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Aruba Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Aruba Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
82
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
10th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
102
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 13.4%, up from 12.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.5%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Michael-Sugg - PeerSpot reviewer
As a managed service provider, it's important to have a solution that can manage everything from one console
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.
LuisSilva6 - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides ease of management and has an easy initial setup process
Primarily, we use the product for network and VLAN segmentation across our hospitality property. It forms the backbone of our network, providing connectivity to devices like TVs, phones, access points, and even electrical switches within guest rooms The product's most valuable feature is the ease…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The features I find most valuable in Aruba Switches are their flexibility, reliability, and affordability."
"It allows us to manage the switches through the cloud, which is good."
"The initial setup is quite easy. Once you know what you do, it’s easy."
"Aruba Central is valuable."
"Aruba Switches are always innovating to bring new solutions to the market."
"Aruba Central is very valuable to us."
"Aruba has a good switching solution. It has some basic security features and full switching features for the company. It’s not used as a security device, but it has some basic features like configuring ACL. However, it cannot be used as a complete security solution. The primary thing our clients look for in Aruba, or HPE now since HP acquired Aruba, is cost-effectiveness. Aruba is a good choice if the customer has budget limitations. We recommend Aruba switches because they are less expensive than Cisco but provide the same features."
"The most valuable features are the stability and compatibility with other products."
"We found the installation process to be simple."
"The solution offers lifetime warranties."
"HPE Ethernet Switches are scalable, and their software is also quite sturdy."
"Stable and scalable."
"A very robust solution."
"They are affordable and very stable. They also have good performance."
"I'm a power user, so reliability is crucial. The HPE equipment hasn't failed on me, unlike some other brands like Huawei, which I find more sensitive."
"I would rate the stability a solid ten out of ten."
 

Cons

"Technical support response time could be better."
"They have limited CLI options in the UI and this is something that needs improvement."
"We had an integration team do the setup of the solution."
"The command-line interface could be easier to use, perhaps having voice control."
"The tool must provide a controller-based architecture."
"I would like to see something like a Cisco Prime, an application controlling the entire system, switches, and access points."
"We don't have visibility in Aruba Switches and we are thinking of switching to Fortiswitch because it has visibility."
"It's an expensive product."
"The pricing could be lowered."
"The scalability is limited."
"We have had some rare occasions with glitches, so the stability can be improved."
"They should have more control tools for controlling the bandwidth."
"The VLAN tagging could be improved,"
"We'd like better support for situations where we need troubleshooting."
"The solution lacks certain protocols and has a limited warranty."
"Some users might look for high-speed switching like Cisco or Nexus switches, which can handle larger volumes. HPE's current offerings aren't as robust in that area, but they could improve."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of these switches is high."
"We pay for the clear pass and the controller."
"Aruba Switches are cost-effective."
"Our customers may want better pricing but we are a reseller and a partner, and the pricing that we get is good."
"The product is a bit expensive."
"The price for Aruba is quite a bit cheaper than it is for similar products by Cisco."
"Typically it is a $500 to $600 difference in price."
"Aruba's switches are priced lower than Cisco's by about 30%."
"We need to pay when we buy the switch. We pay for a license to use the software, but it is not required."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
"All the solutions have a license for the QSFP. Additionally, there is a one-time license fee to increase the interface speed."
"The licensing cost is set up annually or every three years."
"The pricing is very good."
"They are affordable and less expensive than Cisco. Their price was the decider at the time."
"We just bought new switches for $500 last year, and now, the same switch is $800. It's gone up in price in the last 12 months."
"It is a more expensive solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Switches?
Aruba lives up to the expectations of the tech giant hewlett packard enterprise providing excellent networking capabilities at a very affordable price compared to the equivalent from another tech g...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Switches?
Most Aruba Switches come with a one-time licensing fee, and we pay for support annually. The pricing of some products, such as the 6300M switch, is considered a significant cost.
What needs improvement with Aruba Switches?
There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches. For instance, the distributor in our country cannot sell to neighboring countries, creating complications in project execution. Improv...
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
Based on my experience, I am quite happy with the switches at the moment and do not see any immediate room for improvement.
 

Also Known As

8400 Series, 8320 Series, 5400R Series, 3810 Series, 2930M Series, 2930F Series, 2920 Series, 2540 Series, 2530 Series
HP Ethernet Switches
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Switches vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.