Review: Extreme Switching by Extreme Networks

These guys service almost every NFL and NHL stadium out there, isn't that crazy?

Just wanna start by saying, they have purple colored switches!!!

Ahhhh, amazing

THE INSPIRATION:

I recently had the opportunity to work with Extreme Networks for a network design project that I was lucky enough to spearhead. It is a single-site network refresh initiative to be performed by yours truly. It includes designing, configuring, documenting, installing and testing about a dozen Extreme Switches. Exciting!

So I did some digging on them and found a lot of pretty cool stuff. Extreme has been a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant in terms of Wired and Wireless LAN infrastructure for 5 years in a row now. Learn more about them in general here.

Let's tackle Switching, since that's mostly the focus of my project. 

THE COOL FACTS:

Switch Operating System

• ExOS (Extreme Operating System) - Regular OS for Network Switches
• Switch Engine - upgraded version of ExOS that includes Fabric Switching
  

Notable Unique Features

Universal Platforms - the flexibility of their devices, change software, same hardware.

Dynamic Role-based Policies - centrally managed policies enforced on switches, they travel with users, devices, applications as they move through the network. Pretty cool stuff.
 

Secure Link Encryption - secures your traffic across switch platforms using IEEE 802.1AE MACsec. It is a hop by hop security capability which encrypts/decrypts packets between connected switches and devices 

How it compares to CISCO

Looks like most people went to Extreme Networks due to budgetary reasons. And based off my own experience working with management and vendors, they are truly way cheaper than Cisco, although it may vary on a lot of factors. (This is not financial advice for your IT needs)

THE SUMMARY 

Pros
    - Cost-effective

    - Powerful with unique features

    - Good way to manage

Cons

    - Product support has been lackluster

    - Lack of expertise in the field

    - Not as robust as Cisco

(To me though, not knowing where to go for help is where the fun is!) (No sarcasm)

Some other things
    - ExOS works just like Cisco IOS which lessens the learning curve for most engineers

    - They also offer Industrial grade switches

    - They have ExtremeCloud IQ Pilot for their universal switches which is just like Meraki and is really neat 

(I got free Pilot licenses for buying a dozen switches!)

At the time of writing, I am still in the process of getting these equipment and starting the big project up. I'm looking forward to it! I'll probably write something up post-project to document my learning and experience.

- Patrick