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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Huawei 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
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Huawei Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
11th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
60
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 2.9%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Huawei Ethernet Switches is 3.4%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Huawei Ethernet Switches3.4%
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center2.9%
Other93.7%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Rutul SHah - PeerSpot reviewer
CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited
Provides seamless traffic control and secure connectivity while minimizing downtime and optimizing resource allocation
There is always room for improvement in Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because with this switch, they can reduce downtime due to broadcasting issues by denying specific traffic on particular ports. Currently, I am not identifying any weak points of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because it meets the customer's use case. However, the commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point.
Muhammad Kabir Salihu - PeerSpot reviewer
Deputy Director at NITDA
Cost-effective performance enhanced by security features with easy configurations
I mainly use Huawei Switches and also work with Huawei Wireless. I deal with both Huawei and Cisco Switches, and I find Huawei to be more cost-effective Huawei has helped to save costs and is cost-effective, which also helps save time for the company. The performance of Huawei is good, and it…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The product's most valuable feature is its ability to manage switches from one central point."
"Configurations between FortiGate and FortiSwitch have to link to each other. We need configuration. The configuration is not like a Cisco switch. It has a unique configuration."
"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."
"The single pane of glass that helps us manage everything through FortiManager is the most important feature."
"I have found the solution to be scalable."
"It integrates well."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers flexibility and control over the entire network from a single pane of management."
"When you buy a switch from Huawei, the switches come along with a lot of features that you do not need to pay extra money for."
"The most valuable feature of Huawei is that it already provides integration with any automation tool."
"Huawei is very cost-effective and they have all the features, so I would not have a problem recommending it to anybody."
"The solution is stable and the performance is good."
"Huawei switches come in small, medium, and large capacities and can be used for monitoring and switching."
"It is cheap."
"The most valuable features are that it is easy to use, easy to configure, it's priced well, and the operating system is easy to understand."
"The solution is very inexpensive, the documentation is very good, and technical support is also very good."
 

Cons

"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."
"Before using FortiSwitch, you need several certifications."
"Before using FortiSwitch, you need several certifications."
"The commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point."
"The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches."
"The solution can improve by upgrading QSFP+, it is very limited and must be supported more than it is now."
"FortiSwitch should improve the FortiGate map. The diagram cannot move automatically to show the switch and the map does not map the physical location."
"The graphical user interface could be much better."
"We would like to see additional backup solutions, since we have several degrees of backup."
"It could potentially be difficult to get parts depending on where you live."
"The availability and the speed of the firmware updates are the only things wrong with Huawei. There are some vulnerabilities on the hardware."
"We had a few issues with integration."
"I have issues with the support's communication language. The tool's UI can be better."
"Huawei Switch can make further advancements, as the current CLI lacks functionality. The majority of tasks are performed through the CLI, making it difficult for those without technical expertise to work with. They should enhance the CLI of the access switches to make them more user-friendly. The GUI of the Ethernet Switches should also be improved to allow non-technical users to perform technical tasks with ease. Additionally, the documentation of the solution could improve."
"The web interface is poor, it could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"The tool's pricing is lower than Cisco's."
"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"The solution is not expensive."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
"I would say that the product is cost-effective."
"We only pay one-off instead of paying recurring license fees."
"From the initial purchase, you will pay for a license and you do not need to pay for a license again. The price depends on the size of the infrastructure."
"Huawei Ethernet Switches are cheap and cost around ten dollars."
"The solution's price is reasonable compared to other products like Cisco."
"It's a reasonable price, cheaper than some other vendors."
"A cost-effective product"
"The switch came as part of a package bundle that includes internet service."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Retailer
7%
Construction Company
7%
Computer Software Company
12%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Construction Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business17
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business30
Midsize Enterprise13
Large Enterprise20
 

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?
The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches. Regarding security policies, I did not configure that many policies in Fortinet...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Huawei Ethernet Switches?
Huawei Ethernet Switches offer very competitive and aggressive product pricing compared to other brands.
What needs improvement with Huawei Ethernet Switches?
Huawei should focus more on security. They need more products on the security side to improve the security portion.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Newcastle University, Jingyang District of Deyang City in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, Glasgow Rangers Soccer Team, RMIT, Insurance Industry Association of Zhejiang Province, China, APT Satellite Holdings Limited (APT)
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Huawei Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
885,286 professionals have used our research since 2012.