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Aruba Instant On Switches vs ExtremeSwitching comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Aruba Instant On Switches
Ranking in LAN Switching
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
ExtremeSwitching
Ranking in LAN Switching
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
Data Center Networking (6th), AV Over IP Switching (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Switches is 9.8%, up from 9.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ExtremeSwitching is 6.4%, up from 5.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

MashukThakur - PeerSpot reviewer
A centrally managed switches ideal for small and medium businesses but does not have any console access
The solution does not have any console access. For example, if you do not have internet access on your side and you need to configure anything, you should at least have CLI access to do something or manage the solution to put to some IP. It will only work if we have a TSCT on the network. We can port and configure the initial settings before we get the Instant On Switches. I am not working deeply on Instant On devices. I have only installed it in a couple of accommodation sites. Even today, one customer has ordered to install 80 pieces of Instant On. I’ve to order additional 94 access points. I was confused about whether to go with Aruba Instant On or AP-505. Instant On has limited accessibility but AP-505 have cloud or local access on normal infrastructure. This would be better and easier to configure. So, there are further improvements in regard to console access and some limitations with access.
MURALI NIDAMANURI - PeerSpot reviewer
Outstanding performance with minimal maintenance and intuitive configuration
Our primary use case for ExtremeSwitching is for costing, access networking, routing, and meeting network requirements. We have sold it in defense, government, and IT industries ExtremeSwitching significantly adds value to customers because maintenance is minimal. Once the network is set up,…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The most valuable features I find in Aruba Instant On switches include the access list and VLANs, along with other features such as security and cloud capabilities."
"The online monitoring tool and the configuration of the application with the tool are valuable features."
"Regarding the feature, my clients are currently favoring it because it enables them to switch back to phone functionality."
"It is straightforward to set up."
"Aruba's management solutions, like Aruba Central are valuable."
"The best thing about Aruba Instant On Switches is their cost."
"The stability is fine. I would rate the stability a nine out of ten. Almost a ten on a ten."
"Setup is easy."
"Performance is good."
"The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard."
"It is very reliable because one of the reasons is the non-blocking architecture of Extreme Networks."
"In the case of small businesses, the solution is budget-friendly and easy to configure."
"The performance of ExtremeSwitching is good."
"ExtremeSwitching is a good, stable platform."
"The price is low compared to the competition."
"The most valuable features of ExtremeSwitching are that they are robust and have plenty of features. There is a lot of functionality. They have a lot of other features ExtremeSwitching that you can get involved with but I haven't been using many of them."
 

Cons

"They don't have a lot of diagnostics tools, which could be an area for improvement."
"We are interested in acquiring a firewall that provides a comprehensive solution. In other words, we're seeking a firewall that encompasses multiple aspects, such as exceptional switches and active phone functionalities."
"They should extend the marketing and talk about Aruba's success stories throughout the region."
"Its scalability needs improvement."
"We would like to see more documentation."
"The pricing is competitive but could be improved."
"The product must be integrated with Aruba Central for better management."
"The solution does not have any console access. For example, if you do not have internet access on your side and you need to configure anything, you should at least have CLI access to do something or manage the solution to put to some IP. It will only work if we have a TSCT on the network."
"While it is true of all vendors, there may be a slightly lower reliability standard."
"The solution as a whole has hardware quality issues."
"It could be cheaper in general."
"Their support could definitely be better."
"ExtremeSwitching has many features but having come from Cisco environments, there is a steep learning curve to learning all the functionality."
"ExtremeSwitching should come out with simpler but lower-cost switches that are more suited to the Asian market."
"The training and resources for learning are lacking."
"I believe they should be more aggressive in terms of pricing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Aruba Instant On Switches is cheaper than Cisco and expensive compared to some Chinese brand products."
"The product has good pricing."
"Aruba Instant On Switches is slightly cheaper than Cisco."
"The product is not cheaply priced, especially when compared to the other vendors in the market."
"I give the price seven out of ten."
"The solution is the cheapest A-class switch."
"Pricing is competitive, and there are no supplementary fees."
"We pay an annual licensing fee."
"ExtremeSwitching offers very good pricing plans for their licenses. Compared to their rivals, ExtremeSwitching's prices are very affordable and reasonable. This is why our customers are happy to pay for their service critical support. ExtremeSwitching also offers a great portal to track clients, further satisfying our customers. They are always happy to pay for the service every month. The pricing is very reasonable."
"There is a cost for ExtremeSwitching and if you want the support and maintenance, there are additional costs. My clients typically pay for the support and maintenance annually."
"On pricing, ExtremeSwitches are going to beat most of the major competition."
"The product is expensive."
"The pricing and licensing are good with the cloud."
"We paid 25,000 to 30,000 INR."
"There is no license required to use the solution. The hardware controller is expensive, and this is why I prefer controlling ExtremeSwitching on the cloud."
"The price is expensive. We pay for a license, but you have to pay more if you want to increase the number."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
9%
University
6%
Manufacturing Company
18%
Computer Software Company
13%
Construction Company
7%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Instant On Switches?
The solution has a simple deployment and zero border.
What needs improvement with Aruba Instant On Switches?
I have run into a couple of problems with the switches. Recently, one of the newer stacks stopped working and had to be rebooted individually. They don't have a lot of diagnostics tools, which coul...
What do you like most about ExtremeSwitching?
The product offers a single management platform for multiple models of switches. The tool also allows users to manage multiple sites from a single dashboard.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeSwitching?
ExtremeSwitching is priced in the mid-range, not too expensive nor too cheap.
What needs improvement with ExtremeSwitching?
ExtremeSwitching's software stability could be improved, as it sometimes crashes.
 

Also Known As

Aruba Instant On 1930 Switches
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

KEMET, Vestavia Hills City Schools, Dropbox
Blue Waters
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant On Switches vs. ExtremeSwitching and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,129 professionals have used our research since 2012.