How to compete with Cisco?

Enterprise networking seems so much as Cisco and seven dwarfs. Who are the seven dwarfs? I tried to do a Google search, but wasn't altogether happy with the result. What I got was: 3Com, Foundry, Enterasys and Extreme, Nortel and HP with D-Link and Netgear. Even though that's eight dwarfs, you get the idea.

The key to successful competition, is to recognize that there is no technology that Cisco can't buy. It has to be something to do with channel and customer satisfaction. Is it possible to measure the arrogance that comes from Cisco's success against them?

John Chambers, it seems is too shrewd and too much a customer-savant to let this happen. His successor though might.