Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center Reviews

It is one platform to manage all the infrastructure. 

I need a specific feature with another brand, like HP or Aruba. I want to have a single SSID for all my clients. I have many SSIDs, and it's very complex to authenticate users with just one SSID for different locations. I need an external authentication device in Fortinet, whereas in Aruba, it's much simpler within the platform. The simplicity and stability of the Fortinet platform are appreciated. Fortinet could have the ability to authenticate users like Aruba offers because managing ten or twelve SSIDs for different clients is complicated.

I have been using Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center for five years.

It is very stable.

I open a new place every six months. When I open a new space, I replicate the configuration and settings from another site. After that, we interconnect all of them using device VPNs to manage all applications from one side. I need simple configurations for different sites and autonomous setup because it allows me to work at different locations with varying configurations, but I still need to access all the sites to review the conversions from one site.

Support is good for both post and pre-sales.

Positive

It has a fair cost.

Maintenance is simple because my provider handles it for me. When I need maintenance, I call them and request the service. They respond quickly and perform the maintenance efficiently, leaving no issues or problems afterward.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

In relation to my company, the solution is installed in Costa Rica and Venezuela. I work with Fortinet FortiSwitch in my company's data center.

I like Fortinet FortiSwitch, and I work with it since I also work with FortiGate. I like the functionalities provided by Fortinet FortiSwitch, making it a complete product for me.

In Fortinet FortiSwitch, the routing aspect lacks the required security. Routing is an area in Fortinet FortiSwitch with certain shortcomings where improvements are needed.

I have been using Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center for seven years. My company has a partnership and is a reseller of the product.

I like the solution's technical support. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

Positive

I have experience with FortiAnalyzer and FortiGate. Specifically, I have experience with FortiGate Cloud-Native Firewall.

I rate the overall tool a ten out of ten.

The product's most valuable feature is its ability to manage switches from one central point.

There could be more porting software options for easy deployment in the product.

It is a stable product.

I rate Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center's scalability a nine out of ten.

The technical support team provides services for both pre and post-implementation phases.

Positive

The initial setup process is easy.

The product is less expensive than Cisco.

I rate Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center a nine out of ten.

We use the solution for network segregation and network management.

What I like about the solution is that it can be accessed anywhere. Once you've created the public IP address, configured it, and opened the correct ports, it's accessible anywhere. You don't have to be in a particular environment to access it.

The solution’s pricing could be improved.

I have been using Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center for one year.

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is a very stable solution.

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is a scalable solution. Around 75 users are using the solution in our organization.

We previously used HPE switches. We chose Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center because we're using FortiSwitch Access Point, and we opted to use one device across the board.

The solution’s initial setup is straightforward.

We implemented the solution through an in-house team. It took me four hours to deploy Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center.

We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive.

The solution improved our network performance because we no longer have a flat network. The network is segregated, and we have the guest Wi-Fi as well. Just two people are needed for the solution's deployment and maintenance.

Earlier, we only had a Cisco firewall and HPE switches. We did the backup even though the settings were not the same. Since my colleague knew what he was doing, the solution's integration with our network infrastructure was smooth, and we haven't had any issues since then. The solution's management is straightforward.

Overall, I rate the solution ten out of ten.

A valuable feature of FortiGate is its management integrity. FortiSwitch has two modes, one standalone and the other managed. The standalone mode cannot be managed from FortiGate, although the managed mode allows one to manage FortiSwitch from FortiGate. This includes the making or assigning of virtual LAN, interfacing, enabling and disabling and patching of upgrades. This can be done from FortiGate to every other FortiSwitch. 

It would be great were FortiGate to allow for the management of many switches, such as 50 or 60 FortiSwitches. The managed display is very low. It takes a long time for the view to become visible, two or three minutes, perhaps. This is irritating. When there are many switches being used, the speed declines noticeably. 

When it comes to stability and use of the managed feature, FortiSwitch does not consume many resources, such as CPU and memory. Yet, occasionally, we cannot understand the managed feature of the FortiLink platform. Stability is not really the issue. Troubleshooting is.

While the installation process is not complicated, the need to do regional configuration of FortiSwitch can be a bit on the tricky side. 

We have a singular project on the FortiSwitch and this solution does not have many features when it comes to modular installation. One can move from one port to another on the same switch. Since the FortiSwitches do not move, this resulted in a person being unable to move his personal configuration from the same switches. This is a very important feature which our customers require, as they need to have switching abilities, such as in the event that they will move to the conference room. FortiSwitches now offers this important feature. 

As Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is a very young product, we have been distributing it for two or three years. 

Stability is not an issue, although troubleshooting can present a challenge. 

FortiSwitch makes it easy to deal with many switches. It allows a person to install all of the switches on a single special FortiGate button. When it comes to the configuration of one's network, this is important, since it spares a person from the need to individually integrate each switch in the event that there are many involved. 

Overall, Fortinet has good support, although this can vary depending on the engineer involved. 

While the FortiSwitch setup process is not very involved, the need to do regional configuration can be a tricky issue. There is a learning process. 

I rate Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center as a nine out of ten. 

The tool is not easy to use. 

I have been working with the product for a year. 

The product is stable. 

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is scalable. My company has 40-50 users for the product. 

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center's installation is straightforward. 

The tool's deployment was done in-house. 

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive. 

I rate the solution a seven out of ten. 

We use it as an API, as our last solution.

The main feature is that we can manage all the network's rules for FortiGate, it's the main added value for us.

The integration of wireless products could be improved.

I've been using FortiSwitch for the last six months.

The product has a good stability.

Initial setup was simple and done by our company. Deployment took from one to two hours.

The cost of FortiNet is affordable and good for price-sensitive accounts.

The main difference between FortiSwitch and Aruba Switches is the price. The prices of Aruba are higher and they have unlimited features that FortiSwitch does not, like segmentation and analytics engines. Fortinet offers a simpler product. So if the network is simple, I would recommend Fortinet, but if we're dealing with a large network with mini customization and mini requirements, then I'd recommend Aruba and Chorley.

I would give FortiSwitch a seven out of ten. I also want to add that this solution would work best in small-medium companies. 

We implement it for our customers and do the installation. 

Configurations between FortiGate and FortiSwitch have to link to each other as "FortiLink". We need configuration. The configuration is not like a Cisco switch. It has a unique configuration. 

FortiSwitch should improve the FortiGate map. The diagram cannot move, automatically to show the switch. The map does not map the physical location. It cannot move the diagram.

2 yeas

If the customer uses a certain function, the customer can change the configuration from FortiGate. They can unify their network to drive only on FortiGate. We can reduce the cost of the operation network. That function is very scalable and cheap.

The technical support depends on the technician's expertise. We can't choose any person in the technical support center. Sometimes they're not good. Sometimes they are good. They're almost always very good. 

The initial setup is not very difficult. The manufacturer has a lot of documentation about the product in their documentation website. We do all of the configurations from the documentation that is available. It's not difficult.

I would recommend this solution. It's suitable. If you use FortiGate you should use FortiSwitch. It's very helpful. It has a good configuration. I would recommend it. If you use Fortigate you should replace a Cisco switch to FortiSwitch. FortiSwitch should not be used as a legacy switch(standalone mode).
If we use it as a standalone mode, we can't use it in an SDN function. FortiGate should look at the whole packet in the network. 

I would rate it a nine out of ten. Not a ten because we cannot use it as a layer 3 switch when we use it as the standalone mode. because sometimes the customer wants to replace the layer 3 switch.

We can use the standalone normal FortiSwitch as Layer 3 Switch but if we want to use the SDN function, we have to use it as managed Layer 2 FortiSwitch.

but there is counter measure.

We recommend to proposal to choose more high-end model FortiGate.

so Fortigate can controll routing on behalf Layer 3 switch.