3850 vs 3750x for new deployment

[aukhadiev]

Hi, Looking for advice about prefered access switch for new deployment. Choosing between 3850 and 3750x. I have to say that the 3850 wireless features will not be used in this deployment and 4 switch for stack is enough...
Looked and read everything that I found in the press, I can not make an informed choice.
I bow to 3850, but I was apprehensive following circumstances:
1) not too positive reviews
2) to long list of open caveats
3) to long list of features are not supported in Cisco IOS XE Release 3.2.0SE
4) IOS XE : (
With regard to the first three points - yes, I understand that the product is new and it has not gone further stage of "childhood diseases" ...Regarding the fourth point - I understand correctly that this is the direction to be moving Cisco Systems  and soon all products migrate from classical IOS to IOS XE and so on?
New deployment is planned after 5-6 months, so it is hoped that by the time 3850 to get rid of "childhood diseases"?
Sorry for my English...

[Leo Laohoo]

I have to say that the 3850 wireless features will not be used in this deployment

If you don't need wireless then you don't need to enable.

4 switch fot stack is enough

Currently, 4 switches in a stack only.  In the next few months (my guess is 2 months away), the new IOS will allow up to 9 switches in a stack.

not too positive reviews

Not alot of people buying because there are conflicting reports from Cisco themselves.  Cisco Sales encourage people to purchase the 3850 but they are unwilling to give a concrete information as to WHY would you want to.  The reasonings, in my opinion, ain't strong enough because people are skeptical (about the real reason).

I understand correctly that this is the direction to be moving Cisco Systems  and soon all products migrate from classical IOS to IOS XE and so on?

XE is the way to go.  It's inevitable.  Why are you hesitant with XE?  Other than the current that are running XE, the new Sup8 and the new 6K chassis will be running on XE.

[aukhadiev]

Thanks, leolaohoo...

so still, 3850 or 3750x?
...what about IOS XE?
New is always worrying...
At the time I was very suspicious (have not confirmed in practice) deployed infrastrusture of server room on nexus5K/2K... This is a positive experience of the new... But, what about modular IOS for 6K? Where is it now? That`s negative experience of the new...

[Leo Laohoo]

What Cisco will NOT tell you is end-of-sale date for the 3750X, however, Cisco has been leaving hints.  The biggest one is the price between the 3750X and the 3850.

I WON'T recommend to you anything, however, if I was sitting here and I'm getting two data sheets and both have the same price, I would choose 3850 over the 3750X.

I have yet to see a significant reason why a 3750X is better than a 3850.  So far, I see nothing.

If you are risk-averse, then 3750X is the way to go.  But I would take 3850. 

[aukhadiev]

Thank you for your considered opinion...

[Richard Burts]

I believe that Leo has put it well. If you are risk averse (and I get the impression that you are) then the 3750 is the safe choice. It is a well known and stable switch. But it has been in use for quite a while and it will not gain new features or functionality that will appear on the 3850.

Some of the features of the 3850 you do not need at this time. But what about in a year or two when requirements might change? Will the 3750 adapt to changing requirements as well as the 3850 will?

If you are looking toward the future I would suggest that the 3850 would be a better choice. If you are looking only at the current situation then you probably should choose the 3750.

HTH

Rick

[Leo Laohoo]

Apologies.  My last post was done in haste and I was sleepy.  Not thinking straight.

You mentioned somewhere that you mistrust the 3850 as it was an "unstable" platform.  Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but try loading a 3750X with IOS versions 12.2(58)SE or 15.0(1)SE and 15.0(2)SE and then you and I can sit down and talk about "unstable".  I'll even hand you a box of Kleenex.  (I'm just trying to be funny, not sarcastic.)

[Reuben Farrelly]

XE is not something to be afraid of.  Not so long ago I upgraded a 7200 running IOS to an ASR1k running IOS XE, and it was 100% copy and paste (with sanity checking afterwards of course).

XE is architecturally completely different to classic IOS, but Cisco have done a very good job of making it "feel" exactly the same to operate, unlike IOX XR (which is really quite different).

So, if you have a good understanding about classic IOS you won't struggle with IOS XE.

I agree with leolaohoo and Rick - I would go the 3850 as well.

[aukhadiev]

Thank you all for the opinions expressed...