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Cisco FabricPath vs HPE ProCurve comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Cisco FabricPath
Ranking in LAN Switching
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE ProCurve
Ranking in LAN Switching
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
38
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Cisco FabricPath is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ProCurve is 12.1%, down from 13.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

OusaidAbaz - PeerSpot reviewer
Extendable and has beneficial spin and leaf architecture
Cisco FabricPath is very fast, stable, extendable, and scalable. It doesn't have issues with patches or problems because it's built on the stable NXOS operating system. In a scenario using FabricPath, the spin and leaf architecture is beneficial. For example, we can use two separate spine switches like 9980s and multiple leaf switches as access switches. These leaf switches are connected using VPC between them, with each switch separated and not directly connected to the spine. This setup improves data center architecture by allowing two ways to arrange destinations, connecting the first connection to the first spine and the second to the second spine. The spines are configured as a virtual chassis. In FabricPath, we can enhance VXLANs, VPNs, and integrate with Cisco ISE for user authentication. It can also be configured with WLC to manage wireless technology, depending on the client's architecture.
Sandeep Rajguru - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers reliability and helps with vulnerability assessment
I use HPE ProCurve network in our organization. I can say that the product has improved the network flexibility in our company since I haven't seen any challenges from the last seven to eight years. The most valuable product for network management revolves around the area of VSB, also known as virtual switch bonding, which can quickly attach two or three switches or make them come together to quickly form a single switch. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. Following the hardening guidelines, the switches are configured according to the hardening parameters. The tool's reliability and uptime match our company's needs. My company enjoyed configuring the switches a lot, especially since we saw similarities between Cisco's and HPS's configuration processes. HPE ProCurve is user-friendly. We have a different product for network management, so my company doesn't use HPE ProCurve since we have already collaborated with some third-party products. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it, especially since I have been using it without any issues for many years. I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I like the 10G ports and the modular uplink port."
"The tool makes it easy to manage multi-layer networking and increases network efficiency. I haven't faced any challenges in integrating it into our existing infrastructure."
"The technical assistance is good."
"FabricPath's best features are routing, OSPS, ethernet, and performance."
"It's a reliable product and you know that it will work in the enterprise environment."
"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable soltuion."
"Cisco FabricPath operates with minimal errors."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to migrate VMs between data centers."
"It's easy to manage and configure. The configurations can be exported and imported to another solution."
"The initial setup was straightforward."
"The network management solutions that they have is great."
"The most valuable features of HPE ProCurve are the reports, lifetime warranty, and CLI."
"The most valuable feature of HPE ProCurve is its ease of use and implementation."
"The product's stability is good. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"HPE ProCurve has plenty of features."
"The user interface is simple to use."
 

Cons

"I would like to see better interoperability with other IT solutions."
"The solution is complex to set up."
"Currently, there are no issues or suggestions for improvement as everything is working smoothly."
"The initial setup is a little complex."
"Cisco FabricPath has room for improvement in areas like technical support and design."
"I would like one management console to control the network."
"Cisco FabricPath's pricing is expensive."
"If Cisco can include management for this protocol in Layer 3, that would be ideal."
"I would like to see integration with HPE OneView."
"The interface we have could be better."
"One of the weakest points of this solution is its on-premise. We are not able to do all we need to with the CLI."
"There is one proprietary function they lack, and I can't remember what it was called, but it monitors the ports, and then every 10 seconds if the port is down, it can divert the traffic somewhere else."
"An area for improvement in HPE ProCurve is the web interface not being as robust because you still have to go to the COI to make modifications or look at the exact configuration."
"HPE ProCurve's web interface is old, and I have to log in on each device separately, making them the product's shortcomings that need improvement."
"I would like to see some kind of packet tracer where people can study how the switch is operating."
"It might be best if it offers better scalability."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is very expensive."
"The solution falls under the pricier category, but it provides value for the price charged."
"The price of Cisco FabricPath could be reduced, it is expensive in the market here in Sri Lanka. The solution is subscriptions based, if the customer wants any future integrations, or if there are any future enhancements they will have to pay. There are different license options available, such as one or three years purchases."
"I rate the product's pricing a ten out of ten. Cisco switches cost around 15,000 dollars, and DNS licenses cost around 25,000 dollars. The total amount is 45,000 dollars, which is too expensive."
"I rate it seven out of ten on pricing as it's a bit expensive. It would be better if the price were lower, but we prioritize quality over cost."
"FabricPath is very reasonably priced."
"Cisco is expensive but offers good-quality features, so I would rate it high on the pricing scale."
"The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers."
"The purchasing cost a few years ago for two units was approx €5,000."
"The product has a good price compared to other solutions."
"There is no need to pay for the solution's license."
"The cost of HPE ProCurve is good."
"The price could be more competitive."
"The price of HPE ProCurve is very good."
"We are a public company, so we are obliged to take the best offer from the vendors. They gave us the best price for the needs we had. It was considerably less than Cisco. It had maybe 40% lower cost."
"I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with one being very cheap and ten being very expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
30%
Government
17%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Educational Organization
13%
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco FabricPath?
The tool makes it easy to manage multi-layer networking and increases network efficiency. I haven't faced any challenges in integrating it into our existing infrastructure.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco FabricPath?
Cisco solutions are expensive, and because of that, moving to new upgrades is challenging due to cost considerations. For licensing, I budget approximately $100 per user annually and project future...
What needs improvement with Cisco FabricPath?
We are phasing off Cisco FabricPath due to outdated protocols. The fault isolation mechanism in FabricPath is not as effective as the newer technology, Cisco ACI ( /products/cisco-aci-reviews ). He...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProCurve?
HPE ProCurve is competitively priced, with a difference of approximately 30 to 35% compared to other vendors like Cisco. This makes it a viable option for businesses with limited budgets, particula...
What needs improvement with HPE ProCurve?
The product could improve scalability and support for advanced networking features. Including advanced interfaces like QSFP and enhanced support for AI-driven network solutions would make it more c...
 

Also Known As

FabricPath
ProCurve, HP ProCurve
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Bellevue, Calligaris, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Management Science Associates, Multi-Customer, Oediv, Roper St. Francis, SNAM
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, DY 4 Systems, EdgeWing, Edmonton Public Schools District, Halton Catholic District School Board, Hartwick College, Hatch Associates, Huntingdon College, Roseville Joint Union High School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, One Superior Place
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco FabricPath vs. HPE ProCurve and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
848,270 professionals have used our research since 2012.