

Arista Networks Platform and Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center are direct competitors in data center networking. Arista tends to lead in scalability and flexibility, while Fortinet is prominent for its strong security features.
Features: Arista Networks Platform stands out for its outstanding automation capabilities, offering high flexibility for scalable networks. Its programmability and seamless integration are key advantages. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is unparalleled in its robust security features, ensuring access control and comprehensive protection. It integrates well with FortiGate for enhanced security management.
Room for Improvement: Arista Networks Platform could benefit from refining its integration process, which can occasionally be tricky, as well as expanding its telemetry capabilities for even broader metrics. Users may also desire a more intuitive interface. Fortinet FortiSwitch may need improvements in its configuration complexity compared to other vendors and optimizing usability in standalone mode. Maximizing SD-WAN integration could also enhance its offerings. Additionally, broadening compatibility with diverse non-Fortinet products can be valuable.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Arista offers straightforward deployment with a focus on automation, simplifying processes and enabling efficient management. It provides reliable customer support with quick responses to issues. In contrast, Fortinet prioritizes security-focused deployment with detailed steps that could take longer but ensure extensive protection. Fortinet's customer service is specialized, addressing specific technical inquiries effectively.
Pricing and ROI: Arista Networks Platform usually involves a higher upfront investment but delivers a significant ROI by enabling scalability and long-term benefits. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is more cost-effective initially, appealing to budget-conscious buyers, with ROI driven by its security features and resilience. Arista is perceived as a strategic long-term investment, while Fortinet offers immediate cost savings focusing on security ROI.
I saved between five to six hours using Arista Networks Platform, as it takes less time to actually add your APs to the dashboard and deployment is quite fast and easy.
I have seen a return on investment from using Arista Networks Platform in terms of fewer employees needed during installation and deployment.
In the data center, there is no comparison in terms of technicality or return of investment.
The integration of Fortinet infrastructure, including FortiSwitches, is cost-effective compared to Cisco, especially when paired with Fortinet wireless solutions.
They provide instant support and maintain commitments regarding replacement products.
We would rate the customer support as a nine to 9.5 out of ten.
All network engineers from the organization were present in the program, and the Arista engineer provided a solution in less than five minutes.
Technical partners provide responses within a day for any technical queries.
Customer support needs improvement in terms of speed and reliability.
I gave it eight points because local support is absent.
Arista Networks Platform's focus on GPU-based and high-speed switches is a smart move for next-generation AI-based data center solutions.
Scalability is a key feature of Arista, owing to the possibilities to manage the entire data center network from a single console.
We can easily scale up with Arista Networks Platform, as it is not difficult, and they have a platform that encourages scalability.
When used in a dedicated Fortinet infrastructure, FortiSwitch scalability is better than some other switches, like Cisco, Meraki, or Arista.
Scalability is generally good, with transitions from gigabit to ten giga, twenty-five giga, and forty giga.
Arista is the only IT product that has the minimum vulnerabilities, so it is a very stable product.
The amount of failure is low because we have tested a Huawei platform of the same grade beside Arista Networks Platform, and Arista Networks Platform always won.
I have not had any downtime using Arista Networks Platform.
There is room for improvement as it sometimes takes over an hour to push configurations onto the devices from the management tool.
Using AI, I can understand how my entire organization operates and what kind of applications are being used, what the peak times are, where there is a bottleneck if any exists.
Scalability at every single step has a huge upgrade cost which is required for port mapping, connectivity, and transceivers certified by Arista Networks Platform, then the fabric upgrades from a software firmware level.
Feature-wise, it addresses most customer requirements.
There is room to improve the integration between FortiSwitch and other third-party solutions, as challenges arise when integrating with different vendors.
Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging.
The commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point.
Compared to Cisco, Arista routers are significantly cheaper.
You get a 48 gigs, a 25 Gbps or a 40 Gbps switching fabric at a price of $30-40,000 from Netgear super-fast clusters, whereas Arista Networks Platform is going to cost you three times that.
Arista products are perceived as costly, especially compared to competitors like Cisco.
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
Pricing is competitive, although it's not the cheapest option.
Features include plug-and-play auto-discovery, allowing centralized configuration and management.
The best features Arista Networks Platform offers are the dashboards where you can see all your APs that have been deployed and installed across all locations, making it quite unique to access, manage, and monitor performance from that dashboard.
Arista Networks Platform is known for ultra-low latency, having the fastest backplane ever built.
This feature allows the switch's ports to be used as firewall ports, enhancing network security by enabling IPS and network profiling directly on the ports.
It allows me to create VLANs, implement security measures, and push configurations using a single tool.
The main actual benefit that Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center brought to my customer's environment is secure connectivity while minimizing downtime from unexpected traffic or broadcasting.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Arista Networks Platform | 3.2% |
| Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center | 3.1% |
| Other | 93.7% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 16 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 12 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 17 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 4 |
Arista Networks Platform offers ultra-low latency and scalability with high bandwidth while simplifying network management through its intuitive dashboard. It enables robust support for EVPN and VXLAN, making it a top choice for modern data centers requiring efficient and effective networking solutions.
Designed to minimize complexity, Arista Networks Platform integrates seamlessly with a single operating system, providing streamlined operations. With automation capabilities via EOS and CloudVision, it enhances visibility and provisioning. Platinum and titanium power supplies contribute to reduced carbon footprints, aligning with sustainability goals. While configuration complexity and high pricing pose challenges, it remains a preferred choice for data center networking, offering premium performance and cost-effectiveness. It excels in environments like smart cities and finance, providing stability and scalability essential for demanding applications.
What are the key features of Arista Networks Platform?Arista Networks Platform is widely implemented across industries such as finance and smart cities, supporting critical applications in network security and scalable infrastructure. It is instrumental in data center networking, video production workflows, and robotic automation. Users benefit from its spine-leaf architectures and wireless connectivity, particularly in sectors requiring high throughput and reliability.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers cost-effective, centralized network management through seamless integration with FortiGate. It supports enhanced security, flexibility in VLAN management, and intuitive control through an efficient interface.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is valued for its cost-effectiveness and ease of use. It provides seamless integration with FortiGate, enabling centralized network management. Users appreciate its port analytics, graphical interface, and enhanced security features, allowing VLAN creation and configuration across infrastructure. The system offers efficient alerting, automatic adjustments, and functions like QoS and traffic management to maintain consistent security. Its intuitive design and high visibility make it an efficient all-in-one tool for network management. Despite needing improvements in AI integration, security, and pricing, users find it a reliable choice for managing traffic between VMs and physical hosts. It supports network connectivity, VLAN management, and internal traffic control while integrating with security fabric and SD-WAN features.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?Organizations across industries implement Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center to effectively manage both virtual and physical network environments within data centers. It helps in controlling internal traffic and ensures robust security measures are in place. Its integration with extensive security fabric and SD-WAN features allows for comprehensive network management through a single dashboard, streamlining operations and providing enhanced control over infrastructure.
We monitor all Ethernet Switches reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.