Cisco 2960X == HP ******* ?

[internalnews]

Hi,

what HP switching series competes with Cisco 2960X ? As A5120-HI has been cancelled...

Regards

[paulgear]

Hi Internalnews,

I'm not sure what the distinctive features of the 2960X are over the 2960, but i would imagine the 5120-EI or 5500-EI/HI should be pretty close.

[Pete W]

One key features of the 2960-X is that it stacks 8 high. In this regard, the HP 5500 EI would be a similar switch as you can build the IRF domain 9 high and the 5120 only stacks 4 high.

The 2960-XR supports dynamic routing protocols, PIM, and has dual PSUs, so here the HP 5500 HI would be the closest match.

Pete

[internalnews]

Well, thanks for your answers, but looking  at my recently received pricing list of Cisco and discounted pricing of the A5500-HI, the 2960X is way cheaper. Well it´s basically a kind of proper layer 2 device, whereas the A5500-HI is really layer 3 + MPLS/VPLS. So the A5500-HI cannot be seen as competitor (as this should be placed against e.g. a Cisco 3750X ). The A5120-HI would have been the right device. But it´s not available.

[Pete W]

Out of interest, what features do you require that A5120-HI would have given you, that the 5120-EI doesn't?

Pete

[internalnews]

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@Pete W wrote:

Out of interest, what features do you require that A5120-HI would have given you, that the 5120-EI doesn't?

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• A5120-HI

+ "born 2012": 1 GB RAM, 512 MB ROM, Dual Core == well it´s unclear whether that one would have seen Comware 7, but will receive more/longer major software upgrades

+ inherits some useful features of the A5800 series, e.g. EAPOL/802.1x forwarding

+ netflow (netstream)

+ integrated SFP+ slots

(+ integrated dual power supply)

+ if you compare CN with ROW pricing, A5120-HI could really be the new A5120-EI

-  has that stupid 1024 ARP + 512 ND entry limit

• A5120-EI

- "born 2008": 16MB ROM, 256MB RAM == no backup image, no future: unlikely that it will get Comware 7

- price is to high even with ~62% discount on EMEA price applied compared to competitors

(-  no dual power supply well RPS can be used, so it really doesn´t matter, but RPS is more expensive)

- also has that stupid APR + ND entry limit

 - combo ports

If you have to replace tons of EOLed Cisco 2950 which one would you buy?