Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

D-Link Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
3.8
D-Link Ethernet Switches offer up to 90% savings and cost-effective performance, providing significant ROI compared to Cisco.
Sentiment score
1.0
Fortinet FortiSwitch offers cost-effective solutions, though Cisco provides better long-term ROI with superior disaster management and quicker replacement.
The integration of Fortinet infrastructure, including FortiSwitches, is cost-effective compared to Cisco, especially when paired with Fortinet wireless solutions.
Network Security Engineer at STN Inc
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
3.8
D-Link users often resolve issues independently, but support quality varies by region, with some areas needing improvement.
Sentiment score
7.3
Fortinet FortiSwitch customer service is praised for reliability, though local support issues create mixed user experiences.
We have implemented these switches in 25 to 30 sites without significant problems.
Project Manager at CCS Computer's Pvt Ltd
Whenever there is an issue, the local technical team supports us, whether through physical presence or remotely.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
Technical partners provide responses within a day for any technical queries.
Network Security Engineer at STN Inc
Customer support needs improvement in terms of speed and reliability.
senior technical administrator at Ogma Consulting
I gave it eight points because local support is absent.
Information Technology Infrastructure Engineer at REYADA IT SOLUTIONS CO. LLC
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.2
D-Link Ethernet Switches are scalable and flexible, suitable for medium-sized businesses, though some desire enhanced scalability features.
Sentiment score
7.8
Fortinet FortiSwitch is scalable, modular, easily integrates with networks, but could improve SPF model support.
The pricing is competitive in the market, making D-Link Ethernet switches a good option for both middle-end and high-end brands.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
There is not much scalability.
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
When used in a dedicated Fortinet infrastructure, FortiSwitch scalability is better than some other switches, like Cisco, Meraki, or Arista.
Network Security Engineer at STN Inc
Scalability is generally good, with transitions from gigabit to ten giga, twenty-five giga, and forty giga.
CTO at Exceed NetSec LLC
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
D-Link Ethernet Switches are praised for reliability and performance, despite minor issues and some stability decline over time.
Sentiment score
7.6
Fortinet FortiSwitch is stable and reliable, though integration and configuration challenges occasionally affect performance.
There are no stability issues with D-Link Ethernet switches.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
The integration has been successful with no security breaches or network disturbances.
Project Manager at CCS Computer's Pvt Ltd
The stability of D-Link Ethernet Switches is good.
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
There is room for improvement as it sometimes takes over an hour to push configurations onto the devices from the management tool.
senior technical administrator at Ogma Consulting
 

Room For Improvement

D-Link Ethernet Switches are costly, lacking in software management, stability, security features, scalability, and advanced configurations.
The Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center faces challenges in automation, UI complexity, pricing, and requires better AI and integration features.
Improvements in the voltage facility, like increasing from 360 watts to 400 or 450 watts, would make them more competitive with other vendors.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
Currently, D-Link Ethernet Switches are often not used in large data centers due to issues with performance and scalability.
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
The products I'm dealing with are just plug-and-play, unmanaged switches.
Head of IT and Information Security at GLEEDS USA INC
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.
CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited
There is room to improve the integration between FortiSwitch and other third-party solutions, as challenges arise when integrating with different vendors.
CTO at Exceed NetSec LLC
Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging.
senior technical administrator at Ogma Consulting
 

Setup Cost

D-Link Switches offer affordable pricing, minimal fees, and included support, making them ideal for budget-conscious enterprises.
Fortinet FortiSwitch is competitively priced compared to Cisco, with no licensing needed for some FortiGate users.
The pricing of D-Link Ethernet Switches is cost-effective.
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
High-end switches should be slightly cheaper.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches.
Manager IT at Amplelogic
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
Network Security Engineer at STN Inc
Pricing is competitive, although it's not the cheapest option.
CTO at Exceed NetSec LLC
 

Valuable Features

D-Link Ethernet Switches offer user-friendly, affordable, and energy-efficient solutions with robust features for versatile network environments.
Fortinet FortiSwitch offers centralized management, intuitive UI, security enhancements, and control over network traffic and security.
The features of D-Link Ethernet Switches that have proven most beneficial in managing network traffic include their cost-effectiveness, which is suitable for small data centers.
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
It's especially valuable because Cisco and other products function similarly, but for smaller networks where high transfer rates aren't necessary.
Project Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 11-50 employees
I haven't found any problem implementing those in a live environment; it's just a plug-and-play device.
Head of IT and Information Security at GLEEDS USA INC
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.
CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited
It allows me to create VLANs, implement security measures, and push configurations using a single tool.
senior technical administrator at Ogma Consulting
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.
Network Security Engineer at STN Inc
 

Categories and Ranking

D-Link Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
14th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of D-Link Ethernet Switches is 4.2%, down from 6.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 2.3%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
D-Link Ethernet Switches4.2%
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center2.3%
Other93.5%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

SyedTaha - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of IT and Information Security at GLEEDS USA INC
Cost has remained low while implementation proceeds without complications
To capture the critical traffic to prioritize is not something I work with in advanced QoS features. Regarding VLAN support in bandwidth management, we are not utilizing VLAN for the infrastructure as we have a minimal requirement for VLAN, so we have not yet implemented any of the features relevant to the virtual LANs. It's very hard to answer the question about minor improvements D-Link Ethernet Switches could do with their products because the products I'm dealing with are just plug-and-play, unmanaged switches. It would be more appropriate to comment on features if I had been using Layer 2 or Layer 3 switches for at least a couple of months. I don't think there are any disadvantages I can point out for the product.
Rutul SHah - PeerSpot reviewer
CXO at Aariha Enterprise Private Limited
Provides seamless traffic control and secure connectivity while minimizing downtime and optimizing resource allocation
There is always room for improvement in Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because with this switch, they can reduce downtime due to broadcasting issues by denying specific traffic on particular ports. Currently, I am not identifying any weak points of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because it meets the customer's use case. However, 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.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Ethernet Switches solutions are best for your needs.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Healthcare Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
14%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business18
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise7
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business17
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise4
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link has a good VPN feature and quality of service.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for D-Link Ethernet Switches?
D-Link Ethernet Switches are 30% cheaper than Cisco switches. Pricing has not been a concern since it is already included in the capex.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
There is always room for improvement in Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because with this switch, they can reduce downtime due to broadcasting issues by denying specific traffic on particular po...
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

George Mason University, Somerville House, Hiperwall, New Brunswick School District 16, The Fulcrum Group, Bremond Independent School District, University of Texas Health Science Center, Grand Canyon Skywalk, SUN Area Career & Technology Center, Abington Senior High School
Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Find out what your peers are saying about D-Link Ethernet Switches vs. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.