In the world of enterprise networking, switches are the backbone of communication, connecting devices across local area networks (LANs). Two of the leading names in the switch market are Cisco and Huawei. These two tech giants offer a broad range of products designed to meet the needs of businesses and enterprises, but each brings its unique features, design philosophies, and technological advancements. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis comparing Cisco switches with Huawei switches, focusing on their features, performance, security, scalability, ease of management, support, and pricing.

1. Overview of Cisco and Huawei

Cisco:

Cisco Systems is a U.S.-based multinational technology company that has been a dominant player in the networking space for decades. Founded in 1984, Cisco has grown into a leader in networking hardware, software, and telecommunications. Cisco offers a wide range of switching products, including its Catalyst, Nexus, and Meraki series, aimed at enterprises of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations.

Cisco switches are known for their reliability, cutting-edge technology, and extensive customer support. They are widely regarded as the gold standard for networking equipment, and their devices are deployed in businesses, data centers, and service provider networks across the globe.

Huawei:

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., founded in 1987, is a Chinese multinational company that has emerged as a strong competitor to Cisco, particularly in recent years. Huawei offers a broad range of networking products, including switches, routers, and security devices, and is known for its innovation and affordability. Huawei’s switching portfolio includes the CloudEngine, S5720, and S5700 series, which cater to different segments of the market, from small businesses to large-scale enterprises.

Despite facing geopolitical challenges in several countries due to security concerns, Huawei has made a strong impact on the networking market, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Huawei’s products are lauded for their high performance, advanced features, and lower cost compared to competitors.

2. Product Range and Features

Cisco Switches:

Cisco offers a wide range of switches that cater to different networking needs:

• Cisco Catalyst Series: These are Cisco’s flagship switches, designed for enterprise networks. They offer both fixed and modular configurations and are built for high availability, scalability, and security. The Catalyst series includes switches for both small and large-scale deployments, with advanced features such as PoE (Power over Ethernet), stacking, and advanced security protocols.

• Cisco Nexus Series: The Nexus series is designed for data centers and large enterprise environments. These switches offer high-density, high-performance, and low-latency features ideal for cloud, virtualization, and demanding applications.

• Cisco Meraki Series: Meraki switches are cloud-managed, allowing businesses to manage their networks through a simple web interface. This series is perfect for smaller businesses or companies looking for an easy-to-deploy solution.

• Cisco Small Business Series: These switches are designed for small to medium-sized businesses and offer essential features for network connectivity, security, and scalability.

Huawei Switches:

Huawei also provides a wide range of switches suitable for various market segments:

• Huawei CloudEngine Series: The CloudEngine series is Huawei’s flagship offering, aimed at enterprises and data centers. It offers high-density, high-performance features, with support for virtualized environments, SDN (Software-Defined Networking), and cloud computing. These switches are designed to meet the needs of large enterprises and service providers.

• Huawei S5720 Series: These are high-performance switches suitable for enterprises that require advanced routing and switching features. They are commonly used for access and distribution layers in campus networks.

• Huawei S5700 Series: This series is targeted at medium and large enterprises, offering features like 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) ports, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and advanced Layer 3 routing capabilities.

• Huawei S2700 Series: The S2700 is designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It is a cost-effective solution that provides essential switching features, making it ideal for organizations with less demanding networking needs.

3. Performance and Scalability

When comparing Cisco and Huawei switches, performance and scalability are key factors. Both manufacturers offer high-performance solutions, but their approach to scalability and performance differs in some areas.

Cisco Performance and Scalability:

Cisco switches are built to handle heavy traffic loads and offer high scalability. The Cisco Catalyst series, for example, offers robust performance for both Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, with support for 10GbE, 40GbE, and even 100GbE speeds, making them suitable for large-scale enterprise networks and data centers.

Cisco Nexus switches are tailored for cloud and data center environments, offering ultra-low latency and advanced traffic management features. These switches support high-density 10GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE ports, allowing them to scale seamlessly as data center demands grow.

Cisco’s use of technologies like Virtual PortChannel (vPC), Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) ensures that scalability and redundancy are built into their switches, allowing for easier network expansion.

Huawei Performance and Scalability:

Huawei switches are known for their high performance, particularly in high-density environments. The CloudEngine series, for instance, supports 100GbE and offers advanced features like Network Automation, Network Slicing, and SDN capabilities.

Huawei’s S5700 and S5720 series switches provide good performance for enterprise networks, offering scalability with up to 10GbE and 40GbE support. Huawei also supports stacking technology, allowing multiple switches to be combined into a single logical unit to simplify management and increase scalability.

Although Huawei switches offer high scalability, some critics argue that Cisco still leads in terms of flexibility and support for the most demanding data center and enterprise environments.

4. Security

Both Cisco and Huawei offer a variety of security features in their switches to protect enterprise networks. Network security is essential for preventing unauthorized access, mitigating attacks, and maintaining the integrity of data.

Cisco Security Features:

Cisco switches are packed with advanced security features to ensure data protection:

• Cisco TrustSec: TrustSec is an identity-based security architecture that helps with segmenting networks and controlling access to resources. It leverages technologies like 802.1X for network access control and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for policy enforcement.

• Cisco Port Security: This feature allows network administrators to control access to network ports, preventing unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.

• Cisco MAC Security: Cisco switches also feature MAC address security, preventing attacks that involve spoofing MAC addresses.

• Advanced Threat Detection: Cisco integrates threat detection tools like Cisco SecureX to protect against zero-day threats, malware, and other types of network vulnerabilities.

Huawei Security Features:

Huawei switches also provide robust security measures:

• Huawei SmartAccess: Huawei’s SmartAccess control solution provides granular network access control, preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to critical network resources.

• Huawei iMaster NCE: This centralized network control platform provides real-time network monitoring and management, helping detect security threats and mitigate risks.

• 802.1X Authentication: Like Cisco, Huawei supports 802.1X for network access control, ensuring that only authorized users and devices can connect to the network.

• Firewall and DDoS Protection: Huawei’s switches include built-in protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and other malicious activities.

5. Ease of Management

Cisco Management:

Cisco provides several tools for managing and monitoring switches, with an emphasis on flexibility and customization:

• Cisco DNA Center: Cisco’s Digital Network Architecture (DNA) Center is a network management platform that allows for centralized control of the network. It offers automation, analytics, and intelligent insights, making it easier to configure, manage, and monitor Cisco switches.

• Cisco Prime Infrastructure: This tool is designed for network management, providing a user-friendly interface to configure and monitor Cisco devices.

• CLI and Web Interface: Cisco offers command-line interface (CLI) management for advanced users and a web-based interface for more straightforward configurations.

Huawei Management:

Huawei provides several management solutions as well, focusing on simplicity and automation:

• Huawei iMaster NCE: This is Huawei’s network control and management platform. It supports end-to-end automation, monitoring, and analysis, simplifying network management for enterprises.

• Huawei eSight: Huawei’s eSight platform offers centralized network management with advanced diagnostic tools and real-time monitoring capabilities.

• CLI and Web Interface: Similar to Cisco, Huawei provides a CLI for advanced users and a web interface for ease of management.

6. Support and Documentation

Cisco Support:

Cisco has a global support infrastructure with a reputation for excellent customer service. Cisco provides extensive technical documentation, community support, and dedicated technical assistance through their TAC (Technical Assistance Center). Cisco also offers training and certification programs, such as the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) to ensure that network engineers are well-equipped to manage Cisco devices.

Huawei Support:

Huawei provides good support, though it may not be as comprehensive as Cisco’s in some regions due to geopolitical factors. Huawei offers support through its enterprise service programs, providing access to resources such as technical documentation, online forums, and a customer service portal. Huawei also provides certifications and training through its Huawei Certified Network Associate (HCNA) and Huawei Certified Network Professional (HCNP) programs.

7. Pricing

One of the major differences between Cisco and Huawei switches is their pricing model. Cisco is often seen as a premium brand with a higher price point due to its advanced features, brand reputation, and support network. However, Cisco switches offer a range of products at various price points, making them accessible to a wide variety of businesses.

Huawei, on the other hand, is known for its cost-effectiveness. Huawei switches tend to be more affordable than Cisco counterparts, offering similar features and performance at a lower price. This pricing strategy makes Huawei a popular choice for price-sensitive customers, particularly in emerging markets.