Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch comparison

Fortinet and Nokia are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Fortinet is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.8, while Nokia is ranked #24 with an average rating of 8.5. Fortinet holds a 2.3% mindshare in ES, compared to Nokia’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Nokia users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...

Read 26 Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center reviews

1,668 Views
1,668 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Read 7 Nokia Ethernet Service Switch reviews

834 Views
834 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center and Nokia Ethernet Service Switch are competitors in the data center networking market. While Fortinet focuses on cost efficiency and security integration, Nokia is preferred for its advanced features and scalability.

Features: Fortinet FortiSwitch Data Center offers high port density, seamless integration with Fortinet's security fabric, and robust support. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch provides sophisticated traffic management, high-performance capabilities tailored for large-scale networks, and high scalability.

Room for Improvement: Fortinet may benefit from simplifying configuration processes, enhancing standalone mode manageability, and improving third-party integration. Nokia could improve deployment simplicity, reduce complexity in configurations, and offer more competitive pricing.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiSwitch provides straightforward deployment and responsive customer service, aiding in quick installations. Nokia's Ethernet Service Switch has advanced configurations requiring support, but customer service assists in optimizing for large-scale setups.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiSwitch is attractive for budget-conscious buyers with lower setup costs and quicker ROI. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch demands higher initial investment, promising ROI through enhanced performance and scalability for enterprises valuing long-term network growth.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

December 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 881,114 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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

15th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

24th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

3.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 2.3%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Nokia Ethernet Service Switch is 1.0%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center	2.3%
Nokia Ethernet Service Switch	1.0%
Other	96.7%

Ethernet Switches

Featured Reviews

Rutul SHah

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.

Read full review

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.

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

"A valuable feature of FortiGate is its management integrity."

"The initial setup was simple."

"Configurations between FortiGate and FortiSwitch have to link to each other. We need configuration. The configuration is not like a Cisco switch. It has a unique configuration."

"The most valuable feature is the port analytics."

"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."

"It is very stable."

"We are able to monitor everything that is happening on our network."

"Based on my use cases, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center was a great product that was easy to manage and work with while being a powerful tool."

More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center pros

"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 feature is the product's availability."

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

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

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

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

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

Cons

"Cisco is better in terms of price, scalability, and ease of management. Regarding resources, they are available in Pakistan to manage these systems."

"Routing is an area in Fortinet FortiSwitch with certain shortcomings where improvements are needed."

"We need to understand a bit more about certifications and knowledge for understanding capabilities. The solution should make that more clear to its users."

"The FortiSwitch product was initially quite complex."

"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center needs to improve its UI and stability."

"The tool is not easy to use."

"The performance is basic only, and we cannot compare Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center with Aruba or Cisco switches."

"Before using FortiSwitch, you need several certifications."

More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center cons

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

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

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

"The solution needs more monitoring tools."

"The documentation needs improvement for better accessibility, as there isn't proper documentation currently available."

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

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."

"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."

"The product has a mid-range price."

"It is reasonably priced."

"The solution is not expensive."

"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."

"The solution's pricing is a little high. The solution deserves the current price it receives from its users."

"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."

More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center 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."

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

881,114 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

14%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Performing Arts

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Educational Organization

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	17
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	4

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?

The initial setup was simple.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?

See all answers

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...

See all answers

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

Aruba Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center

Compared 19% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center

Compared 14% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center

Compared 7% of the time

Meraki MS Switches vs Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center

Compared 7% of the time

More Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Competitors

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 31% of the time

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 12% of the time

Arista Networks Platform vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 11% of the time

Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch Ethernet Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 9% of the time

Huawei Ethernet Switches vs Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Compared 8% of the time

More Nokia Ethernet Service Switch Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

January 2026

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center report

Download Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center product report

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

January 2026

Download Nokia Ethernet Service Switch product report

Also Known As

No data available

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

Overview

With 10 or 40 GE access ports and a high-throughput backbone, FortiSwitch Data Center Switches are ideal for the top-of-rack (ToR) server or firewall-aggregation applications. The high-speed switching fabric is also well suited for enterprise network core or backbone network installations.

Fortinet

The Nokia 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS) family of Carrier Ethernet switch routers is designed to deliver advanced Carrier Ethernet services. It also provides the ideal platform for the metro Ethernet aggregation of fixed and mobile networks.

Nokia

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

December 2025

Free Report: Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,114 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. Nokia Ethernet Service Switch 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.