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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs HPE Ethernet Switches 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

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secu...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
48
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
103
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access is 5.1%, down from 6.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.4%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

SherifAbdelrahman - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient integration allows streamlined network management with a straightforward setup
I use it for retail business. We are using the FortiSwitch solution for our voice switches and access points as well It has helped us by providing easy management from a single platform through the firewall interface. It's very easy to manage and provides all the insights and vulnerabilities,…
LuisSilva6 - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides ease of management and has an easy initial setup process
Primarily, we use the product for network and VLAN segmentation across our hospitality property. It forms the backbone of our network, providing connectivity to devices like TVs, phones, access points, and even electrical switches within guest rooms The product's most valuable feature is the ease…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required."
"The tool's VLAN feature is easy to understand. It was very good."
"Ability to manage FortiAP, FortiClient, and FortiGate all from a single console"
"The tool provides a firewall and good performance."
"I can say that the product is easy to use...The initial setup of the product was easy."
"The most valuable feature of this product is its simplicity."
"The powerful integration capabilities allow us to manage all devices from a single interface through the firewall."
"The solution is easy to scale."
"HPE Ethernet Switches are easy to configure."
"They are affordable and very stable. They also have good performance."
"It is a stable product."
"The most valuable feature in HPE Ethernet Switches is programmability and analytics."
"The most valuable features of this solution are the interface and configuration. It's very easy to use."
"I have found the most valuable feature is stability."
"I'm a power user, so reliability is crucial. The HPE equipment hasn't failed on me, unlike some other brands like Huawei, which I find more sensitive."
"The graphical userface is very good and quite easy to run with."
 

Cons

"We had experienced downtime. I would like to see it to be improved."
"FortiSwitch requires periodic firmware updates. It can be a little difficult because the switches aren't connected to the internet, so you cannot upgrade the firmware remotely. You need to go to the site and do it manually because it's a closed network."
"The pricing could be improved, and it could be easier to configure."
"When we started using the solution, it was quite complex but then it became easier to use. It takes a while to get used to the interface."
"I would rate technical support at eight. It's a potential area for improvement, possibly in terms of response time or quality."
"In the next release, I would like to see more outdoor products."
"The product must improve its prices."
"The initial setup is pretty easy; we have built a knowledge base. But there's a learning curve for beginners."
"I would like to see the initial setup become easier."
"The solution’s licensing could be improved."
"It would be helpful to have training available for this solution."
"It is a bit complex to configure."
"There have been no significant improvements to our network performance as the switches we are using are quite old and we have not been able to take advantage of any new features."
". There is room for improvement in pricing. One box shouldn't require additional installations. We need a package deal with licenses that are usable for different tasks. Right now, we need a license for every additional feature, which adds up."
"The scalability is limited."
"The VLAN tagging could be improved,"
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's pricing is good."
"Licensing is easy: FortiCare and that's it."
"It's affordable compared to other switching products, like Cisco switches."
"The product pricing seems to be mid-range."
"The price of the solution could improve, it is expensive."
"The solution has reasonable pricing. The firewall costs around 500$ annually."
"The pricing is cheap and only a yearly licensing cost needs to be paid."
"The pricing for Fortinet FortiSwitch is not expensive."
"HPE costs almost the same as Cisco."
"There are free software updates and there is a lifetime warranty for a few of the switch series."
"It is a more expensive solution."
"I believe HPE is less expensive than Aruba's and UniFi and that is why certain clients have chosen them as their solution."
"We have to see only the security part when considering licenses because the licenses upgrade."
"This is an expensive product."
"The pricing is very good."
"We have to pay for a yearly license for HPE Ethernet Switches."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Government
8%
Educational Organization
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - Fortinet Fortiswitch secure access or Cisco Ethernet Switches?
We researched Cisco but ultimately chose Fortinet FortiSwitch Secure Access, mostly because of the price. Fortinet FortiSwitch is an ethernet switch solution that provides security and performance...
What do you like most about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
With FortiSwitch, you can easily identify who is connected to each port, disable ports as needed, and retrieve configurations from FortiGate when required.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access?
Currently, I don't have an opinion about the price as I focus on implementation and am not informed about pricing in comparison to other vendors.
What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
Based on my experience, I am quite happy with the switches at the moment and do not see any immediate room for improvement.
 

Also Known As

No data available
HP Ethernet Switches
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
Emirates Palace Hotel
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Secure Access vs. HPE Ethernet Switches and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.