I'm currently managing a team of sysadmins and have taken over from a previous manager who was quite strict. While I have experience on paper, my team isn't very experienced in managing our LAN, which is well-equipped but not quite meeting our business needs. We have issues like our BYOD network's ISE requiring re-authentication every 24 hours, causing headaches for our student users, especially the under 18s. We mainly use Cisco 9200 series switches and are tied up with licensing and support contracts. I'm wondering if we should continue to invest in Cisco training to make things work or if it would be better to switch to a simpler system suited for a smaller institution. Is Cisco LAN gear too complex for a relatively inexperienced team?
8 Answers
I've found Cisco's customer support to be a pain lately. There are many better and cheaper products out there, plus you won't have to deal with their issues anymore. We moved away from Cisco and feel great about it!
We switched to Fortinet and couldn't be happier! It’s really been simple to manage, and the price is decent too.
I agree! We use Fortinet for everything - firewalls, switches, access points, etc. It makes life so much easier.
This sounds more like a business decision than a technical one. If you decide to stick with Cisco, you'll need to invest in training, which could save you money in the long run due to the wealth of resources available. But if you're struggling with their complexity, maybe look into alternatives.
Have you checked how many devices are manageable through the Meraki Dashboard? It makes administering them much easier and gives enough visibility for your team's needs.
You might want to keep the current equipment but focus on building up your in-house support capabilities. Cisco switches are tough, and with some spare parts, you can manage pretty well without them. Just keep a few core devices under a service contract for backups and updates.
Exactly! Just keep a couple devices on support for updates and handle most things in-house.
You should consider how invested you are in navigating Cisco’s setup. It can be complex, but if you find workarounds, you could minimize management overhead.
Honestly, do you even need strict authentication for a BYOD network? If it's just internet access, maybe you could simplify things significantly.
I guess since it's an educational setup, they might need to monitor internet usage for safety reasons, which can complicate things.
Consider looking at companies like HPE or Extreme! They offer great options that could be easier to manage.
Definitely, there are plenty of alternatives out there.
What do you find problematic about their tech support?