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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs HPE Ethernet Switches 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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
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 January 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 1.6%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, down from 2.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Rias Majeed - PeerSpot reviewer
Enables easy management of traffic and enhances security
FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface. This integration makes network management streamlined and secure. Additionally, the controllers are built into the firewall, which enables easy management of traffic and enhances security. Unlike some solutions, a Fortinet firewall is not just a firewall; it also acts as a full-fledged router.
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 interface is very straightforward."
"Based on my use cases, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center was a great product that was easy to manage and work with while being a powerful tool."
"I have found the solution to be scalable."
"The single pane of glass that helps us manage everything through FortiManager is the most important feature."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"A valuable feature of FortiGate is its management integrity."
"The initial setup was simple."
"It is very stable."
"The switches are very important in our hospitals, which is a critical environment for our patients. They provide time-effective management and meet our needs."
"The simplicity of the commands is most valuable. The commands are the same for several devices."
"We were able to onboard HPE Ethernet Switches easily to the cloud. It was fast and took only five minutes to complete."
"What I like the most is the management system integrated with the HP system."
"I like that these switches are reliable, and the support is good."
"The best feature of this solution is the lifetime warranty."
"You can scale the product as needed."
"A very robust solution."
 

Cons

"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"Enhancing security on the firewall and the switches, as well as focusing on price segment issues, would make it a better solution for the future."
"Does not have as many features as other solutions, such as segmentation and analytics engines."
"Routing is an area in Fortinet FortiSwitch with certain shortcomings where improvements are needed."
"The tool is not easy to use."
"The product must improve the latency in the management center."
"The solution can improve by upgrading QSFP+, it is very limited and must be supported more than it is now. If we need FortiSwitches to support all the QSFP ports our budgets would have to be very large."
"Managing the VLANs is an area where the solution lacks and needs to improve."
"The solution is a bit expensive."
"I would like to see more updates for the solution."
"The next release would benefit from adding a central management that could be deployable on premise and allow you to see the layout of topology."
"It is a bit complex to configure."
"Installation could be made more secure."
"It is not very stable."
"Technical support needs improvement, as the response time could be better."
"It's gone up in price in the last 12 months."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product has a mid-range price."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"The solution is not expensive."
"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
"The tool's pricing is lower than Cisco's."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive."
"I like HPE switches because you get a perpetual license with the hardware. The initial cost is about the same as other switches, but it starts beating the competitors after three or four years because you don't have to pay for additional annual licensing costs."
"This is not an expensive solution."
"The licensing cost is set up annually or every three years."
"I believe HPE is less expensive than Aruba's and UniFi and that is why certain clients have chosen them as their solution."
"It is a more expensive solution."
"All the solutions have a license for the QSFP. Additionally, there is a one-time license fee to increase the interface speed."
"We need to pay when we buy the switch. We pay for a license to use the software, but it is not required."
"This is an expensive product."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Government
10%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
16%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
Compatibility with infrastructure from other vendors like Cisco and Sophos can be further improved. Sometimes there are bugs when integrating with Sophos and other products.
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

No data available
HP Ethernet Switches
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
831,158 professionals have used our research since 2012.