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Aruba Switches vs NVIDIA Mellanox 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:
 

Categories and Ranking

Aruba Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
83
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
NVIDIA Mellanox
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
20th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Aruba Switches is 11.3%, down from 12.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NVIDIA Mellanox is 2.0%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Eunice Thirikwa - PeerSpot reviewer
Stable hotel networking enhances return on investment with valuable modular features
There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches. For instance, the distributor in our country cannot sell to neighboring countries, creating complications in project execution. Improving the distribution network across regions would be beneficial. Also, the SFP modules are significantly more expensive than industry peers, which affects cost-effectiveness.
Anil Ergunsah - PeerSpot reviewer
Powerful hardware, reliable performance, and advantageous Cumulus Linux OS
Mellanox Switches were easier before Nvidia bought Mellanox and then their new version of the operating system changed. They started with Onyx, and now they only use Linux. If they Learn Linux OS essentials before Cumulus it would be a good option for starters. The new CLI is more difficult to use but more powerful than the older one. It has its advantages.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"This solution is really easy to use. It is much easier to use than Cisco. It's got a nice web interface for stepping up and an added warranty."
"Aruba Switches is stable."
"We like that it is very easy to manage the product through the cloud."
"The most valuable feature is that it's very easy to configure."
"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 solution is scalable."
"Management-wise, this is a good solution."
"The technical support is fantastic!"
"The tool is very configurable because it runs on a Linux operating system."
"It is a very easy-to-use product."
"The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the size, power consumption, and the vast amount of features."
"The most valuable features of this solution are its functionality."
"The most valuable features of Mellanox Switches are the powerful hardware and the software is open. They're using Linux operating system. You can do and install many things, and it performs well."
"From what I've been told, a valuable feature of Mellanox switches is they're quite user-friendly."
"The biggest advantage is that the vendor is the only one providing no-drop traffic."
 

Cons

"It would be better and easier for us to buy if the price were reduced."
"Aruba Switches don't need licenses to activate features and work straight out of the box, which is an advantage over some competitors. This implies less room for complaints compared with other solutions."
"The licensing model could be improved."
"There are issues with the distribution side of Aruba Switches."
"I would like to see something like a Cisco Prime, an application controlling the entire system, switches, and access points."
"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."
"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."
"Aruba's operating system changes with every version."
"The configuration is a bit different from Cisco, and therefore, for me at least, there's a bit of a learning curve."
"The scalability is working fine at the moment, but there's always room for improvement. As of right now, I don't know of any improvements to suggest."
"Mellanox Switches could improve by adding some features that can make it easier for integrating the switches in some managing and monitoring platforms, such as Elastic or similar software for monitoring data with the data center in a more holistic way."
"Mellanox Switches were easier before Nvidia bought Mellanox and then their new version of the operating system changed. They started with Ennui, and now they only use Linux. If they returned to their previous CLI it would be a good option for starters. The new CLI is more difficult to use but more powerful than the older one. It has its advantages."
"Sometimes, it can have some bugs from the past if I am an old user. However, it is stable now."
"If you compare this solution with Cisco, utilization in Cisco is more popular and it is more friendly."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The license is annual. If you purchase a switch, you get a one-year free subscription."
"The cost is very cheap when you compare it to CISCO."
"Aruba Switches are quite cost-effective."
"Comparing with Cisco, and some other solutions, it's a cheap product."
"We pay for the clear pass and the controller."
"The price is reasonable."
"Aruba Switches has a lifetime warranty on the solution and after five years the solution will be at its end of life."
"The price of these switches is high."
"The pricing is very competitive. The licensing costs are fine."
"There is a license to use the switch ports of Mellanox Switches."
"It's an open-source solution."
"The price of Mellanox Switches is reasonable compared to other solutions. The price and quality ratio was very good. There is a one-time license purchase that is needed."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
Educational Organization
7%
Computer Software Company
19%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Switches?
Aruba lives up to the expectations of the tech giant hewlett packard enterprise providing excellent networking capabilities at a very affordable price compared to the equivalent from another tech g...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Switches?
I find it to be middle to high. It's not always affordable, but they're losing the pricing market against Huawei, let's just put it like that.
What needs improvement with Aruba Switches?
There isn't much room for improvement. A more granular breakdown in debugging would be beneficial. Apart from that, not much is needed.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Mellanox Switches?
The solution is affordable. I rate the product’s pricing as two out of ten, where one is cheap, and ten is expensive.
What needs improvement with Mellanox Switches?
The response time of the support could be faster.
What is your primary use case for Mellanox Switches?
We use the solution to lock switches, storage switches, and border gate switches.
 

Also Known As

8400 Series, 8320 Series, 5400R Series, 3810 Series, 2930M Series, 2930F Series, 2920 Series, 2540 Series, 2530 Series
Mellanox Switches, Mellanox SN2700
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University
CNPC, Korea Consumer Agency, Nutanix, Roxo Systems, StorPool, Atlantic.Net, INFN, StarWind, NYSE Technologies, Creative Consultants, ENKI
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Switches vs. NVIDIA Mellanox and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.