Head-to-head · Software-Defined Networking Software
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller vs HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller leads on 0 checks, HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller · 9.1/10
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller scores higher on our rubric for software-defined networking software: 9.1 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller is the better fit for cisco VXLAN EVPN fabrics. HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer is the better fit for HPE data-center fabric management.
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller fits best
Cisco VXLAN EVPN fabrics
- HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer fits best
HPE data-center fabric management
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Side by side
| Feature | Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller 9.1/10 Visit ↗ | HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer 8.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.1 | 8.6 |
| Ranking | #2 in Software-Defined Networking Software | #6 in Software-Defined Networking Software |
| Best for | Cisco VXLAN EVPN fabrics | HPE data-center fabric management |
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | Pricing on request | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Support | Docs | Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 7 integrations | 9 integrations |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Enterprise, Mid-market |
| Features Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller 2/2 · HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer 2/2 | ||
| Policy segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Northbound API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | On-premises | On-premises |
| Control-plane model | Centralized | Centralized |
| Supported protocols | OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, VXLAN, EVPN, SNMP, SCP, REST | BGP, OSPF, VRF, EVPN, VXLAN, Spanning Tree Protocol |
| Managed device limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) is a centralized network management and automation service for data-center and campus networks. It is designed for teams managing Cisco Nexus, MDS, IOS XE, IOS XR, and selected non-Cisco… Read the review → |
HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer is software-defined orchestration software for provisioning, configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting data-center network fabrics. It manages HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX switches as a unified fabric… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller — where it wins
- Automates VXLAN BGP EVPN underlay and overlay operations
- Combines provisioning, compliance, topology, monitoring, and rollback
- Supports multi-fabric, multisite management and REST automation
Where it doesn't
- Uses an on-premises deployment model on Cisco Nexus Dashboard
- Pricing requires contact with Cisco rather than published plan details
- Non-Cisco device support is available only for selected devices
HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer — where it wins
- Automates leaf-spine, underlay, and overlay fabric configuration
- Combines topology visibility, telemetry, alerts, and audit logging
- Integrates with VMware, Nutanix Prism, and HPE infrastructure tools
Where it doesn't
- Designed for on-premises deployments
- Requires paid switch subscriptions
- Focused on HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX fabrics
- Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller9.1/10 · Pricing on request
A focused controller for provisioning, automating, and governing VXLAN EVPN fabrics.
Visit Cisco NDFCFull verdict → - HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer8.6/10 · Paid
Centralized fabric orchestration for HPE Aruba Networking data-center environments.
Visit HPEFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update