Fortinet FortiSwitch and Aruba Switches compete in the network switches category. Fortinet has the upper hand for businesses already using Fortinet infrastructure due to integration benefits, while Aruba suits projects needing cloud integration without licensing fees.
Features: Fortinet FortiSwitch offers seamless integration with FortiGate, providing comprehensive monitoring and robust security features, along with centralized management and user-friendly deployment. It is highly suited for environments with existing Fortinet setups. Aruba Switches are favored for their flexibility and affordability, not requiring additional licenses for switch functionalities. They include cloud-based management and a lifetime warranty, appealing to those seeking cost-efficient, feature-rich solutions.
Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiSwitch could improve independent management capabilities, lower costs, and refine technical support. Enhancements in SDN integration and a more user-friendly design are needed. Aruba Switches face issues with documentation clarity and stability in complex setups. They need more competitive pricing and features against leaders like Cisco and improved licensing and adaptability.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiSwitch is easy to deploy with significant benefits for existing Fortinet users, though support response times might vary. Aruba Switches also offer easy deployment and compatibility with hybrid infrastructures, but customer support quality is inconsistent across different regions, suggesting the need for better responsiveness.
Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiSwitch costs approximately 30-40% less than Cisco and competitors, offering a positive ROI through cost savings and simplified management. Aruba Switches, while priced higher than Fortinet, are competitive with Cisco due to their no-license-required features and available discounts. Customers appreciate the balance of cost and performance, but additional cloud management costs can affect overall savings.
Their tech support is good.
I find that technical support is available, especially during the warranty period.
It's a potential area for improvement, possibly in terms of response time or quality.
My local support is working fine, and I have my connection with my account manager in the public company of Fortinet.
I would rate the scalability of the product an eight out of ten.
The scalability, in my opinion, is around seven to eight out of ten.
You just need to connect another switch or replace the current one, and it integrates well with the existing setup.
For enterprise solutions, it's extendable easily with options for edge connectivity or stackable devices.
I have sites that have been running for many years with no issues.
The stability of Aruba Switches is very good, and I would rate it between eight and nine out of ten.
The stability has been good overall.
I would give it a nine out of ten for stability.
Improving the distribution network across regions would be beneficial.
The introduction of AI integration could be valuable for detecting abnormal traffic directly on the switch.
The pricing of some products, such as the 6300M switch, is considered a significant cost.
From my experience, the pricing of Aruba Switches is competitive.
It has increased by about two hundred percent over the past three years.
In the hotel sector, IGMP 3 is particularly valuable for IPTV.
Aruba Switches provide good security functionalities and quality of service.
One of the main features is the integration with FortiGate.
The powerful integration capabilities allow us to manage all devices from a single interface through the firewall.
Aruba Switches is a network creation solution that enables users to easily manage every aspect of their networks.
Benefits of Aruba Switches
Some of the benefits of using Aruba switches include:
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.”
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access is a secure, high-performance, and easy-to-manage switch. Fortinet FortiSwitch is the best solution for threat-conscious enterprises of all sizes because it is secure, simple, and scalable. Secure Access, which is tightly integrated into the Fortinet Security Fabric via FortiLink, may be handled directly from the FortiGate interface.
Regardless of how people and devices connect to the network, this single-pane-of-glass administration provides total visibility and control. This makes the Fortinet FortiSwitch perfect for SD-Branch and campus deployments, allowing enterprises to combine their security and network access with applications ranging from desktop to data center aggregation. Fortinet FortiSwitch's Secure Access is the most adaptable security platform with end-to-end protection in the industry.
Switches for Secure Access: Small to medium-sized businesses, scattered organizations, branch offices, and industrial control systems can all benefit.
Switches for Data Centers: Ideal for users requiring high-performance 10 GE or 40 GE.
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Features
Fortinet FortiSwitch has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Fortinet FortiSwitch. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Fortinet FortiSwitch stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and its VLAN setup. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:
Rutul S., CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited, writes of the product, “The most valuable feature is the SD-WAN support. This device is easy to use.” He adds, “Stability-wise, this product is better than others that are on the market.”
Emil V., System Consultant at I team, notes, “I like the VLAN setup of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has very good scalability.” He adds, “Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is easy to set up. It only takes minutes to deploy this product, because it is mostly boxes.”
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