Aruba Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Broadcom are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.0, while Broadcom is ranked #26. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 9.0% mindshare in ES, compared to Broadcom’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

Aruba Switches

Read 88 Aruba Switches reviews

13,648 Views
13,648 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Read 11 Brocade Ethernet Switches reviews

2,622 Views
2,622 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Switches

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Brocade Ethernet Switches and Aruba Switches compete in network switches, with Brocade being more cost-effective and offering better ROI, while Aruba is distinguished by its advanced feature set.

Features: Brocade Ethernet Switches are known for strong performance, easy scalability, and effective integration with existing networks, supporting advanced protocols and extensive customization. Aruba Switches are highlighted for robust security, intelligent automation, and superior performance monitoring.

Room for Improvement: Brocade could enhance customer service personalization, improve advanced security configurations, and upgrade interface usability. Aruba could address pricing competitiveness, simplify some complex configurations, and integrate more seamlessly with non-Aruba systems.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Brocade offers straightforward deployment with thorough documentation, although its personalized customer service needs improvement. Aruba provides intuitive management tools and responsive support, simplifying deployment for organizations focusing on ease of use and reliability.

Pricing and ROI: Brocade Ethernet Switches present a budget-friendly choice with a strong ROI due to lower initial costs, appealing to cost-conscious businesses. Aruba Switches, while priced higher, offer innovative features that may reduce long-term operational expenses, contributing to a higher ROI over time.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches Report (Updated: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches

November 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 921,148 peers since 2012

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 Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

26th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 9.0%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Brocade Ethernet Switches is 1.8%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Aruba Switches	9.0%
Brocade Ethernet Switches	1.8%
Other	89.2%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Petri Alhainen

Administrator at Sulbana Oy

Network backbone has supported reliable edge power and simple CLI work but needs modern upgrades

Technology is constantly advancing, and although more security is always needed, our networks are still old, so we mostly need to modernize our installations. Regarding integration capabilities, there are some limitations with Aruba Switches that make them a little difficult sometimes, as they are very particular about the kind of SFP+ adapters and cables you can use. However, when you have the right cables and accessories, everything usually works, and there have been no problems with the switches. About the software-defined networking feature, I think Aruba Switches are starting to be so old that we need to consider getting our backbone speed upgraded. The 10 gigabits is still sufficient for us now.

Read full review

Pratap Barik

Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies

Experience seamless configuration with secure and adaptable network solutions

I use Brocade Ethernet Switches because they are scalable. I recommend them since they are easy to configure. They are connected and used every day in our operations It is good and scalable. It is easy to configure and provides good technical support. Brocade Ethernet Switches are good to…

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"In our experience, this is a stable product, and once they are configured, you rarely get any problems."

"Aruba is very easy to use, the GUI is very good and the command line is quite similar to Cisco, so it is very easy to configure."

"Having all that visibility is where the true return on investment is going to come."

"The features I find most valuable in Aruba Switches are their flexibility, reliability, and affordability."

"I use Aruba Switches in Sri Lanka for their flexibility and reliability."

"This product is something that we set and forget, and we didn't have difficulties from the time we set these Aruba Switches up, to present."

"The most valuable feature is that it's very easy to configure."

"The solution has great open architecture."

More Aruba Switches pros

"There's a zone for each server and services in the storage."

"One of the valuable features of this solution is that it works with the concept of zoning, where there's a zone for each server and services in the storage, and when the link of a full port is failing, it automatically switches to another port so you don't lose the connection, which is pretty important for the high level of availability of the applications and the access to the storage data."

"I have been using this solution for a long time and kept with it, because everything I need is covered by it."

"The reliability of Brocade is the most valuable feature. The solution has been up and running for over ten years without any fail, fixes required, or breakdowns. It is a very strong piece of equipment."

"The technical support is good."

"The switches last for a very long time; it's stable for doing its functions as a black and gray switch, and it's a very good switch, at least the older ones, which I have been using for ten years and are still in use."

"It is easy to configure and provides good technical support."

"The most important feature of this solution is the performance because we have many switches and we have a performance for Brocade Ethernet Switches that needs about 16 gigabyte per second."

More Brocade Ethernet Switches pros

Cons

"The interface could be more user-friendly and the dashboard could be improved."

"I would like to see easier learning and configuration from previous switch deployments."

"We had an issue with the hardware where one or two interfaces went down after one and a half years. This issue impacted only one or two interfaces, not the whole hardware."

"There are some growing pains with Aruba Central. When you first launch the wireless access points or switches, a lot of updates are needed to get Aruba Central ready, especially on the access points, so the initial deployment time could improve. I would hope that I could just turn it on and leave the updates until later on. The switches themselves probably did okay. I'm primarily referring to the wireless access points. There was a lot of back and forth before everything was in sync. It took hours."

"Aruba Switches could improve the monitoring and increase the scope of their online portal to cover cloud and on-premise deployments."

"Aruba Switches cover lots of areas and support automated and IOPS and with the central products, but I think when we look at the solutions overall, IOPS devices are not covered so much in Aruba Central. We are in Croatia and it is a small country, I don't know how its situation is in Europe, America, or Asia."

"The biggest issue right now is the delivery timeline. It takes too long to get the product."

"In the next release, I would like to see network access control on the switches themselves. I would like to see security functionalities when it comes to monitoring the bit of the wireless section of the switches."

More Aruba Switches cons

"The solution could be more secure."

"Technically the product is always improving the software part, but the hardware needs to be more reliable."

"Brocade Ethernet Switches could improve by having better compatibility with web management of older versions."

"No graphical interface."

"You need skills and knowledge to configure brocade switches."

"Brocade Ethernet Switches need a better interface and centralized management."

"It could be made easier to configure with a graphical interface."

"It should be simpler. There are still some things that can be simpler in the Brocade switches."

More Brocade Ethernet Switches cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost depends on the requirement. An extensive network will expand the budget. The price will be lower if there is a small requirement of one to ten switches. In comparison, Aruba is less costly than Cisco by about 10-20%."

"The tool is a little expensive for customers from other countries."

"We pay for the clear pass and the controller."

"Comparing with Cisco, and some other solutions, it's a cheap product."

"Aruba Switches are quite cost-effective."

"The price point was a big consideration for us and it is reasonable enough that we're able to standardize on Aruba for the networking pieces in our organization."

"There are no licensing costs for the Aruba Switches."

"I don't know the exact cost of the licensing, but based on what I have heard from my sales team, Aruba is affordable. Aruba switches are cheaper than the switches from Cisco and other vendors."

More Aruba Switches pricing and cost advice

"The price of Brocade Ethernet Switches is expensive."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

921,148 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	50
Midsize Enterprise	19
Large Enterprise	22

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	7

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Switches?

In terms of pricing for Aruba Switches, I would rate it a five. They are quite expensive devices.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Aruba Switches?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Aruba Switches?

Aruba Switches are used in our organization for a straightforward purpose. We started with the HP line, and when Aruba came into the picture, we began using them for our network infrastructure. The...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Brocade Ethernet Switches?

To improve, it could be made easier to configure with a graphical interface.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Brocade Ethernet Switches?

I use Brocade Ethernet Switches because they are scalable. I recommend them since they are easy to configure. They are connected and used every day in our operations.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Brocade Ethernet Switches?

I would recommend Brocade Ethernet Switches because they are easy to configure and have good technical support. I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 42% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Aruba Switches

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Aruba Switches

Compared 7% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 5% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 3% of the time

More Aruba Switches Competitors

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 18% of the time

Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 10% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 7% of the time

NETGEAR Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Arista Networks Platform vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 3% of the time

More Brocade Ethernet Switches Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches

November 2026

Download Aruba Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

October 2026

Download Brocade Ethernet Switches product report

Also Known As

8400 Series, 8320 Series, 5400R Series, 3810 Series, 2930M Series, 2930F Series, 2920 Series, 2540 Series, 2530 Series

No data available

Overview

Aruba Switches provide centralized management through Aruba Central, offering robust security, reliability, and seamless integration with ClearPass. They are known for scalability, affordability, and easy configuration, catering to diverse network infrastructures across industries.

Aruba Switches are favored for their centralized management capabilities using a GUI that mirrors Cisco's CLI, ensuring a user-friendly experience. Seamlessly integrating with ClearPass, they support dynamic policies and offer excellent technical support with a lifetime warranty. Their high-performance capabilities, modular architecture, and diverse product range are supported by comprehensive documentation. Cloud and on-premises management options offer flexibility for enterprise networking needs. Users note areas for improvement, such as enhanced platform integration, dashboard functionality, and port flexibility. Enhanced training and technical support, along with improved hardware stability, are requested.

What are the key features of Aruba Switches?

Centralized Management: Manage switches via Aruba Central with a user-friendly interface.
Robust Security: Seamless integration with ClearPass for dynamic policy support.
Scalability: Ideal for both small and large enterprise networks.
Cloud and On-Premises Management: Flexible management options.
Lifetime Warranty: Ensures investment protection.

What benefits should you look for in reviews?

Affordability: Cost-effective solutions for network infrastructure.
Scalability: Suitable for expanding network requirements.
Ease of Configuration: Rapid deployment and setup capabilities.
Technical Support: Access to comprehensive and excellent support.
Reliability: Proven stability and performance in diverse applications.

Aruba Switches are implemented in industries like education, healthcare, and hospitality, serving as crucial components in network infrastructures. They support applications such as ERP systems, VLAN setups, and Wi-Fi access points, being deployed in office, data center, and campus networks. Known for affordability and reliability, they provide connectivity and power over Ethernet capabilities, meeting the needs of both small and large enterprises.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Brocade Ethernet Switches provide reliable and high-performance network solutions with simple deployment, management, and energy efficiency. They offer enhanced security with MACsec protocol support and compatibility with various vendors, ensuring seamless integration and high availability for IT environments.

Brocade Ethernet Switches are a powerful choice for network configurations, supporting speeds up to 16Gbps. They are well-suited for integrating systems like HPE Primera, making them ideal for IT infrastructure requiring high reliability and stability. Automatic failover, flexible configuration, and smart zoning contribute to their appeal. Users have noted areas needing improvement like interface design, security, and management capabilities. A demand exists for a graphical interface, easier configuration, and enhanced power supply reliability. Compatibility with existing equipment can be problematic, and ongoing performance issues require attention.

What are the key features of Brocade Ethernet Switches?

Reliability and Performance: High availability ensures continuous operations.
Energy Efficiency: Optimized to reduce power consumption.
MACsec Protocol: Provides enhanced security measures.
Automatic Failover: Seamless transition during network issues.
Flexible Configuration: Allows adjustments to meet specific needs.

What benefits do Brocade Ethernet Switches offer?

High Integration: Seamless setup with systems like HPE Primera.
Vendor Compatibility: Works well with devices from different vendors.
Stability and Longevity: Dependable over extended periods.
Scalability: Supports network expansion easily.

Many industries implement Brocade Ethernet Switches for connecting hosts to storage, expanding networks, and LAN/SAN operations. In financial sectors, they mediate in configurations involving firewalls and Fortinet. The switches' scalability and configuration ease suit government and private sectors' on-premises operations, with deployment involving collaboration between customer and vendor engineers.

Broadcom

Sample Customers

Purdue University

Ajubeo, Akquinet AG, Big Data Analytics Provider Boligkontoret Danmark Bristol is Open, CDE Lightband, Cicero School District 99, City and County of San Francisco, Department of Emergency, City of Chattanooga, Cloudscale.sh

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches

November 2026

Free Report: Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches

Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: November 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

921,148 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches report.

See our list of best Ethernet Switches vendors.

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.