Ethernet switch leader Cisco challenged in Layer 4-7
The Ethernet switch market grew 35% in the second quarter from last year, and 1% from Q1 to $5.2 billion, according to investment firm UBS. Cisco CCNA Training maintained its dominant share of the Layer 2-3 sector with 72%, while Juniper continued to gain – Cisco’s rival now has just under 2% share, up from 1.5% in Q1 and 1.3% a year ago.
No. 2 though is HP. After closing the 3Com acquisition in April, HP’s share is now 10%, up from 6% pre-3Com.
Layer 2-3 Ethernet accounts for 96% of the total market. The Layer 4-7 Ethernet switch market grew to $294 million in Q2, up 33% from last year and 8% from last quarter, according to UBS. Cisco is challenged in this market: leader F5 grew its share to 45%, up 2% from Q1 and 6% from 2009, while Cisco’s share declined 3% from Q1 and 5% from 2009 to 20%.
In 2008, Cisco CCNA Certification and F5 were essentially neck-and-neck, with 33% and 34% share, respectively. Since then, Cisco’s share has declined 13% while F5’s increased 11%.
Nipping at Cisco’s heels is Citrix, which gained 2% from Q1 and 2009 to 17% share.