Juniper EX as an alternative for Cisco Catalyst
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We are using Juniper EX as access switches. In the past we used Cisco catalyst and HP but we needed a unique solution with carrier class grade without spend a lot of money. Juniper EX introduced also L3 features and Virtual Chassis solve multiple IPs that we need to manage
Pros
- Stack - Virtual chassis
- Commit feature
- Strong OS
Cons
- Upgrading OS requires 10-12 mins of downtime
- OS boot is slow (around 7mins)
- Switch off/on requires a commit
Likelihood to Recommend
I suggest to use Juniper EX in enterprise environment due a carries class grade. It has got a solid OS, solid components and they are simple to manage. You can use them to replace Cisco Catalyst or if you need L3 features in campus. They are less appropriate in small/mid company due they are not so cheap as HPe or other brand.
