Aruba Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Broadcom are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.3, while Broadcom is ranked #23 with an average rating of 8.0. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 8.9% mindshare in ES, compared to Broadcom’s 1.5% 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

10,551 Views
10,551 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Read 11 Brocade Ethernet Switches reviews

1,765 Views
1,765 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Switches

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches vs. Brocade Ethernet Switches

June 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

Brocade Ethernet Switches

Ranking in Ethernet Switches

23rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 8.9%, down from 10.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Brocade Ethernet Switches is 1.5%, 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	8.9%
Brocade Ethernet Switches	1.5%
Other	89.6%

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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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…

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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

"Aruba has an advantage over their competitors because they specialize in delivery, which means they don't have the long delivery times that Cisco and others quote."

"The most valuable features are stability, ease of management, and the monitoring tool."

"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 most valuable feature of Aruba Switches is the command-line interface (CLI)."

"I rate the stability of Aruba Switches a ten."

"I like the Aruba Central platform. It makes a lot of sense. The switches have a lot of great capabilities. Central can lockdown VLANs and control the apps and protocols. There are several built-in security features that I'm not utilizing. However, those capabilities are part of the reason I'm using enterprise switches in a small office. I like knowing that I can do these things when necessary."

"The most valuable feature is that we can manage everything centrally using Aruba Cloud Central, which allows us to check the network heartbeat, logs, alerts, finances, and more."

"Aruba Access points, controller, and performance are the best!"

More Aruba Switches pros

"The most valuable feature of Brocade Ethernet Switches is the good range of access it provides."

"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."

"I have not had any issues with our Brocade switches."

"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."

"It has good integration with HPE Primera. They have smart zoning in which the administration is very easy. You don't have to do anything. Zoning and other things are done automatically if you just enable the smart zoning. That's one very good thing in HP."

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

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

"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."

More Brocade Ethernet Switches pros

Cons

"The main issue we had with the Aruba Switches was that they would heat up easily when placed outside. We have two locations with no cover in the corridor and it's a historical building. We experienced outages on the first batch of Aruba Switches we received, which we never had with the Dell Switches, for example, even though Dell Switches are not as well-known. However, the Dell Switches had been outside for a few years and we never had any issues with them. In contrast, we encountered an issue with the Aruba Switch after only one week of being outside when it shut down in security mode."

"There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches."

"The customer service could be a bit quicker and the employees could be more professional."

"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."

"We would like to see centralized, cloud-based management."

"Replacement could be automated."

"The endpoint capabilities could be improved."

"It would be nice if there were more centers of training for Aruba in Peru because there are more centers of knowledge for Cisco than for Aruba here."

More Aruba Switches cons

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

"No graphical interface."

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

"There are some performance issues that I would like to see improved."

"The solution could be more secure."

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

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

"These switches are no longer supported."

More Brocade Ethernet Switches cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is perfect."

"It is expensive compared to the competition."

"Aruba Switches has a lifetime warranty on the solution and after five years the solution will be at its end of life."

"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."

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

"It is a little bit expensive. It can be cheaper."

"The cost is very cheap when you compare it to CISCO."

"Aruba Switches are cost-effective."

More Aruba Switches pricing and cost advice

"The price of Brocade Ethernet Switches is expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Government

Computer Software 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	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.

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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 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 30% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Aruba Switches

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Aruba Switches

Compared 9% 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

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Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 21% of the time

Juniper EX Series Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 11% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 9% of the time

NVIDIA Mellanox vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 7% of the time

Huawei Ethernet Switches vs Brocade Ethernet Switches

Compared 5% of the time

More Brocade Ethernet Switches Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches

June 2026

Download Aruba Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

May 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

June 2026

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