Cisco Ethernet Switches vs. Juniper EX Series Switches

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Score 9.1 out of 10
N/A
Cisco offers Ethernet switches.N/A
Juniper EX Series Switches
Score 9.5 out of 10
N/A
Juniper Networks offers the EX Series Ethernet switches, as cloud-grade switches designed for the converged enterprise branch, campus, and data center, and for service providers. They address growing enterprise demands for high availability, unified communications, and virtualization.
$1,680
one-time fee approx
Pricing
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
EX2300-C
$1680
one-time fee approx
EX4100-F-12P
$4,585.00
one-time fee approx
EX230
$5830
one-time fee approx
EX4100-24MP
$8,640.00
one-time fee approx
EX4100-F-48P
$8,665.00
one-time fee approx
EX4300-48P
$9,169.99
one-time fee approx
EX4400-24X-AFI
$9,824.99
one-time fee approx
EX3400-48P
$12,322.99
one-time fee approx
EX4400-24MP
$14,315.00
one-time fee approx
EX4400-48MP
$15,510.00
one-time fee approx
EX4600
$31,273.99
one-time fee approx
EX4650
$33,030.00
one-time fee approx
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsPricing is dependent on type of switches and the vendor selling them.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Best Alternatives
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Score 9.0 out of 10
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Score 9.0 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Meraki MS
Cisco Meraki MS
Score 9.3 out of 10
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Likelihood to Recommend
9.2
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.6
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco Ethernet SwitchesJuniper EX Series Switches
Likelihood to Recommend
In my field, I honestly can't think of a scenario I wouldn't want to use an SG switch. Even if someone needed a simple desktop switch, I would advise they purchase a $150 8 port SG350 over spending $50 on a SOHO Netgear or similar switch. The flexibility of functionality offered by these switches in unmatched.
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Juniper EX Series Switches are great for all areas of the network. I use it for access layer, core, and top of rack. We are even buying some fanless EX4000s to use in mobile situations. If you have a switching need, an EX switch model has a solution. The only caveat to Juniper switches is, they are loud. If you keep them in a network closet then you'll have no problem. If they are in a cabinet by users, they may complain about the white noise.
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Pros
  • Quality of software is very high. Ability to configure is very high. Scaleability is very high.
  • Ability to tap into a vast network of knowledge outside of your organization is excellent.
  • Availability of training courses for this equipment is also very good.
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  • Very stable.
  • Cost efficient
  • Easy management
  • Great Juniper 24*7 TAC support
  • Different variants available for different requirements.
  • Easy to replace faulty hardware
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Cons
  • The web UI has taken a turn for the worse with the latest firmware on the SGx50 models -- the bifurcation between basic and advanced modes and the changes to the way VLANs are modified is a step backward in my opinion.
  • The power bricks on smaller models are enormous. I'm sure, however, keeping this circuitry external to the switch is what keeps my switches running year after year in hot environments.
  • Fans can be a bit loud on larger switches -- this is true of pretty much any 1U device though.
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  • Virtual chassis new switch has overwritten existing config if not performed in a particular way.
  • Applying a configuration to a range of interfaces could be done in a better way.
  • Applying firewall rules to multiple security zones could be done a little more efficiently.
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Likelihood to Renew
for their relialiabilty
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No answers on this topic
Usability
No answers on this topic
Has a learning curve for the commands when coming from other products but once you learn the structure it is very easy to use. Easy to see what is going on and run diagnostics on the equipment when needed.
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
Many times when contacting Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches support, it seems that it is easiest for support to recommend a straight replacement (RMA) instead of taking time to walk through a solution on the faulty system. We find we get better help from a third-party consulting firm that has Juniper certified technicians or professionals on staff. They take the time to explain processes and workflow, which Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches support seems to shy away from.
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Alternatives Considered
Cisco Ethernet Switches are top tier in the networking space. It makes it hard at times to compare them to other brands. When I have, however, used other brands I have found them to a mixed bag. I have used HP switches in the past and I feel like the interface is less polished and I have had high failure rates among those devices. It was hard to learn the interface and I felt as thought it was missing some higher level functions that were present out of the box with the Cisco switches.
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Juniper switches are more flexible than Cisco, as I mentioned before. The commit confirmed feature helps a lot. At the time of the purchase, they offered a significantly lower price and more features for the price than Cisco. Avaya/Nortel switches have such terrible interface and support that they are not even worth mentioning.
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Return on Investment
  • Failure on Cisco Switches, from my experience, is rare in the first 5 years the device is up.
  • I have see the Cisco 6500 switches go 5 years without a reboot, which is nothing short of amazing.
  • The service that you get is top notch and available 24/7, and you really cannot put a price on that.
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  • Bought EX2200 in 2016 and we dismissed them after 8 years without issue to new models (just replacing switch)
  • They are bigger than other brands like HPe so we replaced some racks
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ScreenShots