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D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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

D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
11th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
28
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
47
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 6.3%, up from 5.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 5.5%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

MichaelNdwiga - PeerSpot reviewer
Enhanced network efficiency through features and demonstrate minimal downtime
One of the issues is the range of their products. They need to increase it. For example, if I want a 12-port switch that is fully managed, it's not easy to find. So, I have to opt for a 24-port switch that is fully managed, which might not be necessary as I only need 12 ports. So if they could increase the range of the switches in regards to the features, and the number of ports, that would be beneficial. So, that's the only potential improvement. The switches are perfect otherwise. Ideally, I'd like to see a central management system included as part of their license, not as a separate purchase. Currently, we have to manage switches independently. A central portal for managing all switches and providing visibility would be great.
SherifAbdelrahman - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient integration allows streamlined network management with a straightforward setup
I use it for retail business. We are using the FortiSwitch solution for our voice switches and access points as well It has helped us by providing easy management from a single platform through the firewall interface. It's very easy to manage and provides all the insights and vulnerabilities,…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution is scalable."
"The most valuable feature is VLAN."
"The initial setup was very easy and user-friendly."
"The tool's fault frequency is very less."
"The product is simple to manage."
"There are no stability issues with D-Link Ethernet switches."
"We use the solution for the network and ethernet connection."
"The switches have a graphical user interface that makes configuration good, easy, and straightforward."
"The most valuable feature is the breakability after integration with the FortiGate firewall."
"Ability to manage FortiAP, FortiClient, and FortiGate all from a single console"
"It works really well, I think the equipment is solid, and the help is great."
"The tool's setup was very easy."
"The product is a total solution with the FortiGate, switch, and access point. It is integrated with FortiGate, allowing us to manage all the equipment through it. You can handle everything from a single point."
"The integration with the whole platform, so there's one dashboard for everything. It is one of the most valuable features."
"I like that everything flows back to FortiGate, which is the controller, management console, and firewall. There's one central point for the entire network, so the security, switching, wireless, etc., flows back to the FortiGate. The ease of management is what customers like. They don't need separate solutions like Cisco."
"The tool's VLAN feature is easy to understand. It was very good."
 

Cons

"This solution is not good for distribution at the core."
"In future releases, I would like to see improved security and an improved CLI (Command-Line Interface)."
"Its security features need improvement."
"I'd like to see a central management system included as part of their license, not as a separate purchase. Currently, we have to manage switches independently. A central portal for managing all switches and providing visibility would be great."
"The availability could be improved."
"The solution could be cheaper."
"The solution needs to improve layer 2 switches."
"They need to have some more high-end switches."
"The product's pricing needs improvement for small and medium businesses."
"The introduction of AI integration could be valuable for detecting abnormal traffic directly on the switch."
"In Fortinet, the packet reconstruction in the SD-WAN solution needs a little bit of improvement. When it comes to the Secure Access to the switches or the mix of Fortinet solution, the very small ones do not have the capability to use fiber cables. So, the small FortiGates have to work with the copper cables and cannot use fiber cables. Even though they have the capacity and throughput on all technical connectors, they don't have the interfaces, which is one of the good things with Cisco. They just add models to it. You buy the independent models, and you add them."
"The initial setup is pretty easy; we have built a knowledge base. But there's a learning curve for beginners."
"We've had some issues with Layer 3 FortiSwitch. We can deploy the device in the cloud. However, we can't deploy this solution in complex environments easily."
"The pricing could be improved, and it could be easier to configure."
"We had experienced downtime. I would like to see it to be improved."
"It would also help if they lowered the cost of their service."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"D-Link Ethernet Switches' price is good."
"The D-Link Switches are cheaper than Cisco."
"D-Link Ethernet Switches are cheap products for homes and small offices."
"They were cheap. We were not paying for any license."
"These units vary in price from $200 to one thousand dollars. They're available for a one-time purchase."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"The solution is budget-friendly"
"This product is very affordable, especially compared to Cisco."
"Price-wise, I find Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access to be an okay product. It is not an expensive product."
"Licensing is easy: FortiCare and that's it."
"The price is good."
"The pricing is quite high."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"The solution has reasonable pricing. The firewall costs around 500$ annually."
"The product pricing seems to be mid-range."
"It's affordable compared to other switching products, like Cisco switches."
report
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Healthcare Company
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
The pricing of D-Link Ethernet Switches is cost-effective. For small data centers, it is good to have D-Link switches as the cost is less compared to other features.
Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
Currently, I don't have an opinion about the price as I focus on implementation and am not informed about pricing in comparison to other vendors.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about D-Link Ethernet Switches vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
838,713 professionals have used our research since 2012.