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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
6th
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
103
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 5.4%, down from 6.0% 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

"Having a single dashboard to manage everything simplifies the process."
"The most valuable feature is the security switch."
"The tool provides a firewall and good performance."
"It is easy to set up."
"The solution is very simple, and it's very easily available."
"You can hook all the other components to be monitored. You can create policies and block certain people from accessing the Internet."
"My advice those using a firewall Fortigate is: use their APs because they work very well."
"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."
"We get a lifetime warranty for the solution so whenever the switches get faulty, you can get a replacement."
"The most valuable feature in HPE Ethernet Switches is programmability and analytics."
"I would rate the stability a solid ten out of ten."
"The product has streamlined our smart hospitality services, allowing us to control room amenities like TVs and lights more efficiently."
"The solution is scalable."
"It is a scalable solution."
"The best feature of this solution is the lifetime warranty."
"It's stable. We never have any issues."
 

Cons

"The initial setup is pretty easy; we have built a knowledge base. But there's a learning curve for beginners."
"The tool should improve its CLI."
"FortiSwitch offers eight and 24-port models. They don't have a 16-port model, which can be an issue for some clients."
"We had experienced downtime. I would like to see it to be improved."
"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."
"Renewing the annual licenses for Secure the Switch FortiSwitch can be cumbersome, especially considering the relatively high cost of Fortinet licenses."
"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."
"Technical support needs to take a different approach and pricing should appear more competitive."
"The solution lacks certain protocols and has a limited warranty."
"The solution’s licensing could be improved."
"There is a limitation of capability."
"The ability to stack, as well as a unified operating system, would be extremely beneficial."
"It would be helpful to have training available for this solution."
"The quality of the service needs improvement."
"The technical support does not match up to the standard of Cisco."
"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."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's pricing is good."
"We have to renew and pay for the licenses."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access requires a license and the price is expensive."
"The solution is expensive but overall the cost makes sense."
"We signed up for a three-year license for support and replacement."
"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 less compared to other enterprise solutions."
"We have an annual licensing cost. There are no additional costs."
"This is not an expensive solution."
"This is an expensive product."
"I believe HPE is less expensive than Aruba's and UniFi and that is why certain clients have chosen them as their solution."
"It would be great if certain features, like licensing, were included in the base price of the switches."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
"The price could be more competitive."
"The tool's pricing is very cheap."
"HPE costs almost the same as Cisco."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
15%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Educational Organization
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: March 2025.
842,296 professionals have used our research since 2012.