Dell PowerConnect Switches vs. HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Dell PowerConnect Switches
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Dell PowerConnect is a series of networking switches.N/A
HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
HPE offers Ethernet switches under the Aruba Networks product line.N/A
Pricing
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Considered Both Products
Dell PowerConnect Switches
Chose Dell PowerConnect Switches
(1) Cisco Small Business switches are a similar price point to PowerConnect, often with fewer features but with easier management. (2) Cisco traditional switches are more expensive than PowerConnect. They are of a similar level of complexity. These compare similarly in …
Chose Dell PowerConnect Switches
I selected Dell mainly due to previous experience using them in a business environment. I've never had a unit fail on me and when my budget for equipment like network switches has been less than a training class on how to use those switches, it's incredible to be able to find …
Chose Dell PowerConnect Switches
I replaced all Alcatel on my network with Dell, they were gone and had neither accessible documentation nor technicians with enough knowledge to manage them or even provide support. However, I still use some of these brands, such as Cisco and HPE, but not as my network's …
HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Chose HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
HPE switches are much more cost-effective than Cisco and others with a much more gentle learning curve. Aruba switches can be implemented by users with very little networking experience.
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Cisco Ethernet Switches
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(14 ratings)
9.1
(13 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(1 ratings)
8.7
(3 ratings)
Support Rating
9.1
(2 ratings)
10.0
(6 ratings)
User Testimonials
Dell PowerConnect SwitchesHPE Aruba Ethernet Switches
Likelihood to Recommend
Dell Technologies
We work in the electric industry. These should not be used in a high-heat environment. We like to keep the temperature of the room in the low 60's so they are not suited for our Substation locations due to extreme heat and cold. However, they perform great in a server room.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
These devices are rock solid, you will se them up once and not have to mess with them for years. They are work horses that don't die. We use them in an office environment and have only ever had 1 fail due to a PSU issue, we got a replacement next day and it's been working great.
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Pros
Dell Technologies
  • Reliable.
  • Excellent hardware support from Dell including 4 hour parts/replacement.
  • Excellent technical support from Dell on software, troubleshooting, and configuration.
  • More affordable than its main enterprise competitors.
  • Easy to use CLI.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • REST API capability
  • Wired & Wireless 802.1x configuration easiness
  • Wireless Access Points (APs) zero touch provisioning
  • Its high-end family (running the AOS-CX firmware) supports a virtualization technology called VSX (Virtual Switching Extension) which allows 2 switches to present itself as one virtualized switch under Layer 2, and as 2 separate routers under Layer 3; thereby providing high availability.
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Cons
Dell Technologies
  • Precarious graphical (GUI) mode, needing to be updated for more efficient technologies such as HTML5
  • Short support time, given how much these devices support in terms of use. I have owned the devices for years, but no longer have a warranty
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • I have had issues finding monitoring software that natively supports Provision/Aruba OS. Most are designed primarily with Cisco in mind.
  • HPE/Aruba switches have historically had issues with corrupt flash. This seems to be less common in more recent models.
  • HPE/Aruba's switching portfolio can be confusing. Some models run on the Aruba OS while some others run on Comware. There is some overlap in these model lines so at times is can be tough to tell which switch is right.
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Usability
Dell Technologies
The Dell PowerConnect switch is a great switch in certain use cases. It really works well when training users to set up their own vlans in a technology class. We have a lot of different scenarios happening at this company, with 8 different buildings and multiple different affiliate entities. For some of the departments, the budget is the most crucial element. That is where the Dell PowerConnect switches are a really great option.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
I preferred the OS running on the 2530 series switches, but the ArubaOS is very usable. It's similar to the Cisco OS command line interface, but somehow more understandable. It takes a bit of getting used to, but the documentation is great and it makes sense after a while of using it.
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Support Rating
Dell Technologies
Dell ProSupport is outstanding. Dell ProDeploy is likewise outstanding. I prefer them even over traditional Cisco support. I've had repeated cases where Dell immediately addressed or fixed an issue with US-based support, including firmware hotfixes. Not even Cisco can boast that.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
HPE Support is very easy to reach. A knowledgable rep can be reached in a few minutes. After some basic troubleshooting if the failure is due to hardware I can receive a replacement within a day or even in a few hours.
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Alternatives Considered
Dell Technologies
I selected Dell mainly due to previous experience using them in a business environment. I've never had a unit fail on me and when my budget for equipment like network switches has been less than a training class on how to use those switches, it's incredible to be able to find quality equipment at the price point Dell offers and even more so when their enterprise support has been as excellent as I have been accustomed to dealing with. In all honesty, even if I had a larger budget, I would have bought these same switches since they were exactly what I needed to suit my needs. We looked into HPE/Aruba network switches, and while they would have performed everything we needed and more, they were almost four times the cost of these Dell network switches. That's a hard sell when it comes to planning a tight budget.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
We used to have a lot of Cisco switches which are great, but
the support contracts and other expenses mount up quickly; one of the main
reasons for switching to HP for networking was the cost, but the hardware and
software have gotten so much better over the years.

I can’t see us changing network hardware unless the price increases dramatically.
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Return on Investment
Dell Technologies
  • Reports are easily created and very useful.
  • Quick creation of different network connections.
  • Excellent and secure channels for multiple data management.
  • Great data visualization options offered by Dell PowerConnect Switches.
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • When comparing Aruba to Cisco and Dell there is no comparison in cost. Aruba is a better value and will not require additional licensing like it often the case with Cisco.
  • The Aruba OS is very simple to use and understand. A user with very little networking experience can understand the config of an Aruba switch.
  • Aruba's hardware warranty assures me that even my oldest switches are covered due to hardware failure.
  • In the 11 years I have worked with HPE/Aruba and with over 55 switches I have had a hardware failure less than a handful of times.
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