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Aruba Switches vs HPE Ethernet Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

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
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
85
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
103
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 10.3%, down from 12.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.6%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Eunice Thirikwa - PeerSpot reviewer
Stable hotel networking enhances return on investment with valuable modular features
There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches. For instance, the distributor in our country cannot sell to neighboring countries, creating complications in project execution. Improving the distribution network across regions would be beneficial. Also, the SFP modules are significantly more expensive than industry peers, which affects cost-effectiveness.
Ashley Magee - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable and long-lasting network equipment with good customer support
Our primary use case for the switches is for a small business we run. It's mostly in the office, but we also have a plant where we run a lot of monitoring equipment There have been no significant improvements to our network performance as the switches we are using are quite old and we have not…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is slightly more price effective than Juniper and it has a slightly larger range."
"Aruba Central is valuable."
"The initial setup is quite easy. Once you know what you do, it’s easy."
"The technical support is fantastic!"
"The solution's stability is really great. We found it very solid."
"It is very easy to set up."
"The initial installation of Aruba Switches is easy."
"The initial setup is quite easy."
"I like that HPE's management functions are GUI-based, so it doesn't rely on command lines."
"The technical support for this solution has improved from what it was."
"The solution is very stable and easy to use."
"These are the basic access layer switches used for connectivity among users, and they are cost-effective."
"HPE Ethernet Switches offer a good return on investment. They offer a lifetime warranty, which is good. Cisco SMB level only declares a one-year warranty, and for the enterprise level, you need to get a service pack, which costs extra."
"These switches are very stable, to date I have not experienced any issues."
"The speed is very fast."
"The solution's interface is helpful, and you can see the traffic."
 

Cons

"The port flexibility on the 54 series, specifically the 5406 for core usage, could be improved. When I want to upgrade to 10G, I don't have many options to choose from."
"There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches."
"The element of security always can be improved. If the solution continues to improve its security functionality, it will continue to be a great product."
"We have had problems with the cooling fans on these switches."
"Aruba's website should be localized to support the Indonesian language. The content of their website and the help desk should be in the Indonesian language."
"There is an issue with Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), but it is escaping me. We aren't using this feature yet, but it is something we are considering."
"The interface could be more user-friendly and the dashboard could be improved."
"I would like to see something like a Cisco Prime, an application controlling the entire system, switches, and access points."
"It is not very stable."
"There is a limitation of capability."
"Technical support needs improvement, as the response time could be better."
"Sometimes, we encounter the need for new technologies, especially when we require higher bandwidth. If we can't find what we need with HPE Ethernet Switches, we explore options from other vendors like Cisco."
"It would be better if they improve the implementation of SD-WAN."
"The solution is very comparable to Huawei, however, it could be more scalable. Huawei is easier to scale."
"There could be features for ransomware attack detection and enhanced anomaly detection to identify and mitigate anonymous traffic."
"We have had some rare occasions with glitches, so the stability can be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is not a switch that I would give more than six out of ten for pricing because, over the last year, the prices have been increasing very high."
"Pricing for this product is reasonable."
"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%."
"Comparing with Cisco, and some other solutions, it's a cheap product."
"There is a license required if you want to use wireless controls for micro-segmentation. However, for Aruba Switches there is no license required."
"Our customers may want better pricing but we are a reseller and a partner, and the pricing that we get is good."
"Aruba Switches are cost-effective."
"The price for Aruba is quite a bit cheaper than it is for similar products by Cisco."
"This is an expensive product."
"The box itself is cheap, but when we have to install new features, it becomes very expensive."
"There are free software updates and there is a lifetime warranty for a few of the switch series."
"It is a more expensive solution."
"The licensing cost is yearly, and there aren't any additional costs on top of the standard fee."
"HPE Ethernet Switches is a fairly cheap solution."
"There are no licensing costs for this solution."
"I like HPE switches because you get a perpetual license with the hardware. The initial cost is about the same as other switches, but it starts beating the competitors after three or four years because you don't have to pay for additional annual licensing costs."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
Educational Organization
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Switches?
Aruba lives up to the expectations of the tech giant hewlett packard enterprise providing excellent networking capabilities at a very affordable price compared to the equivalent from another tech g...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Switches?
Pricing really depends on the model. For instance, a high-end model with Aruba is about five thousand, while another brand, like Huawei, could be half of it.
What needs improvement with Aruba Switches?
The only problem with Aruba Switches is the pricing.
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Ethernet Switches?
When compared to Cisco, Aruba is about 40% cheaper. However, Huawei would be even cheaper than Aruba. We can't compare HPE Ethernet Switches with Huawei directly because of different price ranges.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
HPE Ethernet Switches have room for improvement in the initial setup and integration process, especially when incorporating them into an existing infrastructure with competitor products. It's a cha...
 

Also Known As

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

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Switches vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.