cisco-catalyst-vs-cisco-nexus-series-switches

Though both from Cisco, Catalyst and Nexus network switches support different use cases. Cisco Catalyst is an extensive product line of managed, smart, rack-mountable or compact, campus LAN or Industrial Ethernet switches for enterprises. They aim to bring wired and wireless connections under unified control, with integrated security. Cisco Nexus switches are data center switches that support high application performance and virtualization and boast efficient power consumption and cooling relative to their performance.

Both types of switches can be deployed together in the same network and managed centrally through Cisco DNA Center; Cisco’s network controller and management software available on a per device license. In data centers, Cisco Nexus devices can also be managed with Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), a network management and DCIM product for Cisco NX-OS enabled devices; and in turn, Cisco Nexus switches provide the backbone for Cisco ACI in creating a software-defined data center. Both Catalyst and Nexus switches tend to be deployed in enterprise environments, and to a lesser degree across mid-size companies.

Features

Cisco Nexus switches are recognized for their performance, high density and fast packet forwarding, their high availability and redundancy, and for the overall flexibility of the product line. There are very few data center functions (e.g. cloud services, virtualization, etc.) that Cisco Nexus switches cannot support.

Cisco Catalyst switches come in a variety of resilient, stackable, as well as rugged and durable hardware units. End users described them as easily and flexibly configured and very reliable with high-uptime relative to alternatives. Additionally, Catalyst switches support VLAN quite well, and its software is extensible for a variety of purposes.

Limitations

A few limitations should be considered when thinking about deploying Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches.

Cisco Nexus switches often require more maintenance than Catalyst switches and some other Cisco products. Reviewers on TrustRadius report that they can be buggy and difficult to update and maintain given some of the quirks (or user unfamiliarity) with NX-OS. While they are certainly powerful and can be used in many ways, Nexus switches can be difficult to set up without expert guidance or knowledge. Some end-users also find the licensing confusing. 

While the pricing models for Nexus switches can be confusing, the Cisco Catalyst licensing is clear but expensive. Certain Catalyst devices require a license to function. End users on TrustRadius have also voiced concerns about difficulty upgrading, lack of compatibility with non-Cisco products, and the perception that Catalyst switches and their firmware seem to update or become obsolete too quickly. 

Pricing

Cisco switches and networking devices are available through Cisco channel partners, also called value-added resellers (VARs). Cisco devices are generally regarded to be on the high end of the pricing spectrum. Cisco Nexus 3000 series switches are available for between $2,800 to $11K, and Nexus 7000 devices are available for between $10K to $70K for a single device. A Nexus 9000 can cost anywhere between $30K to over $100K.

The Cisco Catalyst series has multiple models. For example, a Catalyst 2960 Series switch costs a few hundred dollars and would be well-suited for smaller campuses. On the other end of the spectrum, depending on available ports, a Cisco Catalyst 9600 Series switch can cost between $15K to about $65K. The Catalyst IE 3200 & 3300 for industrial environments are available for about $5K.