just a side note, HP probably was the most helpful vendor i've dealt with in relation to solving/providing inter vendor interoperability solutions. they have PDF booklets on many things we would run into during work. for example, setting up STP between Cisco and HP gear, ( http://cdn.procurve.com/training/Manuals/ProCurve-and-Cisco-STP-Interoperability.pdf ).
At the time the other vendor in this case (cisco) flat our refused to help us. this was a few years back tho, things may of changed. I'd ask support "you are not telling me i'm the _only_ customer trying to do this" … to which they would try and play the "well most people don't mix gear".. HP's example should be the yard stick in the field. -g On Jan 10, 2011, at 3:04 PM, Brandon Kim wrote: > > To your point Andrey, > > It probably works both ways too. I'm sure HP would love to finger point as > well. I remember reading for my CCNP one > of the thought process behind getting all Cisco is the very reason you > pointed out, get all Cisco! > > How convenient though for Cisco to do that, I wonder if they are being > sincere(sarcasm). > > Wouldn't it a perfect world for Cisco to just have everyone buy their > stuff...I think it's a cop out though and you really should > try to support your product as best you can if it is connected to another > vendor. > > I'm sad to hear that TACACS took that route. I hope they at least tried their > hardest to support you..... > > > >> From: khomyakov.and...@gmail.com >> Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:35:36 -0500 >> Subject: Re: Is Cisco equpiment de facto for you? >> To: nanog@nanog.org >> >> There have been awfully too many time when Cisco TAC would just say that >> since the problem you are trying to troubleshoot is between Cisco and >> VendorX, we can't help you. You should have bought Cisco for both sides. >> I had that happen when I was troubleshooting LLDP between 3750s and Avaya >> phones, TACACS between Cisco and tac_plus daemon, link bundling between >> juniper EX and Cisco, some obscure switching issues between CAT and >> Procurves and other examples like that just don't recall them anymore. >> >> Every time I'm reminded that if you have a lot of Cisco on the network, the >> rest should be cisco too, unless there is a very good technical/financial >> reason for it, but you should be prepared to be your own help in those >> cases. >> >> Vendors love to point at the other vendors for solutions. At least in my >> experience. >> >> My $0.02 >> >> Andrey >> >> On Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 11:52 AM, Greg Whynott >> <greg.whyn...@oicr.on.ca>wrote: >> >>> I've tried to use other vendors threw out the years for internal L2/L3. >>> Always Cisco for perimeter routing/firewalling. >>> >>> from my personal experience, each time we took a chance and tried to use >>> another vendor for internal L2 needs, we would be reminded why it was a bad >>> choice down the road, due to hardware reliability, support issues, >>> multiple and ongoing software bugs, architectural design choices. Then >>> for the next few years I'd regret the decision. This is not to say Cisco >>> gear has been without its issues, but they are much fewer and handled >>> better when stuff hits the fan. >>> >>> the only other vendor at this point in my career I'd fee comfortable >>> deploying for internal enterprise switching, including HPC requirements >>> which is not CIsco branded, would be Force10 or Extreme. it has always >>> been Cisco for edge routing/firewalling, but i wouldn't be opposed to >>> trying Juniper for routing, I know of a few shops who do and they have been >>> pleased thus far. I've little or no experience with many of the other >>> vendors, and I'm sure they have good offerings, but I won't be beta >>> testing their firmwares anymore (one vendor insisted we upgrade our firmware >>> on our core equipment several times in one year…). >>> >>> >>> Cisco isn't a good choice if you don't have the budget for the smart net >>> contracts. They come at a price. a little 5505 with unrestricted license >>> and contract costs over 2k, a 5540 about 40k-70k depending on options, >>> with a yearly renewal of about 15k or more… >>> >>> -g >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> Andrey Khomyakov >> [khomyakov.and...@gmail.com] > -- This message and any attachments may contain confidential and/or privileged information for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution by anyone other than the person for whom it was originally intended is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete all copies. Opinions, conclusions or other information contained in this message may not be that of the organization.
