HPE Ethernet Switches are used for internet networking and the hotel industry.
Director -Digital Transformation at Convergence Lanka
An enterprise-level solution that can be used for internet networking, but its throughput should be increased
Pros and Cons
- "We use HPE Ethernet Switches to provide solutions for the hotel, their guests, and IPTV."
- "The solution's throughput should be increased because we often get stuck when it comes to IPTV streaming."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
We are not using any specific features. We use HPE Ethernet Switches to provide solutions for the hotel, their guests, and IPTV.
What needs improvement?
The solution's throughput should be increased because we often get stuck when it comes to IPTV streaming.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using HPE Ethernet Switches for more than five years.
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HPE Ethernet Switches
January 2025
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
HPE Ethernet Switches are not as stable as Cisco. I rate HPE Ethernet Switches a six out of ten for stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Around 250 users are extensively using HPE Ethernet Switches. We do not have plans to increase the solution's usage.
I rate HPE Ethernet Switches a six out of ten for scalability.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before HPE Ethernet Switches, we used Juniper switches. We mainly switched from Juniper to HPE because of the local support HPE Ethernet Switches provide.
How was the initial setup?
Cisco Meraki has an easy initial setup. Aruba and HPE have a pretty configuration setup.
What about the implementation team?
The solution was implemented through our in-house engineers. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to deploy the solution.
Our engineers use the same deployment process as with other products. We cannot get support from local HPE because they don't have local engineers. So most of the time, we get support from other countries or someone who specializes in those areas.
What was our ROI?
We will see a return on investment with HPE Ethernet Switches within one year.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches. The solution's pricing is lower than Cisco's. The solution does not include any extra costs in addition to the standard licensing fees.
What other advice do I have?
I am using the latest version of HPE Ethernet Switches.
One or two engineers are required for the solution's deployment and maintenance, but it depends on the customer site.
HPE Ethernet Switches are more suited for enterprise-level customers. However, Cisco is the best solution for data center-level customers.
Overall, I rate HPE Ethernet Switches a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IT Manager at GASCO
An affordable, easy-to-configure solution
Pros and Cons
- "HPE Ethernet Switches are easy to configure."
- "The technical support does not match up to the standard of Cisco."
What is our primary use case?
HPE Ethernet Switches are used for networking.
What is most valuable?
HPE Ethernet Switches are easy to configure.
What needs improvement?
The technical support does not match up to the standard of Cisco.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using HPE Ethernet Switches for one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
HPE Ethernet Switches are stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
HPE Ethernet Switches are scalable.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license cost is yearly.
What other advice do I have?
I give HPE Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten.
I recommend HPE Ethernet Switches for users. It is not as expensive as Cisco Switches.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
HPE Ethernet Switches
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about HPE Ethernet Switches. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,020 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior Network Engineer at AZHD
Reliable and easy to set up with a nice basic design
Pros and Cons
- "It's stable. We never have any issues."
- "We'd like better support for situations where we need troubleshooting."
What is most valuable?
The solution offers a basic design. There's nothing advanced that we have done. Now, we are planning to upgrade with the central features from the S side, the S feature.
It's pretty easy to set up and implement.
It's stable. We never have any issues.
We have no issues with scaling.
What needs improvement?
Their support plan needs to be better. We have a basic plan, so support is always delayed for us. We'd like it if they were more responsive, no matter the plan.
We'd like better support for situations where we need troubleshooting.
We find that a solution like Juniper offers more features. HPE should compare themselves and see if they can also add such features to their offering.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've only been at the organization for six months, and have used this product for that period. The company has used this switch for maybe six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, and the performance is good. It is reliable. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's easy to scale the product.
We're using the solution in a hospital, and there is a 1,000-plus line.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support isn't as responsive as they need to be. Responses are always delayed.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very straightforward and simple. It's not overly complex or difficult.
We have only two staff to deploy and maintain the solution and we have an outsourced company for the support contract.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is okay. However, there are cheaper options (like Huawei). I'd rate the affordability a four out of five.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have recently compared the solution with Huawei and Juniper. We looked at options to see which would be best for a proposal. We may change, or we may stick with HPE. Right now, Huawei is cheaper than HPE.
What other advice do I have?
We are customers. We have a support contract through partners.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
The product is good for hospitals and the healthcare industry since it's quite stable. I would easily recommend this product for healthcare-related scenarios.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Regional IT at PMGL
So reliable that they offer a lifetime warranty on their products
Pros and Cons
- "HPE is very reliable because it has a lifetime warranty, so the switches didn't give us any problems."
- "The pricing could be better."
What is most valuable?
HPE is very reliable because it has a lifetime warranty, so the switches didn't give us any problems. We were planning on replacing our switches with new HP ProCurve switches.
The solution is very straightforward for HPE users. It is not difficult to configure.
What needs improvement?
The pricing could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used HPE Ethernet Switches for about ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The switches have been stable since we put them in there. HPE gives a lifetime warranty on their switches because they know they're reliable. We have never had a single issue with HPE switches being offline or being upgraded and not working again.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is very scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We've used D-Link switches for smaller offices.
How was the initial setup?
It's a very straightforward solution because it is not that difficult to configure. HPE was much simpler to set up than FortiGate. It didn't take a long time to set up.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the solution in-house.
What was our ROI?
The product's pricing is high, but you always get your ROI. It has served me for ten years without trouble.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We transitioned to Fortinet due to a company policy that came in to change from HPE to Fortinet. However, at the HPE level, I don't think Fortinet is on the same level. You won't compare HP with Fortinet. If you're going to compare HPE, then you have to go to Cisco Enterprise. But we try to stay just a little bit below the very high-level enterprise systems that HPE and Cisco have.
What other advice do I have?
I rate HPE Ethernet Switches a ten out of ten. I recommend the product to everybody who wants to use it. HPE gives you a lifetime warranty on their switches, promising to fix them any time they break down. That tells you the product is reliable.
The pricing could be better, but I don't blame them for their price. HPE is not a small-business switch, especially the ProCurve switches, which are a bit expensive. Cisco prices are also not cheap, so I'm sure it's because of the competition. If HPE should make their prices a bit cheaper while Cisco keeps their price up there, it implies that Cisco is much more reliable than HPE. For competition's sake, reducing their price might not be something that can be done unless it can still be competitive at that level.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Owner at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Good for network-based storage and stacks well, but security on the lower-end models should be improved
Pros and Cons
- "The product's stacking technology is stable and works well."
- "Authentication and other security features are not easily satisfied using the lower-end switches."
What is our primary use case?
We are a solution provider and the HPE Ethernet Switches are one of the network infrastructure products that we implement for our customers.
They are used from edge to core and I usually implement them for storage traffic and IP over ethernet, like NFC, iSCSI, or SAS.
How has it helped my organization?
Our customers' needs are simple and not very sophisticated, and these switches allow us to set up the solution and forget about it. As much as possible, we isolate subnets or infrastructure to ensure that the frontend network is separate from the backend network storage. This helps to reduce problems.
What is most valuable?
HPE is very good for cases where you use storage for server networking
The product's stacking technology is stable and works well.
What needs improvement?
Authentication and other security features are not easily satisfied using the lower-end switches. For better security, you need to implement enterprise-level hardware and software.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the HPE Ethernet Switches for six years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our clients for this product range in size from small businesses to university campuses. In a small business, they might have 200 to 300 users with perhaps between 500 and 1,000 endpoints. The scale for a campus would be in the area of 3,000 to 5,000 endpoints.
How are customer service and technical support?
When we or our partners sell this product, it usually sells only with a hardware warranty. It does not come with software support. When there is an issue, we normally just update the switch or try to find out what version or what configuration is suitable for the product.
Ideally, once we install and configure it, we can forget about it. This is our motto.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The Comware version from H3C was very useful for our customer base, but the product line is changing and the customers are changing. Some of our customers use Cisco, HPE, or other products, and I have to configure them. I recommend products to customers, although it often depends on what they already have in their environment.
In cases such as Comware, where the line no longer exists, I recommend new products.
With Cisco Switches, you cannot buy them without the support and a license.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This is an expensive product. Some features can be added after purchase, which comes at an additional cost.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, the product works very well, we don't have any problems, and I can recommend it.
Although people can have a lot of trouble with these switches, they are human management issues. This is why we are careful to choose the correct products and to do the implementation and integration correctly.
I would rate this solution a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Consultant and technical support at joudeh center for computer and modern software
An overall stable and scalable solution that can be run unmanaged
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable product is the unmanaged HP switch."
- "The solution would be easier to set up if its GUI could improve or if it had a wizard."
What is our primary use case?
The product can be used for integrated security in IT networks for small businesses with about 100 customers in one location. I can stack three of four switches in these cases.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable product is the unmanaged HP switch.
What needs improvement?
The price could be more competitive, and the product needs to improve its stability. Also, the solution would be easier to set up if its GUI could improve or if it had a wizard. Similarly, it would be easier to set up if the user manual could be more straightforward.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the product for three to four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the product's stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the product's scalability an eight out of ten. Twenty-five to 30 users use the product.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is somewhat straightforward. It is straightforward for unmanaged switches but managed switches might need technical support. It takes half an hour to one hour to deploy. When deploying the switches, we must set the steps to make VLANs.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have a yearly license. The solution could be cheaper.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We use Fortinet and Cisco for larger businesses because we may lack information about the scalability of Aruba's and HP's higher-level products.
What other advice do I have?
I rate HPE Ethernet Switches an eight out of ten. I recommend users start with unmanaged switches and take managed switches later.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Simple to set up and lasts a long time, but some older models have low bandwidth
Pros and Cons
- "It's stable and performing well."
- "The scalability is limited."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use it for switches. We use it to interconnect all the LAN, and WAN switches. It's great for creating an interconnected network.
What is most valuable?
It's stable and performing well.
The solution is simple to set up.
We've been using old models for the longest time now. They're reliable and function well even after all this time. The wear factor is very low, and they're still reliable. If the bandwidth is not an issue, a company can use it for a very long time.
What needs improvement?
Some of the older versions have lower bandwidth.
The scalability is limited.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used the solution for the longest time right now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and the performance is good. There are no bugs or glitches. It does not crash or freeze on us. It is reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can only scale so much. There are limitations in terms of the number of ports.
While we have one group using the switches, everyone is benefiting from them as we are using them to connect our networks.
We have about 3,000 users on the solution right now.
I'm not sure if we have plans to increase usage. We're still coming out of the pandemic.
How are customer service and support?
Our vendor usually provides support. We're satisfied with the level of service we have.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is simple. It's straightforward. It's not complex or difficult.
What about the implementation team?
My colleague implemented it with other switches.
The vendors who are bringing the switches to our company, or the vendors who are selling the switches, will provide the staff to help install the solution. Usually, there are around five persons at a maximum helping to assist.
What was our ROI?
We've seen an ROI. With some switches, they are still with us, they're still operational. We've only had to upgrade a bit which is the only reason why we're replacing them. If we didn't replace them for the upgrade they'd still be working. They last a very long time. You get your money's worth.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I can't speak to the exact licensing costs.
What other advice do I have?
I'm not familiar with which version we're using.
I'd recommend the solution to others.
I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Head Of Business at Zeta-Web Nigeria Limited
Straightforward to set up, reliable, and easy to expand
Pros and Cons
- "It's straightforward to set up."
- "The product could always use better technical support."
What is our primary use case?
The on-prem deployment is usually used for SAN storage.
What is most valuable?
The devices are scalable and they have good performance.
It's straightforward to set up.
What needs improvement?
The product could always use better technical support.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been dealing with the solution for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The performance is good and they are reliable. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's a product that can scale well. It's easy to expand as necessary.
We have two clients that use these switches.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support could be faster.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is simple. It's not overly complex or difficult.
The deployment only takes a few days. It's pretty quick to set up.
One engineer is enough in order to handle deployment and maintenance.
What was our ROI?
We have seen an ROI. Usually, there is a part of a combined solution, so the switches don't stand on their own. The switches are part of whatever you're trying to do in terms of server consolidation or if you're trying to convert your data center to a software-defined data center so you need good storage switches. They play their part in that solution. It's difficult to pick out the particular return on investment, however, they play their part in the whole infrastructure.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't handle the actual licensing. I can't speak to the exact costs.
What other advice do I have?
We provide the solution to clients.
I've implemented the product enough to know it's a good solution. If it fits a company's needs, they should go ahead.
I'd rate it an eight out of ten. Our experience has been largely positive.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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Updated: January 2025
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