How has it helped my organization?
Aruba Instant On switches are very good to use. They can be quickly deployed by just connecting to the Instant On cloud and can be accessed over the Internet. No issues with that.
Aruba Central provides various AI features that we can use. It collects data on health and performance issues for wireless and wired clients. It observes and identifies issues that I wasn't aware of before. Adding more AI features, like product or service learning, would enhance the product.
What is most valuable?
The GUI is easy to use. You can set it up easily and bring it onto the cloud easily if the Internet is available. The GUI features are easy, and the configuration is also easy. You can enable or disable features as needed.
What needs improvement?
If Aruba can provide guidance on features through sessions or explanations, it would be helpful. We have to search and work online.
More AI features could be developed, especially to help clients in detail. It could provide information on connected wireless clients, their health issues, and any errors they are experiencing. Increasing the feature set would be helpful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the hardware switches is a key feature. They can't be damaged easily. They are reliable, easy to manage, install, and deploy.
Additionally, they have the necessary features for network configuration and policies.
I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
There are around 40 end users using it. We implement it a lot for our customers as well. So, we have many customers.
I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support are okay. They have improved a little now, but my last interaction (three months back) was not so good.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
There are different solutions like Cisco Meraki, Juniper, and Commavault. The choice depends on our customers. If they pick a product, we implement it for them.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is quite easy.
On average, the deployment doesn't take long. With 1 to 10 switches, it can be installed within half an hour. If there are more switches, it can take half a day. Sometimes, there might be issues, but that's about it.
It is deployed both on-premises and cloud. The cloud version is accessed via Aruba Central. It's a public cloud from Aruba.
We do regular maintenance as well, including patches and upgrades. Normally, two to three engineers are enough for maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is quite low compared to other products, which is good for the customer. Customers ask for Aruba products because they are competitively priced compared to other brands. It's a good selling point, as it allows customers to revamp their network infrastructure at a lower cost.
During the revamping process, organizations have to justify the cost to stakeholders. If a product is cheaper, it's easier to justify the purchase. This is the main advantage.
I would rate the pricing an eight out of ten, with ten being a good price and one being a bad price.
It is good value for money.
What other advice do I have?
The features like AI, stability, and ease of use are enough to increase daily productivity.
I would recommend it to other users. Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten. Aruba products are great, but they should have more stability. In some products, we have observed that the wireless access points (APs) don't come online quickly. Sometimes there are issues with the APs taking a long time to turn on after a reboot or upgrade.
In the wireless perspective, compared to other OEMs, Aruba APs can be slower to deploy. Other than that, even the deployment of the switches is faster with other OEMs. But the Aruba Instant On switches themselves are great.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: