

HPE Ethernet Switches and Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center are both prominent competitors in the network switch market. HPE Ethernet Switches hold the advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness and ease of use, while Fortinet stands out for its superior security features and integration capabilities, which are crucial in large data center settings.
Features: HPE Ethernet Switches offer reliability, scalability, and a lifetime warranty. They provide features such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), VLAN, and integration with existing systems, which benefits established infrastructures. On the other hand, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center excels in network visibility and security, largely due to its seamless integration with FortiGate using FortiLink, which supports centralized management.
Room for Improvement: Users of HPE Ethernet Switches point out areas for improvement like the command interface, better routing protocol support, and enhanced integration with other HP products. Meanwhile, users of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center desire better routing security, a more user-friendly management interface, and greater modularity.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE Ethernet Switches are well-regarded for straightforward on-premises deployments and reliable customer service, despite mixed reviews on technical support. In contrast, Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers hybrid cloud deployment capabilities and is praised for its integration with FortiGate, which simplifies centralized management and receives slightly better reviews for support responsiveness.
Pricing and ROI: HPE Ethernet Switches are perceived as cost-effective, especially for small enterprises, due to their competitive pricing and lifetime warranty leading to a significant ROI. Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center, though sometimes deemed expensive, justifies its cost through robust security features and integration, offering good value for money. Both solutions ensure a positive ROI; HPE is favored for initial affordability, while Fortinet is chosen for comprehensive security benefits.
The integration of Fortinet infrastructure, including FortiSwitches, is cost-effective compared to Cisco, especially when paired with Fortinet wireless solutions.
Technical partners provide responses within a day for any technical queries.
Customer support needs improvement in terms of speed and reliability.
I gave it eight points because local support is absent.
We attach SKUs that offer an advanced replacement of the hardware in the worst-case scenario.
Their customer service and support are quite good.
When used in a dedicated Fortinet infrastructure, FortiSwitch scalability is better than some other switches, like Cisco, Meraki, or Arista.
Scalability is generally good, with transitions from gigabit to ten giga, twenty-five giga, and forty giga.
HPE Ethernet Switches are highly scalable.
There is room for improvement as it sometimes takes over an hour to push configurations onto the devices from the management tool.
HPE Ethernet Switches are very reliable and have high stability.
We had one incident where an electric overload occurred, and it still managed to stay operational.
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.
There is room to improve the integration between FortiSwitch and other third-party solutions, as challenges arise when integrating with different vendors.
Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging.
Incorporating them into an existing infrastructure with competitor products is a challenging task which could be better streamlined.
The price should be reduced in comparison to Cisco, as sometimes we cannot use the HPE one at the core level, where generally public users are using Cisco.
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
Pricing is competitive, although it's not the cheapest option.
Huawei would be even cheaper than Aruba.
The price of HPE Ethernet Switches is reasonable and less than other OEM brands.
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.
It allows me to create VLANs, implement security measures, and push configurations using a single tool.
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.
They are highly scalable and stable, which is vital for large enterprises that require reliable performance.
The security features of the HPE Ethernet Switches are good.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| HPE Ethernet Switches | 3.9% |
| Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center | 3.1% |
| Other | 93.0% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 17 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 4 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 62 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 19 |
| Large Enterprise | 32 |
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers cost-effective, centralized network management through seamless integration with FortiGate. It supports enhanced security, flexibility in VLAN management, and intuitive control through an efficient interface.
Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is valued for its cost-effectiveness and ease of use. It provides seamless integration with FortiGate, enabling centralized network management. Users appreciate its port analytics, graphical interface, and enhanced security features, allowing VLAN creation and configuration across infrastructure. The system offers efficient alerting, automatic adjustments, and functions like QoS and traffic management to maintain consistent security. Its intuitive design and high visibility make it an efficient all-in-one tool for network management. Despite needing improvements in AI integration, security, and pricing, users find it a reliable choice for managing traffic between VMs and physical hosts. It supports network connectivity, VLAN management, and internal traffic control while integrating with security fabric and SD-WAN features.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?Organizations across industries implement Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center to effectively manage both virtual and physical network environments within data centers. It helps in controlling internal traffic and ensures robust security measures are in place. Its integration with extensive security fabric and SD-WAN features allows for comprehensive network management through a single dashboard, streamlining operations and providing enhanced control over infrastructure.
HPE Ethernet Switches are recognized for stability, easy configuration, robust security, and a lifetime warranty. Preferred for scalability and cost-effectiveness compared to Cisco, they are ideal for different business environments with features making deployment, latency, and integration seamless.
Boasting an intuitive GUI interface, HPE Ethernet Switches provide strong performance for network demands. They offer scalability and programmability with features like Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF), Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, and VLAN trunking. Despite needing improvements in pricing, stability, and technical support, HPE maintains a reliable reputation in handling LAN switching, core network traffic, and integration across LAN, WAN, and SAN environments. Users seek more modern management, improved automation, and enhanced routing protocols. Though existing management tools and integration ease require refinement, their reliability, swift deployment, and low latency position them well in the market.
What features make HPE Ethernet Switches standout?HPE Ethernet Switches are widely implemented in diverse sectors like telecom, data centers, universities, and hospitality. They handle LAN switching, office network connections, and interconnecting LAN, WAN, and SAN environments effectively. Thanks to their reliability and ease of security integration, they support the varied technical requirements across industries.
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