HPE Aruba Ethernet Switches vs. HPE OfficeConnect

We manage a lot of public infrastructure and schools which
means we need reliable hardware that is easy to prep and install quickly due to
time constraints. The price is great as we must keep a close eye on our budget.


We use these switches in all types of situations and
configurations some are full SFP and others are ethernet but honestly the software
and hardware are great for our usage.

Incentivized

The PoE function works well, and I am using them to power some VoIP/SIP phones of various brands and vintages (Nortel, Mitel, LG-Nortel). The setup is easiest, no special training/knowledge is required. You can manage internal as well as guest networks using the app.

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

• Good Switch
• Perfect for SMB
• Perfect for VOIP scenarios

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

• Not all ports are PoE
• Reset Button is delicate, sometimes too delicate.
• Mounting brackets could be designed better.

Incentivized

It is a very good product, has almost all the feature you can need to access switches, a simple web GUI management, but not all can be configured from the GUI interface.

Incentivized

The HPE Aruba Switches are definitely easier to setup than Cisco Catalyst Switches. We prefer to have a managed interface, so the HPE Aruba Switches are a better option than most Netgear or D-Link switches. Compared to HPE Networking Switches, the Aruba models typically are cheaper and perform nearly as well

Incentivized

I think both are great products but HPE OfficeConnect has been more reliable and suits our budget. As HPE claims, it's one of their simplest products and if you're an SMB, this is the best option.

Incentivized

• Ease of deployment has cut back on labor hours.
• Ease of management has allowed us to be more proactive to other potential issues that may occur on the network.

Incentivized

• The network latency has dropped by 50%.
• The cost has been reduced little bit.

Incentivized