Aruba Switches Reviews

Name: Aruba Switches
Brand: HPE Aruba Networking
Rating: 4 (80 reviews)

Vendor: HPE Aruba Networking

4.3 out of 5

80 reviews
98% willing to recommend

412 followers

Post review

What is Aruba Switches?

Aruba Switches is a network creation solution that enables users to easily manage every aspect of their networks.

Get the Aruba Switches Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Switches, Cisco Ethernet Switches, NETGEAR Switches and more!

Aruba Switches is the #2 ranked solution in top Ethernet Switches. PeerSpot users give Aruba Switches an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Aruba Switches is most commonly compared to Cisco Ethernet Switches: Aruba Switches vs Cisco Ethernet Switches. Aruba Switches is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 51% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 15% of all views.

Helped 814,763 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Michael-Sugg

President at Sovereign Managed Services

There are some growing pains with Aruba Central. When you first launch the wireless access points or switches, a lot of updates are needed to get Aruba Central ready, especially on the access points, so the initial deployment time could improve. I would hope that I could just turn it on and leave the updates until later on. The switches themselves probably did okay. I'm primarily referring to the wireless access points. There was a lot of back and forth before everything was in sync. It took hours. I can't think of any missing features, but it would be nice if there were a free version of Aruba Central for my small business clients that doesn't have as many features.

Read full review

Khaled Shaker

Head Of Technical Department at Modern establishment for supply and trading

If we compare Aruba and Cisco at the data center layer, Cisco has its Nexus switch. Aruba provides the new 10000 series, but it does not compare with the Nexus switch. Aruba is in networks but still not in data centers since their data center switches are not as good as Cisco's. Aruba should enhance its performance and management solution to manage Aruba and non-Aruba switches. Aruba needs better layer management or a software management solution. When we talk about Aruba Central, the integration with the management software is not good enough. When we need to push a configuration in a switch, Aruba Central can manage Aruba access switches only. We work with the Aruba OS for normal management, but the CX switches are for monitoring only. Aruba'a management solution is a weak point. Management solutions are a weak point for other vendors, too, but we need to enhance Aruba to be better than other vendors.

Read full review

SunilNair1

AGM - Infrastructure & Information Security at Aster DM Healthcare Limited

We use Aruba switches, access points, and everything. We're a hospital chain. We've deployed them in at least 78 of our hospitals and are happy with the performance. Overall, we're satisfied with the performance of our Aruba switches. They're working well for our current needs Our uptime has been…

Read full review

Aruba Switches mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Aruba Switches in the Ethernet Switches category stands at 13.3%, up from 12.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 3, 2024

Valuable Features

Aruba Switches offer features like cloud management, intuitive GUI, and easy deployment. Users value integration with ClearPass, reliable monitoring, and security capabilities. The equipment is noted for its robust command-line interface, scalability, and lifetime warranty. The platform supports centralized management through Aruba Central and streamlines configuration while providing high availability and flexibility. Users also appreciate its cost-effectiveness, stability, and good performance compared to other vendors. With features like dual control plane and stackable options, it enhances network management.

"The pricing of Aruba Switches is good compared to Cisco."
"The speed of the processor allows for quicker boot-up times compared to Cisco switches."
"The most valuable features of Aruba Switches include the dual control plane, stackable features such as stack V6 and VSF stacks."

Room for Improvement

Aruba Switches require improvements in network access control, security functionalities, stability, and visibility. Users find the dashboard and interface less user-friendly compared to competitors like Meraki and Cisco. Part numbers are confusing, and documentation can be hard to find. Price adjustments, enhanced user interface, better management options, and longer product lifetime are necessary. Technical support could be enhanced, and integrating more cloud-based management features would help in making it more competitive.

"The initial setup is not easy."
"A challenge is the process required to reset the switches, which involves using two pins in tiny holes. An easily accessible button for resets would be a better design."
"Aruba Switches don't need licenses to activate features and work straight out of the box, which is an advantage over some competitors. This implies less room for complaints compared with other solutions."

ROI

Users indicate that Aruba Switches provide valuable diagnostics, allowing them to counter network problem claims. Although initial costs are substantial, the limited lifetime warranty ensures quick replacements. Stability reduces the need for service agreements, leading to cost savings. There is an expectation of ROI in the coming year, and some report a 20% efficiency improvement. It's challenging to quantify ROI as the switches are essential for network functionality, yet users recognize savings and operational benefits.

Pricing

Aruba Switches' pricing is generally deemed competitive compared to Cisco, often cited as more cost-effective. Licensing models vary, with many users appreciating the absence of additional licensing costs for standard features. Some users receive bundled licenses through bids, enhancing cost-effectiveness. While Aruba offers more affordable options compared to Cisco, some purchasers find them expensive, especially with added cloud management fees. Discounts and flexible plans are available, though further price reductions would be favorable.

"The cost depends on the requirement. An extensive network will expand the budget. The price will be lower if there is a small requirement of one to ten switches. In comparison, Aruba is less costly than Cisco by about 10-20%."
"The price is reasonable."
"The tool is a little expensive for customers from other countries."

Popular Use Cases

Aruba Switches are primarily utilized for network connectivity, centralized monitoring, and troubleshooting. They are employed in various sectors including hospitality, education, healthcare, and banking for both on-premises and cloud-based networks. Users appreciate their affordability, strong performance, redundancy, and compatibility with other network infrastructures, making them suitable for small to large enterprises. They support features like PoE, VLANs, and are often used as access and core switches in enterprise environments.

Service and Support

Users report mixed experiences with Aruba Switches' customer service and support. Some find the technical support helpful, responsive, and comparable to competitors like Cisco. Others highlight slow response times and expertise issues, particularly with lower-tier support. Several users handle issues internally or through partners, praising the knowledge base as adequate for troubleshooting. Language barriers, particularly in non-English-speaking regions, pose challenges. Engaged local support and purchasing additional support plans improve experiences.

Deployment

Aruba Switches are generally regarded as easy to set up, with deployments described as straightforward by many users. The process varies in duration, often taking from a few minutes to several days depending on complexity and number of switches. Many users find the setup less complicated than Cisco. With proper documentation, assistance, and technical expertise, the configuration process is manageable, and requires minimal oversight. Frequent comparisons highlight the quick deployment and user-friendly interface of Aruba's systems.

Scalability

Aruba Switches are praised for their high scalability, being easy to expand and manage in various environments from small to enterprise-level. Customers note the modular design and ability to integrate with ClearPass and other solutions. They highlight Aruba's stability, ease of stacking, and flexibility. Many rate its scalability between seven to ten. Clients use them for hundreds to thousands of users without issues, appreciating their ability to handle growth efficiently.

Stability

Aruba Switches exhibit remarkable stability, consistently performing well across diverse environments. Many users rate its reliability highly, citing minimal issues with bugs or glitches. While some report stability challenges during power failures affecting virtual stacks, these incidents are infrequent. Users often deploy switches with proper configurations to maintain optimal performance. Maintenance through firmware updates contributes to sustained reliability, and these switches rarely crash, freeze, or require restarts, earning them a high rating for dependability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Aruba Switches Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Educational Organization

Retailer

University

Financial Services Firm

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Non Profit

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Insurance Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Performing Arts

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Consumer Goods Company

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Compare Aruba Switches with alternative products

Learn more about Aruba Switches

Benefits of Aruba Switches

Some of the benefits of using Aruba switches include:

Easily access and manage every aspect of your networks. Aruba Switches give users a way to control their networks from a centralized location. The simplified control center can be accessed through both the cloud and on-premises devices. Intuitively view and manage every portion of your networks. You will be able to both analyze and control every device and client in the network while at the same time conserving resources for the areas of greatest concern.

Troubleshoot and upgrade your networks quickly and efficiently. Aruba Switches give users network visibility in real-time. It combines this with powerful analytics software that allow for the prediction, prevention, and resolution of issues. This allows administrators to act before their systems suffer serious harm. Additionally, Aruba Switches allow systems to maintain a high level of performance even during upgrading.

Automatically enact uniform system-wide changes. Aruba Switches gives users the ability to set their systems to automatically reconfigure when changes are necessary. Users are empowered to ensure that their systems run smoothly without worrying that there are parts of their network that are out of sync, reserving manpower and time for more pressing needs.

Reviews from Real Users

Aruba Switches are cutting-edge network creation tools that stand out among their competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are the warranty that guarantees them and the intuitive way in which they are designed. Aruba Switches are protected by lifetime warranties. If a switch malfunctions or is rendered inoperable, it can be quickly replaced. If the line of switches are still available, HPE will send the user the necessary replacement. Aruba Switches are built to be intuitive for users to customize and manipulate. This allows users to make full use of the solution without requiring them to devote a significant level of resources to training.

The head of technical support at a real estate law firm writes, “One valuable feature about HP is the warranty. All switches are very similar when it comes to most functionalities. Most switches provide a one-year warranty, but with HPE switches, if there's a unit that malfunctions, we call them and they replace it the next business day if that line is still available. We had a switch we reported the other day, it was a 25-10, which we procured way back, around 2014, and they replaced it. In general, HP provides a lot of support for its products. We will be doing some tinkering on the VLAN soon, first the layer two, and then connecting the layer three functionalities for some other departments. The advantage of Aruba compared to other switches is their reliability. If the product is trustworthy, I'll continue to use it.”

A network systems engineer at a financial services firm writes, “Their technical support is great. I have used Cisco products, and as compared to Cisco, Aruba's command-line syntax is not as complex. The command-line interface of Aruba switches is quite intuitive. It also has a graphical user interface. With Cisco, using the graphical user interface for configuration can be complex, whereas Aruba simplifies it, and you can easily use the graphical user interface. The configuration is secured. Their graphical user interface is quite robust.”

Aruba Switches was previously known as 8400 Series, 8320 Series, 5400R Series, 3810 Series, 2930M Series, 2930F Series, 2920 Series, 2540 Series, 2530 Series .