HPE Aruba Networking Switches vs. Lantronix XPress-Pro SW

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.

Incentivized

Lantronix is very well suited for a lean and mean type of setup where the network devices are monitored, but the location does not have onsite IT support because with the Lantronix the Network Administrator can access the devices without onsite assistance. Lantronix is not necessary for a location with an onsite Network Administrator, but it is nice to be able to console connect without leaving your office.

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

• Allows you to manage networking devices remotely
• Some have built-in environmental sensors
• Cost effective

Incentivized

• 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.

Incentivized

• I have no issues with the Lantronix devices that we use, other than some are console and some use regular ethernet

Incentivized

I have not had that many issues with these products. Aruba Central has been really helpful. The Integration Capabilities allows us to use Clearpass . For individuals new to enterprise-grade networking, there can still be a learning curve associated with understanding the concepts and the specifics of the Aruba configuration.

Incentivized

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.

Incentivized

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.

Incentivized

The only device that is similar to the Lantronix that I have used was a serial console device by WTI. The Lantronix is more intuitive, and as I have stated earlier in this review, has the environmental sensors built in. Other than those two minor details, there is virtually zero difference in the two products.

Incentivized

• I really like the idea of paying for the switches one time and just pay for support going forward. The prices are on the high end but I think it is worth it. I wish they would include all the features in one go so we would not have to pay for every new feature.

Incentivized

• Lantronix along with thin clients has reduced onsite IT costs
• External environmental sensors are not necessary
• No need for a onsite network admin

Incentivized