H3C and Aruba Ethernet Switches compete in the Ethernet switch category. H3C seems to have the upper hand due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Features: H3C Ethernet Switches are known for their reliability and ease of configuration, standing out for internet-based stack configuration which is unique among competitors. They offer complete routing protocols and a five-year warranty. Aruba Switches excel in cloud management and fast deployment, providing seamless integration with ClearPass for unified network management. They come with a comprehensive GUI and modular operating system, enhancing ease of use and security, along with a lifetime warranty.
Room for Improvement: H3C Ethernet Switches could expand their product range and support tools, enhance cloud capabilities, and improve aesthetic design and user interface. They also need faster delivery times. Aruba Switches need improved stability and simplified dashboards, as well as clearer documentation. Enhancements in visibility, control features, and part numbering could reduce user confusion and align them more closely with competitors like Meraki.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: H3C and Aruba Switches offer on-premises and hybrid deployment, with Aruba also suitable for public cloud environments. H3C provides localized support in regions like the UAE but may present language barriers. Aruba's deployment is easy, though setup complexity can be challenging for inexperienced users. Local support is not as widespread for Aruba, which could be a drawback for some customers.
Pricing and ROI: H3C Ethernet Switches present a cost-effective solution with no subscription costs, providing quick ROI, appealing to SMBs. They are significantly cheaper than Cisco. Aruba Switches are competitively priced but can incur additional costs for cloud management licenses, making them expensive for long-term use despite being cost-effective without licensing fees for basic features. Service and ROI remain positive for Aruba customers, although recurring fees are a consideration.
Machine vertical support and campus management support are both commended.
Improving the distribution network across regions would be beneficial.
There is room for improvement in Wi-Fi solutions, which are not optimized.
I would rate the scalability of the product an eight out of ten.
H3C is scalable, and it's possible to increase usage if needed.
The pricing of some products, such as the 6300M switch, is considered a significant cost.
The solution has been very cost-effective, being 70/30 in favor when compared to Cisco.
I have sites that have been running for many years with no issues.
In the hotel sector, IGMP 3 is particularly valuable for IPTV.
A good SD-WAN solution.
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.”
H3C S5560 High Performance Ethernet Switch is the latest development of Gigabit speed Layer 3 Ethernet switch. This powerful and highly secure series switch is built based on industry-leading high performance hardware architecture and H3C Comware V7 platform. It supports diversified services, high capacity GE access port as well as high density 10GE uplink, which meet the requirements for high density campus access and high performance aggregation.
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