Would it be wiser to wait months for that Catalyst switch if it's integral to your network architecture?
Before you opt for a rival’s switch due to Cisco’s product lead time issues, consider this: Is the switch crucial to your network architecture? Or is it just a tactical low-end/low functionality device for immediate connectivity and not much more?
A reader brought up this issue on the Network World group page on LinkedIn in response to our recent story on Cisco’s ongoing product delays. Customers are reporting lead times as long as six months for Cisco products, prompting some to spend their money elsewhere.
But make this decision carefully and wisely, according to Chris Henson, senior network administrator at Tri-State Generation & Transmission in the Denver, CO., area:
Unless there is an immediate, pressing business need to get the delayed product, (Cisco switches and ASAs), installed, I feel that the immediate availability of a product on the market should not determine, nor should it influence a company’s strategy on Enterprise Architecture. I don’t like having delayed product either, but to make a major network design decision, (such as going with a different vendor, as the referenced article suggests), out of haste, simply to have the product in house up and running to meet an arbitrary deadline is just poor network design. Choosing the correct vendor to meet a need should be a carefully thought through decision and a plethora of factors should be carefully considered before deplyong any vendor’s firewall or switch. To switch vendors mid stream because of a delay may meet an immediate need but could end up causing unforseen problems in the network; problems which are avoided though careful planning, design and testing before hand. Let us be careful not to compromise our network design through hasty choices.
More from Cisco Subnet:
This is Network World’s Cisco Subnet news alert in which we focus on the top items from Cisco Subnet, your source for Cisco news, blogs, discussion items, security alerts, giveaways and more.
Cisco said to be readying major upgrade to CRS-1The scoop on the New TSHOOT Course and ExamCisco shipping 160G Ethernet card for ASR 9000
Another analyst sees Cisco UCS deployment delays
If Cisco buys you, you’re 1 in 100
IPv4 Space is Getting Low – Really Low
Win one of 50 CCNP training books, videos and Cert Kits
Win great stuff from Cisco SubnetCisco Alert newsletter.Like RSS readers? Subscribe to the Cisco Subnet RSS feedLike e-mail? Subscribe to the
Follow all Cisco Subnet bloggers on Twitter.Follow Jim Duffy on Twitter
