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Aruba Instant On Switches vs HPE ProCurve comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

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

Aruba Instant On Switches
Ranking in LAN Switching
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
HPE ProCurve
Ranking in LAN Switching
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
39
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant On Switches is 9.8%, up from 9.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ProCurve is 12.6%, down from 13.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

MashukThakur - PeerSpot reviewer
A centrally managed switches ideal for small and medium businesses but does not have any console access
The solution does not have any console access. For example, if you do not have internet access on your side and you need to configure anything, you should at least have CLI access to do something or manage the solution to put to some IP. It will only work if we have a TSCT on the network. We can port and configure the initial settings before we get the Instant On Switches. I am not working deeply on Instant On devices. I have only installed it in a couple of accommodation sites. Even today, one customer has ordered to install 80 pieces of Instant On. I’ve to order additional 94 access points. I was confused about whether to go with Aruba Instant On or AP-505. Instant On has limited accessibility but AP-505 have cloud or local access on normal infrastructure. This would be better and easier to configure. So, there are further improvements in regard to console access and some limitations with access.
Sandeep Rajguru - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers reliability and helps with vulnerability assessment
I use HPE ProCurve network in our organization. I can say that the product has improved the network flexibility in our company since I haven't seen any challenges from the last seven to eight years. The most valuable product for network management revolves around the area of VSB, also known as virtual switch bonding, which can quickly attach two or three switches or make them come together to quickly form a single switch. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. Following the hardening guidelines, the switches are configured according to the hardening parameters. The tool's reliability and uptime match our company's needs. My company enjoyed configuring the switches a lot, especially since we saw similarities between Cisco's and HPS's configuration processes. HPE ProCurve is user-friendly. We have a different product for network management, so my company doesn't use HPE ProCurve since we have already collaborated with some third-party products. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it, especially since I have been using it without any issues for many years. I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It is a very stable solution."
"The solution's most beneficial feature is that you obtain A-class equipment for the lowest price."
"Setup is easy."
"The simplicity of the tool's GUI is good."
"The product's initial setup phase is very simple."
"The initial setup is simple."
"Instant On Switches' best feature is the 1930, which is stackable."
"The solution is suitable for small businesses and small offices."
"The solution is fast and inexpensive."
"The most valuable features are the price and the warranty."
"In my experience, the scalability has been good."
"Its easy manageability is most valuable. It's easy to manage."
"It has an excellent menu system where you can use both the CLI and a menu system and the GUI version. They have three options for manipulating, updating, and changing the switch, which we like."
"The network management solutions that they have is great."
"HPE ProCurve has plenty of features."
"It is stable, and it fulfills our needs. We have all the functions we need, so we're totally satisfied."
 

Cons

"The solution’s GUI should be improved a bit."
"They don't have a lot of diagnostics tools, which could be an area for improvement."
"It is not a very scalable solution."
"Some customers have made complaints about Aruba Instant On Switches' stability."
"Some models need enhancement of the web interface to make management and monitoring easier."
"Room for improvement would be if they consolidated administration from multiple locations."
"In general, mostly in Instant On series, if we could have much more control on the switches, at least. We'd like a CLI access so that, when we want to do some advanced configurations we could."
"We would like to see more documentation."
"One of the weakest points of this solution is its on-premise. We are not able to do all we need to with the CLI."
"Since we transfer from one gigabit to ten gigabits of information, in a future release, it would benefit to have more high-speed ports."
"The user interface (UI) could be better."
"If you make a change and you disconnect yourself from the switch, you will create an issue."
"Procurve would work better if it had more options like the web environment."
"The product could improve scalability and support for advanced networking features."
"There is one proprietary function they lack, and I can't remember what it was called, but it monitors the ports, and then every 10 seconds if the port is down, it can divert the traffic somewhere else."
"I would like to see some kind of packet tracer where people can study how the switch is operating."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Aruba Instant On Switches is not expensive."
"I give the price seven out of ten."
"It is an expensive solution."
"The solution is the cheapest A-class switch."
"The product has good pricing."
"Aruba Instant On Switches is slightly cheaper than Cisco."
"If one is very bad, and ten is a very good price, I rate the tool's price as a six."
"The pricing is cheap."
"HPE ProCurve is competitively priced, with a difference of approximately 30 to 35% compared to other vendors"
"The price of HPE ProCurve can be reasonable. However, it depends on the use case. They could improve the pricing model."
"There is a license required to use HPE ProCurve."
"HPE ProCurve price could improve. We have a three-year warranty."
"HPE ProCurve products are reasonably priced."
"The licensing for HPE ProCurve is a one-time cost, though it's varied somewhat. What my company purchased was usually between $3,500 and $5,000 one-time cost."
"The price could be more competitive."
"We are a public company, so we are obliged to take the best offer from the vendors. They gave us the best price for the needs we had. It was considerably less than Cisco. It had maybe 40% lower cost."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
University
6%
Educational Organization
11%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
11%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Aruba Instant On Switches?
The solution has a simple deployment and zero border.
What needs improvement with Aruba Instant On Switches?
I have run into a couple of problems with the switches. Recently, one of the newer stacks stopped working and had to be rebooted individually. They don't have a lot of diagnostics tools, which coul...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProCurve?
HPE ProCurve is competitively priced, with a difference of approximately 30 to 35% compared to other vendors like Cisco. This makes it a viable option for businesses with limited budgets, particula...
What needs improvement with HPE ProCurve?
The product could improve scalability and support for advanced networking features. Including advanced interfaces like QSFP and enhanced support for AI-driven network solutions would make it more c...
 

Also Known As

Aruba Instant On 1930 Switches
ProCurve, HP ProCurve
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

KEMET, Vestavia Hills City Schools, Dropbox
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, DY 4 Systems, EdgeWing, Edmonton Public Schools District, Halton Catholic District School Board, Hartwick College, Hatch Associates, Huntingdon College, Roseville Joint Union High School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, One Superior Place
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant On Switches vs. HPE ProCurve and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,807 professionals have used our research since 2012.