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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
13th
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 August 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 2.9%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Huawei Ethernet Switches is 3.1%, down from 3.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Huawei Ethernet Switches3.1%
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center2.9%
Other94.0%
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

"If you use FortiGate you should use FortiSwitch; it's very helpful and has a good configuration."
"The initial setup was straightforward; it wasn't complex at all and we found it to be relatively painless."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers flexibility and control over the entire network from a single pane of management."
"All the features are necessary, like tracking evidence and IPS. However, I appreciate the ability to connect the logs and the dashboard functionality."
"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"It is very stable."
"The most valuable feature is the port analytics."
"We don't have any issues with the security of Huawei Ethernet Switches."
"They are very user-friendly. Handling Huawei is very easy."
"Huawei Ethernet Switches excel in compatibility with other brands, offering features to ensure seamless communication with existing protocols. This allows them to work alongside switches from different manufacturers, such as Cisco, by making adjustments on both ends for compatibility."
"One scenario where Huawei Ethernet Switches improved network efficiency was last year when a customer needed switches with 10 gigabits, which are not very common in the market. Huawei provided this kind of switch, enabling the customer to upgrade their network from 1 gigabit to 10 gigabit speeds across all devices."
"There aren't any licensing costs, it's a one-off payment at the beginning and then you can use them for as long as you like."
"They have the ability, since they have a very big R&D team, to create an upgrade for any feature or patch very easily."
"It is a stable product. I rate it a nine out of ten...It is a scalable solution."
"Huawei Ethernet Switches allow your devices and the network to connect with one another and can also provide internet access."
 

Cons

"Does not have as many features as other solutions, such as segmentation and analytics engines."
"There could be more porting software options for easy deployment in the product."
"They could improve availability and security by detecting and preventing switch attacks."
"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."
"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 FortiSwitch product was initially quite complex."
"FortiSwitch should improve the FortiGate map. The diagram cannot move automatically to show the switch. The map does not map the physical location. It cannot move or touch the diagram."
"The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches."
"There could be some improvement in the dashboards and that's something that could be included in the next update."
"Presently, the solution doesn't offer any AI integrations with the product hardware."
"The stability could be improved."
"The company needs to provide more on hand training on the product."
"Connectivity is an area that needs improvement in the solution. Interconnectivity with third-party versions or Cisco Meraki should be made available to users in future releases of the solution."
"Dashboard could be improved."
"Possibly more advanced features could need improvement."
"But you might be sacrificing security or risking involvement in a politically unstable situation."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive."
"It is reasonably priced."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"The solution is not expensive."
"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"Huawei provides much better performance for the same price, even when taking into account very aggressive commercial policies."
"The exact pricing varies based on how many units you purchase."
"Huawei has the same licensing model as Cisco, so both are working on the subscription model."
"The product is competitively priced in its market."
"I would say that the product is cost-effective."
"The solution's price is reasonable compared to other products like Cisco."
"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."
"Compared to other brands, I think that the price is quite fair."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
15%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Construction Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Construction Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

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 primary use case for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
Currently, we are mostly working with Sophos and Fortinet. Before, we worked with XG, but now they have upgraded to the XGS series, and in Fortinet, we are working with FortiGate Firewall. In some ...
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.
What is your primary use case for Huawei Ethernet Switches?
The primary use case for Huawei Ethernet Switches is for network purposes, including SaaS services.
 

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: August 2026.
908,800 professionals have used our research since 2012.