** in ** *****". ****? **. *******? Yes.

(3)
(3)
TT
Todd Trenasty
Sep 09, 2020

** **** ** **** ********, ** Sales ** ********** ********.. *** *** reach ** **:

*****@**********.***** **** ***-***-****.

** ********** *** *********** ** **** your ********.

Avatar
Ryan Wood
Sep 07, 2020

**** ***** *** ********* *** ** outdoor ******?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Sep 07, 2020

****************** *********** ******** (** ******) *** *******.