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Head-to-head · Software-Defined Networking Software

HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer vs OpenStack Neutron

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer #6 in Software-Defined Networking Software 8.6/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit HPE
OpenStack Neutron #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software 8.4/10 Open source ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit OpenStack

HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer leads on 0 checks, OpenStack Neutron 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 scoreHPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer · 8.6/10

HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer scores higher on our rubric for software-defined networking software: 8.6 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

On deployment model, OpenStack Neutron gives you Hybrid where HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer offers On-premises. On control-plane model, OpenStack Neutron gives you Hybrid where HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer offers Centralized.

HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer is the better fit for HPE data-center fabric management. OpenStack Neutron is the better fit for openStack cloud networking.

  • HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer fits best

    HPE data-center fabric management

  • OpenStack Neutron fits best

    OpenStack cloud networking

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Side by side

Feature HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer 8.6/10 Visit ↗ OpenStack Neutron 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.4
Ranking #6 in Software-Defined Networking Software #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software
Best for HPE data-center fabric management OpenStack cloud networking
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price — Open source
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Linux
Support Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs Docs, Community
Integrations 9 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Enterprise, Mid-market Mid-market, Enterprise
Features HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer 2/2 · OpenStack Neutron 2/2
Policy segmentation ✓ ✓
Northbound API ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model On-premises Hybrid
Control-plane model Centralized Hybrid
Supported protocols BGP, OSPF, VRF, EVPN, VXLAN, Spanning Tree Protocol VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, Geneve
Managed device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
  • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
  • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking
Cons
  • Designed for on-premises deployments
  • Requires paid switch subscriptions
  • Focused on HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX fabrics
  • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
  • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
  • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need
Our verdict

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 →

OpenStack Neutron provides networking as a service for OpenStack clouds. It exposes APIs for creating and managing networks, subnets, ports, addresses, routers, and related services. The component is aimed at teams operating OpenStack…

Read the review →
  1. HPE Aruba Networking Fabric ComposerSoftware-Defined Networking Software 8.6Paid
  2. OpenStack NeutronSoftware-Defined Networking Software 8.4Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • OpenStack Neutron — where it wins

    • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
    • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
    • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
    • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
    • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need
  • HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer8.6/10 · Paid

    Centralized fabric orchestration for HPE Aruba Networking data-center environments.

    Visit HPEFull verdict →
  • OpenStack Neutron8.4/10 · Open source

    A broad, modular networking layer for OpenStack deployments.

    Visit OpenStackFull verdict →

More comparisons

All Software-Defined networking software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update