Aruba Switches vs Extreme VDX [EOL] comparison

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Extreme Networks are both solutions in the Ethernet Switches category. Additionally, 98% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Extreme Networks users who would recommend it.

Aruba Switches

Read 88 Aruba Switches reviews

13,648 Views
13,648 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Extreme VDX [EOL]

Read 3 Extreme VDX [EOL] reviews

100% willing to recommend

Aruba Switches

Extreme VDX [EOL]

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Aruba Switches and Extreme VDX [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Arista and others in Ethernet Switches.

To learn more, read our detailed Ethernet Switches Report (Updated: October 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

October 2026

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Helped 920,769 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

Aruba Switches

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Ethernet Switches (3rd)

Extreme VDX [EOL]

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

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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Osama Ahmed LUBBAD

Systems Support Engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

A stable, scalable, and problem-free solution

Software needs to be updated regularly in order to maintain security and performance. However, in some cases, it is necessary to stack switches in order to meet the needs of the network. Although Cisco switches are able to stack, other switches are not as simple to stack. I would like the ability to stack with different switch brands.

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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 find the most valuable feature is it is part of the Aruba family."

"Scalability is one of the reasons why I went for Aruba; it seems to be one of the top vendors in providing cloud solutions and quite stable when it comes to upscaling and improving the existing environment."

"The most valuable features of Aruba Switches include the dual control plane, stackable features such as stack V6 and VSF stacks."

"Management-wise, this is a good solution."

"The solution is easy to use and quick to deploy."

"The most valuable features are the access point, fire control for clients, majority control, platform control in SSIGF, WiFi networking, and area monitoring."

"It allows us to manage the switches through the cloud, which is good."

"Aruba Central is valuable."

More Aruba Switches pros

"The fabric of the solution and the management aspect are the solution's most valuable features."

"Its simplicity and web interface were most valuable. I also liked the two-factor authentication."

"The most valuable feature of Extreme VDX is that we have had no problems and the solution's performance is excellent."

Cons

"With Aruba, some of the models that are available, you need simple features, but you have to go to very high models, very expensive models."

"The power supplies are generally susceptible to power fluctuations and failure due to these fluctuations."

"Managing Aruba Switches is not as good as Cisco Controller."

"They have limited CLI options in the UI and this is something that needs improvement."

"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."

"Regarding integration capabilities, there are some limitations with Aruba Switches that make them a little difficult sometimes, as they are very particular about the kind of SFP+ adapters and cables you can use."

"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."

More Aruba Switches cons

"Its scalability can be better. If possible, it can have Hyper POE. I am not sure if there is a fiber version."

"I don't know if the solution has a future because the company doesn't seem to be investing in updates or improvements."

"I would like the ability to stack with different switch brands."

"The only problem is that at the moment it's an Extreme product and Extreme is not really pushing it. They have to make up for weak innovation and I'm not sure if they want to do that."

"Its scalability is quite limited. We had four buildings merging into one building, and scalability was probably the reason why they didn't proceed with buying more Brocade switches and routers."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am paying for the hardware and Aruba Central licenses, but I would like a version of Aruba Central to come out with a light version with a few features turned off. Ubiquiti and other vendors have free tools. I believe they're looking at that, but it's not out yet. I hope they will release that to make it competitive because I'm using an enterprise-class switch for small businesses. We're looking for some of those capabilities, but not all of them."

"Aruba Switches are quite cost-effective."

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

"Aruba switches cost between $500 and $600 more than similar products by Huawei, as well as many other brands."

"Aruba Switches are less expensive than Cisco."

"The pricing for Aruba Switches is definitely expensive."

"The price of these switches is high."

"This is an expensive product, costing about double what most competitors do."

More Aruba Switches pricing and cost advice

"It was around $1500 a year. It is cheaper than Cisco but more expensive than Ruckus."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	50
Midsize Enterprise	19
Large Enterprise	22

No data available

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...

See all answers

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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Comparisons

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 42% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Aruba Switches

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs Aruba Switches

Compared 7% of the time

HPE Ethernet Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 5% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Aruba Switches

Compared 3% of the time

More Aruba Switches Competitors

ExtremeSwitching vs Extreme VDX [EOL]

Compared 17% of the time

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs Extreme VDX [EOL]

Compared 14% of the time

Cisco Nexus vs Extreme VDX [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs Extreme VDX [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Extreme VDX [EOL]

Compared 10% of the time

More Extreme VDX [EOL] Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Switches

October 2026

Download Aruba Switches product report

Buyer's Guide

Ethernet Switches

October 2026

Download Extreme VDX [EOL] product report

Also Known As

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

VDX, Brocade VDX

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 VDX Switches support Layer 2 and Layer 3 fabrics with open standards and extensive scalability to deliver high performance, capacity, and reliability for data center spine and leaf deployments. It includes the following products: Brocade VDX 6740 SWITCHES, Brocade VDX 6940 SWITCH and Brocade VDX 8770 SWITCH.

Extreme Networks

Sample Customers

Purdue University

Niagra Falls Bridge Commission, Medien System Partner, CDE Lightband, MaximumASP

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Arista and others in Ethernet Switches. Updated: October 2026.

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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.