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FortiSwitch Secure Access Switches vs. HPE Aruba Networking Switches

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FortiSwitch Secure Access Switches

    Score7.2 out of 10
    N/AFortinet headquartered in Sunnyvale, California offers the FortiSwitch Secure Access line of Ethernet switches.N/A

    HPE Aruba Networking Switches

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/AFor campus, branch, and data centers, HPE's Aruba CX switches are presented as a flexible, programmable, and cloud-native ASIC design solution, boasting the power, precision, and versatility of a microservices-based wired architecture.

    $503.63

    one-time fee

    Pricing
    FortiSwitch Secure Access SwitchesHPE Aruba Networking Switches
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 Switch Series
    Starting at $503.63
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 6100 Switch Series
    Starting at $935.20
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 6200 Switch Series
    Starting at $1,054.12
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 6300 Switch Series
    Starting at $4,483.55
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 5420 Switch Series
    Starting at $3,158.76
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking 2930F Switch Series
    Starting at $574.72
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 6400 Switch Series
    Starting at $7,394.82
    one-time fee
    HPE Aruba Networking CX 8100 Switch Series
    Starting at $19,102.26
    one-time fee
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FortiSwitch Secure Access SwitchesHPE Aruba Networking Switches
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsFortiSwitch Secure Access Switch pricing varies based on the specific model and featuresHPE Aruba Ethernet Switch prices vary significantly based on features, model, and quantity purchased.
    More Pricing Information
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    FortiSwitch Secure Access SwitchesHPE Aruba Networking Switches
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    Medium-sized Companies
    RUCKUS Ethernet Switches
    Score10 out of 10
    RUCKUS Ethernet Switches
    Score10 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Cisco Ethernet Switches
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Cisco Ethernet Switches
    Score9.1 out of 10
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    User Ratings
    FortiSwitch Secure Access SwitchesHPE Aruba Networking Switches
    Likelihood to Recommend
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (13 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.7
    (3 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (6 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FortiSwitch Secure Access SwitchesHPE Aruba Networking Switches
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Fortinet
    If you've got a large network and are already using FortiGate firewalls or FortiAP access points, integrating FortiSwitch Secure Access Switches makes for one integrated solution. Previously we had Cisco switches that had to be configured and managed separately, which was always prone to error. Now that we have our entire network backbone on FortiNet devices, managing and configuring them is smoother. We are now able to see much clearer if there are any configuration issues between networking devices.
    Incentivized
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    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    These devices are rock solid, you will se them up once and not have to mess with them for years. They are work horses that don't die. We use them in an office environment and have only ever had 1 fail due to a PSU issue, we got a replacement next day and it's been working great.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Fortinet
    • Makes them easy to manage within one spot
    • Allows for advanced network configuration
    • Has plenty of power for all our PoE devices
    Incentivized
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    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • REST API capability
    • Wired & Wireless 802.1x configuration easiness
    • Wireless Access Points (APs) zero touch provisioning
    • Its high-end family (running the AOS-CX firmware) supports a virtualization technology called VSX (Virtual Switching Extension) which allows 2 switches to present itself as one virtualized switch under Layer 2, and as 2 separate routers under Layer 3; thereby providing high availability.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Fortinet
    • Would be nice to have a bit different layout on the configuration page. Sometimes can be hard to find what you're looking for.
    • When disabling ports, it would be nice to have batch setting features rather than having to make changes individually.
    Incentivized
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    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • I have had issues finding monitoring software that natively supports Provision/Aruba OS. Most are designed primarily with Cisco in mind.
    • HPE/Aruba switches have historically had issues with corrupt flash. This seems to be less common in more recent models.
    • HPE/Aruba's switching portfolio can be confusing. Some models run on the Aruba OS while some others run on Comware. There is some overlap in these model lines so at times is can be tough to tell which switch is right.
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Fortinet
    No answers on this topic
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    I have not had that many issues with these products. Aruba Central has been really helpful. The Integration Capabilities allows us to use Clearpass . For individuals new to enterprise-grade networking, there can still be a learning curve associated with understanding the concepts and the specifics of the Aruba configuration.
    Incentivized
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    Support Rating
    Fortinet
    No answers on this topic
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    HPE Support is very easy to reach. A knowledgable rep can be reached in a few minutes. After some basic troubleshooting if the failure is due to hardware I can receive a replacement within a day or even in a few hours.
    Incentivized
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    Alternatives Considered
    Fortinet
    We have previously used both Cisco 220 Series and Dell PowerConnect 8000 Series switches that were managed separately from our firewalls and access points. The Cisco and Dell switch worked fine and we never had a problem with them, but it was always a hassle to have to make configuration changes since that would have to be done via separate GUIs. Having the ability to configure and manage firewalls, switches, and wireless access points all within one central GUI saves time and headache.
    Incentivized
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    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    We used to have a lot of Cisco switches which are great, but
    the support contracts and other expenses mount up quickly; one of the main
    reasons for switching to HP for networking was the cost, but the hardware and
    software have gotten so much better over the years.

    I can’t see us changing network hardware unless the price increases dramatically.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Fortinet
    • It has made management of the network much easier and less time consuming
    • We are more confident that our network traffic is being secured
    • Ability to monitor network traffic and detect potential anomalies
    Incentivized
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    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • I really like the idea of paying for the switches one time and just pay for support going forward. The prices are on the high end but I think it is worth it. I wish they would include all the features in one go so we would not have to pay for every new feature.
    Incentivized
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