Data Networking - 13 January 1998
3
Technology and Applications
Did your company purchase Ethernet LAN switches
in 1997?
Yes 80%
No 20
If "No," do you plan to purchase in 1998?
Yes 68%
No 18
Maybe 5
Too soon to say 9
If "Yes," did you purchase 100Mbps switches?
Yes 84%
No 16
We focused on the LAN switch segment in this survey
because it is one of the fastest growing data networking
segments. We estimate the total LAN switch market will
increase by 46% to $7.5 billion in 1998, and expect the
100Mbps segment to nearly double to $3.5 billion.
This survey supports earlier research which indicates that
MIS professionals are migrating to switched architectures
(from shared) to meet increasing bandwidth requirements.
Which vendors do you plan to use for 100Mbps
switches?
1. Cisco
2. Bay Networks
3. Cabletron
4. 3Com
Of the respondents that were able to identify a vendor for
future 100Mbps purchases, 36% named Cisco and 25%
named Bay Networks. This survey is consistent with our
market share research which ranks Cisco and Bay
Networks in the number one and two positions,
respectively.
Vendors
Which data networking vendors were most improved
in 1997? Why?
1. Cisco
2. Bay Networks
3. Novell
Cisco leads the pack here by almost 2-to-1. Reasons cited
included better pricing, good quality, better service and
good new products. Bay was noted for having an
improved product line, and its ATM solution was pointed
out as being more robust. Also, survey respondents
indicated that Bay has improved since the merger. Survey
participants mentioned that Novell had solid products, and
that they "finally got their act together."
Which data networking vendors do you plan to
increased your spending with the most in 1998?
1. Cisco
2. Not with any particular vendor
3. Bay Networks
4. 3Com
Not surprisingly, Cisco leads here as well, by a 3-to-1
margin over its closest competitor. The number two
response indicates that there are still a number of
companies that have not necessarily aligned with a
strategic vendor.
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