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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access 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 - 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
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 February 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 5.5%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.4%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

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,…
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

"With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required."
"One of the most feature-packed switching solutions you can implement."
"It works really well, I think the equipment is solid, and the help is great."
"What I actually use in this deployment are Forti APs (Fortinet Access Points). So, I can see all my office infrastructure from a single console, which is handy. One FortiGate, one FortiSwitch, and five access points, everything under good control. It's really nice to see it all together like this."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access has good scalability."
"This device is easy to use."
"What stands out is the effective management and enhanced security provided by the solution's function as an extension of the firewall."
"The software is very stable."
"You can scale the product as needed."
"I like that HPE's management functions are GUI-based, so it doesn't rely on command lines."
"These switches are very stable, to date I have not experienced any issues."
"The solution is very, very stable."
"What I like the most is the management system integrated with the HP system."
"The solution is easy to set up and easy to use, unlike, for example, Cisco, which is more complex."
"I'm a power user, so reliability is crucial. The HPE equipment hasn't failed on me, unlike some other brands like Huawei, which I find more sensitive."
"The best feature of this solution is the lifetime warranty."
 

Cons

"We had experienced downtime. I would like to see it to be improved."
"They could provide integration with Fortinet Authenticator."
"The tool should improve its CLI."
"The pricing could be improved, and it could be easier to configure."
"I give the stability a seven out of ten because we have noticed when we hook up phones the switching of ELANs et cetera doesn't work as it should."
"In the next release, I would like to see more outdoor products."
"The solution has SD-WAN but it doesn't have SDN. This should be added."
"Currently issues with some of the switches and problems with the firmware."
"There could be features for ransomware attack detection and enhanced anomaly detection to identify and mitigate anonymous traffic."
"A lower price would be an improvement because we always want to reduce our costs."
"There is some improvement needed for the power supply of the solution."
"Sometimes, we encounter the need for new technologies, especially when we require higher bandwidth. If we can't find what we need with HPE Ethernet Switches, we explore options from other vendors like Cisco."
"It's gone up in price in the last 12 months."
"We would always be happier if the price were reduced."
"When we have a lot of clients on the system, we lose signal and have to restart our antenna."
"They should have more control tools for controlling the bandwidth."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost appears to be high in comparison to other competing products although with this product you are paying for what you get."
"The product's pricing is good."
"It's affordable and there are no additional costs, just regular support, and license fees."
"We signed up for a three-year license for support and replacement."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"Price-wise, I find Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access to be an okay product. It is not an expensive product."
"The price is good."
"The product's pricing is less compared to other enterprise solutions."
"This is an expensive product."
"HP switches are priced well."
"HPE costs almost the same as Cisco."
"It would be great if certain features, like licensing, were included in the base price of the switches."
"Licensing fees are on a yearly basis."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
"The pricing is very good."
"They are affordable and less expensive than Cisco. Their price was the decider at the time."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
16%
Government
8%
Educational Organization
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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.
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
 

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 - Secure Access vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
838,737 professionals have used our research since 2012.