Aruba Airwave Reviews

Name: Aruba Airwave
Brand: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Rating: 4.1 (26 reviews)

4.1 out of 5

26 reviews
92% willing to recommend

What is Aruba Airwave?

Offering granular visibility into wired and wireless networks, AirWave is the only management platform designed with mobile devices and apps in mind. By proactively monitoring the health and performance of all things connected, AirWave lets IT gain the insights they need to support the digital workplace.

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Aruba Airwave is the #2 ranked solution in top Network Management Applications. PeerSpot users give Aruba Airwave an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Aruba Airwave is most commonly compared to Cisco DNA Center: Aruba Airwave vs Cisco DNA Center. Aruba Airwave is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 60% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 14% of all views.

Helped 865,384 peers since 2012

Featured Aruba Airwave reviews

Ahmet Bulbul

Senior Network Consultant at Data Market

We don't use Aruba Airwave too much nowadays because the population is reducing, as almost all customers are trying to move to Aruba Central. Aruba or HPE doesn't want to invest too much in Airwave. It is useful, especially if customers create reports. We only use it to create reports because we also use the Mobility Master, which functions similarly to Airwave. We can monitor all wireless and wired clients. The powerful features we can put forward in Aruba Airwave are clarity, report creation, and VisualRF. These are three good abilities I can state about Aruba Airwave.

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Lulzim Islami

IT Network Operations Manager at KEDS

The most helpful feature I noticed, yet did not utilize, allowed us to add our Cisco switches for monitoring. We also created templates for configurations. Additionally, it facilitated creating floor maps. I need to open it for more extended periods. It is more about troubleshooting and checking the coverage problems of wireless.

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Prashant-Patel

Senior Presales Consultant - Networking Solutions at Mannai

Aruba Airwave is an on-prem solution, so you have to manage it with your servers to be deployed. You can also deploy it on the cloud if you have your own private cloud. All the configuration guides and the different types of designs you need are available from Aruba Airwave's portal. I would recommend Aruba Airwave to other users. Overall, I rate Aruba Airwave ten out of ten.

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Aruba Airwave mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Aruba Airwave in the Network Management Applications category stands at 5.7%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Management Applications

PeerResearch reports based on Aruba Airwave reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Network Management Applications	Aug 20, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Aruba Airwave vs Cisco DNA Center	Aug 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Aruba Airwave vs Cisco Catalyst Center	Aug 20, 2025	Download
Comparison	Aruba Airwave vs Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN	Aug 20, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Cisco DNA Center	4.0	23.6%	89%	42 interviews Add to research
Fortinet FortiManager	4.0	5.3%	94%	69 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Aruba Airwave offers valuable features including multivendor support, error and intrusion logs, live heat maps, device management, and VisualRF for enhanced visibility and monitoring. Its capabilities allow for real-time analysis, report creation, and seamless network management with end-to-end visibility. The orchestration feature facilitates quick, efficient deployments. Clarity provides intuitive dashboard insights while centralized control and zero-touch provisioning simplify operations, making it a top choice for organizations seeking robustness and ease of use in network management.

"The powerful features we can put forward in Aruba Airwave are clarity, report creation, and VisualRF."
"The feature that proved most beneficial for our organization's network monitoring is the virtual four, which we use frequently when working with Aruba."
"One of the main advantages is its ability to draw building floor plans and analyze Wi-Fi signal behavior in real-time."

Room for Improvement

Aruba Airwave requires better integration with other systems, enhanced pricing, and increased troubleshooting capabilities. Users seek improved synchronization between the GUI and CLI, clearer error messages, and a more user-friendly interface. Monitoring, device compatibility, scalability, and integration with Aruba Central are also areas for enhancement. The need for cost-effective licensing, faster support, and innovative features comparable to competitors like Cisco and HPE servers is emphasized.

"The biggest problem for not using Aruba Airwave extensively now is that HP is not upgrading this tool. They're not investing money and time into it, which is why we're not using it."
"My general opinion on Aruba Airwave is that it's acceptable, but it's not ideal because we are accustomed to Cisco."
"When attempting to copy a floor plan, it does not copy well, so I often have to redraw the walls. It's somewhat annoying since other Wi-Fi design software we use is easier for drawing walls and including floor plans."

ROI

Aruba Airwave enhances efficiency and reduces troubleshooting time, lowering costs and increasing productivity. Many report cost savings up to 50 percent. It allows seamless integration for diverse customers, minimizing the need for extensive staff training. Users experience fewer technical issues, enhancing return on investment. Achieving ROI takes about three years due to hardware costs. Some users see good cost-value and investment return, while others have not observed a significant return due to using an older version.

Pricing

Aruba Airwave pricing is considered high yet competitive compared to Cisco, with flexibility in licensing but often requiring separate licenses per device. Users highlight the need for additional costs to scale, emphasizing device-based and yearly licenses. Some find the cost manageable due to lifetime warranties, while others cite affordability issues, particularly for smaller institutions. The ability to conduct a 90-day free proof of concept aids in evaluating the solution's pricing and functionality.

"Aruba Airwave is an expensive solution."
"The tool is expensive. If one is bad or expensive, and ten is very good or cheap, I rate the product's price as a six."
"The licensing is on an yearly basis."

Popular Use Cases

Aruba Airwave is used for network management, monitoring, and controlling access points across various sectors like education, healthcare, and finance. It manages Wi-Fi solutions, providing detailed insights and statistics, enabling configuration and control of multiple brands. Popular among larger deployments, it aids in managing high-density environments, generating reports, and offering a centralized view of network health. Users include solution providers, educational institutions, and financial organizations, leveraging its powerful features for comprehensive management.

Service and Support

Aruba Airwave's customer service and support are generally considered good, with technical support rated highly by users. Customers appreciate quick escalation to experienced personnel, but some feel it lags behind Cisco in speed and escalation ease. Communication is praised, particularly for language versatility. While most find the service effective, a few users note challenges in ticket handling and integration assistance. Support ratings vary, with some rating it as high as nine or ten, while others suggest improvement.

Deployment

Aruba Airwave's initial setup is considered straightforward by many. Experienced users find it user-friendly, often taking just a few hours to deploy. Some suggest reading the manual first. Deployment time varies, with reports ranging from 30 minutes to two days, depending on device count and user expertise. The process is simplified by virtual machine templates and ZTP setup. Multiple users point to the ease of installation and configuration.

Scalability

Users find Aruba Airwave highly scalable, often rating its scalability between eight and ten. Licensing aids flexibility, supporting anywhere from hundreds to thousands of users. Enterprise businesses and medium-sized organizations appreciate its scaling capabilities, though some note scalability depends on hardware resources. While many find it efficient for large deployments, others migrate to solutions offering broader WiFi coverage. Maintenance typically requires a small team, with some reaching maximum device limits yet considering future expansion.

Stability

Users generally find Aruba Airwave stable, rating its stability between six and ten out of ten. Most report no issues, though some encounter minor glitches and performance problems in crowded environments. It is described as reliable, hands-off, and works smoothly, though some report connection issues with the AWS cloud. Users stress the importance of accuracy and integration in monitoring solutions, and they appreciate its performance reliability with existing configurations.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Aruba Airwave Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.