Cisco Catalyst Express500-24PC

Cisco hasn't just made its SMB switches easier to use: its new ISRs (integrated services router) and IP phones are also designed with the same philosophy. Adding IP telephony services is remarkably simple. The ISR uses new web-based wizards that can take you from installation to dial tone in 30 minutes, as opposed to eight hours with its higher-end products. Its IP phones can also be integrated simply by using a barcode scanner to register them with the ISR.

During testing, we found the Catalyst switch incredibly easy to install and configure. The Smartports feature makes light work of installing new devices and setting QoS parameters, while strong authentication and port security can be activated with a few mouse clicks. Cisco may have taken a while, but it's clear that the company has woken up to the needs of smaller businesses. It's now placed itself well within the reach of those looking for a complete and affordable network communications solution that can scale easily with demand.

Author: Dave Mitchell