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Cisco FabricPath vs HPE ProCurve comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE ProCurve
Ranking in LAN Switching
4th
Average Rating
8.6
Number of Reviews
38
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Cisco FabricPath is 1.6%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ProCurve is 12.2%, down from 13.8% 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

"Cisco FabricPath is highly beneficial for network performance and relatively easy to implement. It also offers straightforward monitoring capabilities."
"The most valuable features are the security, web control, and traffic control."
"The most valuable feature is the central management where the customer can receive all the alerts."
"Cisco is the market leader in this space and it is a product that I recommend."
"It is stable and reliable."
"FabricPath's best features are routing, OSPS, ethernet, and performance."
"The technical assistance is good."
"The setup is straightforward."
"HPE ProCurve is very complex for junior engineers and beginners. You need a lot of experience in managing switches in order to use this switch."
"The most valuable features are the price and the warranty."
"Its easy manageability is most valuable. It's easy to manage."
"It's easy to manage and configure. The configurations can be exported and imported to another solution."
"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"ProCurve is easy to configure and to know how to create each connection and configuration."
"We have found the solution to be entirely stable."
"The network management solutions that they have is great."
 

Cons

"The prices for FabricPath are very high, and Cisco also takes a long time to deliver products (in Mexico, the delivery time is eight months)."
"I would like to see better interoperability with other IT solutions."
"The management features are in need of improvement."
"The product lacks AI...The initial setup of Cisco FabricPath was a bit complex."
"Cisco FabricPath's pricing is expensive."
"Lacks sufficient integration with SIEM."
"While Cisco products are excellent, the problem is the cost. Cisco products are product, Cisco products are very expensive. I rate Cisco FabricPath three out of 10 for affordability."
"In terms of the series, I find that the integration with other teleconferencing applications needs to be more seamless. I have suggested to Cisco that the endpoint device should allow joining calls from Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other teleconferencing applications. Additionally, I appreciate the recent inclusion of breakout sessions in the Cisco Webex application, which enhances its relevance in the networking field."
"There should be faster interfaces on the switch, such as 25 gigabits."
"If you make a change and you disconnect yourself from the switch, you will create an issue."
"The pricing model could be improved in HPE ProCurve."
"These switches can be made more stable and robust."
"The product could be cheaper."
"It might be best if it offers better scalability."
"The user interface (UI) could be better."
"HPE ProCurve is very complex for junior engineers and beginners. You need a lot of experience in managing switches in order to use this switch."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."
"The solution falls under the pricier category, but it provides value for the price charged."
"It is very expensive."
"FabricPath is very reasonably priced."
"The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers."
"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."
"The pricing for this product is good."
"Cisco is expensive but offers good-quality features, so I would rate it high on the pricing scale."
"ProCurve's pricing is its strongest point. The value proposition is quite good, and we have seen a return on investment."
"The price of this product is cheap."
"It provides quite good value for money."
"HPE ProCurve products are reasonably priced."
"You buy the switch and that's it."
"There is a license required to use HPE ProCurve."
"The purchasing cost a few years ago for two units was approx €5,000."
"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."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
31%
Government
18%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Educational Organization
13%
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Government
7%
 

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?
The pricing of Cisco FabricPath can be quite high depending on the architecture, but it's justified by the stability it offers.
What needs improvement with Cisco FabricPath?
Cisco FabricPath can be integrated into data centers and remote sites. For example, in a bank, we can extend the architecture to remote branches by implementing switches connected to the first and ...
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: January 2025.
831,791 professionals have used our research since 2012.