Aruba Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Nokia are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.3, while Nokia is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.5. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 8.8% mindshare in ES, compared to Nokia’s 1.2% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Nokia users who would recommend it.

Aruba Switches

Read 88 Aruba Switches reviews

11,375 Views
11,375 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Read 7 Nokia Ethernet Service Switch reviews

1,520 Views
1,520 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Switches

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Aruba Switches and Nokia Ethernet Service Switch compete in the networking hardware space, with each offering unique benefits. Aruba Switches have the upper hand in terms of pricing and customer support, while Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is preferred for its comprehensive features and improved functionalities, justifying its higher cost.

Features: Aruba Switches are known for their reliable stacking capabilities, energy-efficient designs, and intuitive network management, providing excellent ease of use and stability. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch excels in advanced traffic management, extensive scalability, and flexible service creation, catering to users needing advanced network service options.

Room for Improvement: Aruba Switches could improve with enhanced scalability features, more robust traffic management options, and better integration with third-party services. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch might benefit from a simpler deployment model, improved energy efficiency, and a more competitive pricing structure for higher adoption rates.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Switches are lauded for their straightforward installation and responsive customer support, which aids in quick deployment. Meanwhile, Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is known for its more complex setup but compensates with detailed documentation and expert customer service, appealing to users who prioritize comprehensive support.

Pricing and ROI: Aruba Switches offer a cost-effective solution with faster returns on investment due to lower initial costs, making them attractive to budget-conscious buyers. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch requires a higher initial investment but offers significant long-term ROI through its enhanced capabilities and superior performance.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Switches vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

August 2026

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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

1st

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

21st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

3.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 8.8%, down from 9.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is 1.2%, up from 0.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Aruba Switches	8.8%
Nokia Ethernet Service Switch	1.2%
Other	90.0%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Aneesh K

IT Solution Analyst II at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Has supported dynamic user segmentation and centralized management across campus networks

The best features of Aruba Switches are their stability and reliability. Hardware failures are rare because the switches have been running for years, and it is uncommon to encounter hardware issues or impacting bugs. From an operational perspective, Aruba Switches are stable and easy to configure through centralized management solutions. Initially managed through AirWave and now through Central, the configuration can be managed easily with audit records and visibility to switch health and other parameters. Another advantage is that Aruba Switches work seamlessly with ClearPass as a NAC server. This integration allows for dynamic policies, dynamic downloadable user roles, and enables seamless segmentation of users for network security. The real-time analytics provided by Aruba Switches for network efficiency are valuable when needed. All information visible in the analytics dashboard is truly helpful. With Aruba Central's migration to AI capability, additional value is being provided, offering more information and making troubleshooting easier with user-friendly features where you can search for anything and receive relevant results.

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Mohammed ThousifAnsari

Team Lead at Thoshiba

Working with network switches simplifies configuration, but documentation needs improvement

My recommendation is to understand the basic concepts clearly before starting your career. While basic concepts might seem simple, they can be very complicated when explored in detail. This foundational knowledge is essential for building a successful career. I would rate the overall solution as a seven out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I like the number of available throughputs and its ability to have different speeds of ethernet cards or fiber-optic SFPs. It's a core switch, and you can configure it as per your requirements. All the configuration details are well documented on the HP website or Aruba website, and one can easily refer to those and find all the relevant commands from the documentation itself. It's also easy to maintain this solution. It's also cheaper than competing products."

"The most valuable feature is the lifetime warranty."

"The most valuable feature is the security that these switches provide."

"The solution is widely applicable to businesses like mine, thanks to its flexibility and compatibility with our warranty structure in South Africa."

"This is a very stable product with good performance."

"Aruba has a good switching solution. It has some basic security features and full switching features for the company. It’s not used as a security device, but it has some basic features like configuring ACL. However, it cannot be used as a complete security solution. The primary thing our clients look for in Aruba, or HPE now since HP acquired Aruba, is cost-effectiveness. Aruba is a good choice if the customer has budget limitations. We recommend Aruba switches because they are less expensive than Cisco but provide the same features."

"The scalability is reasonable."

"The most valuable feature of Aruba Switches is its performance."

More Aruba Switches pros

"The solution saves time and money for my customer in terms of reliability and product durability."

"The performance and reliability are the solution's most valuable features."

"Despite initial hindrances, once understood, these differences help in forming a good career foundation."

"7210 SAS help transformed our legacy network to an MPLS based services and improved the network performance and availability."

"The highest value lies in aggregating the data to improve both traffic management and device utilization, emphasizing the importance of engagement and liability."

"The most valuable features are user functionality and interoperability."

"On several occasions we encountered major issues with the solution and have found the Nokia technical support to be quite supportive."

"The most valuable feature is the product's availability."

Cons

"The endpoint capabilities could be improved."

"The dashboard could be improved, especially for the CX Switches. It would help to push scripts and configurations via an easy to use dashboard, one which would give us complete visibility of all of our switches in one place. Right now, we have more than one dashboard for Aruba. It would be nice if it was centralized."

"This solution could be improved if it offered long term support on a specific model or product."

"The only improvement I can really see is that maybe they could get more competitive price-wise."

"The setup experience for Aruba Switches is a complex process since I cannot add devices by myself, and I need to rely on the partner and pay them extra for their services."

"When issues are escalated to TAC for switching cases specifically, the support tends to be a little poor, whereas support for other products remains acceptable."

"The tool must provide a controller-based architecture."

"They should provide training courses for certification, and have it available on the internet."

More Aruba Switches cons

"We would like to have an unified monitoring system, while Nokia have different monitoring system for different product, we find it to be quite troublesome."

"The solution needs more monitoring tools."

"I would like to see more collaboration with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) vendors, such as Itron."

"The segment routing could be improved, and they could also transfer a lot of legacy to the cloud domain."

"This solution is not particularly flexible."

"The release is not very stable. You should have stability in the card."

"I would prefer that all the licenses be open for our use."

"I would suggest improvements regarding enhancing support response times and implementing user interface modifications for quicker and more user-friendly interactions."

More Nokia Ethernet Service Switch cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price for Aruba is quite a bit cheaper than it is for similar products by Cisco."

"Aruba Switches are less expensive than Cisco."

"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 is a license required if you want to use wireless controls for micro-segmentation. However, for Aruba Switches there is no license required."

"This is an affordable solution."

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

"The pricing is perfect."

"Typically it is a $500 to $600 difference in price."

More Aruba Switches pricing and cost advice

"The price of the solution is very competitive in comparison with that of the competition."

"It is quite expensive compared to alternative technologies."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

13%

Performing Arts

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

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	4
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	2

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?

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, th...

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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...

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What needs improvement with Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?

We can understand the customer network better and propose products accordingly as areas for improvement. Engaging with customers directly would improve how that could be done easily. Many times the...

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What is your primary use case for Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?

I am a system integrator working for different customers. My clients use this product for their network, either for network upgrade or new rollout.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?

This possibility could be provided by the vendor. I advise people looking to use Nokia Ethernet Service Switch to always look for reliability rather than going for cheaper Chinese products. On a sc...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 36% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Aruba Switches

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Aruba Switches

Compared 8% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 4% of the time

More Aruba Switches Competitors

Arista Networks Platform vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 19% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 18% of the time

Juniper QFX Series Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 8% of the time

Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch Ethernet Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 7% of the time

NVIDIA Mellanox vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 5% of the time

More Nokia Ethernet Service Switch Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches

August 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

August 2026

Download Nokia Ethernet Service Switch product report

Also Known As

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

Nokia ESS, Nokia 7450 Ethernet Service Switch, Nokia 7450 ESS

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

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch delivers high availability, interoperability with open standards, and advanced traffic management, aimed at enhancing network operations for organizations managing complex systems.

Offering a robust infrastructure, Nokia Ethernet Service Switch focuses on streamlining network efficiency through features like superior data aggregation and device utilization. Users note its powerful capabilities, but mention a need for improved configuration simplicity and comprehensive documentation. Users seek better integration with a unified monitoring system, open licenses to reduce management overhead, and improved collaboration with AMI vendors. While it handles scalability and reliability effectively, there is room for improvements in segment routing and cloud integration.

What features define Nokia Ethernet Service Switch?

Interoperability: Aligns with open standards for seamless integration.
High Availability: Ensures continuous network service.
Traffic Management: Advanced tools for efficient network traffic handling.
Data Aggregation: Combines data streams for optimized use.
Scalability: Adapts to changes in network demand.
Telecom Portal Compliance: Meets industry standards for network operations.

Which benefits or ROI should users consider?

Network Efficiency: Enhanced performance through better traffic and device management.
Reliability: Trusted uptime with lesser downtime risks.
Market Enhancement: Compliance with telecom standards boosts market credibility.
Cost Management: Open licenses offer more economical network management.

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is widely implemented in control systems for electric and gas grids, integrating seamlessly with EMSS and enhancing network power capacity for effective traffic management. Users value its role as a mobile gateway and in facilitating network upgrades or rollouts, often transitioning from other providers to optimize network operations.

Nokia

Sample Customers

Purdue University

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

August 2026

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