Aruba Instant On Switches vs HPE ProCurve comparison

HPE ProCurve and Aruba Instant On compete in the network switch category, primarily catering to small and medium-sized businesses. HPE ProCurve appears to have an edge due to its extensive features suitable for high-level enterprise networks and robust warranty.

Features: HPE ProCurve offers a lifetime warranty, centralized management capabilities, and is highly compatible with open standards, making it ideal for stable and adaptable configurations. Users highlight its effectiveness for VLAN configurations and reliability. Aruba Instant On is noted for its user-friendly interface, easy integration with cloud management systems, and interoperability with various brands, making it well-suited for small entities requiring remote management.

Room for Improvement: HPE ProCurve users suggest improvements in interface robustness, faster port speeds, and broader feature sets, while also noting CLI complexity when transitioning from systems like Cisco. Aruba Instant On could benefit from enhanced scalability, advanced configuration options like CLI access, better startup speeds, and more security features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE ProCurve is tailored for on-premises deployment and is recognized for a reliable deployment process, albeit occasionally needing expert configuration support. Its customer service is praised for responsiveness and effectiveness. Aruba Instant On offers broad deployment versatility, including cloud environments, and receives high marks for ease of deployment, though users indicate a need for clearer customer service guidance.

Pricing and ROI: HPE ProCurve provides competitive pricing, especially compared to Cisco, offering significant long-term ROI with its lifetime licensing and warranty. It is cost-effective due to easy upgrades. Aruba Instant On is noted for competitive and budget-friendly pricing, providing good value due to lower initial costs and no hidden licensing fees, appealing to cost-sensitive customers.