Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Average Rating
6.6
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (12th)
 

Featured Reviews

Hasan Haseeb - PeerSpot reviewer
Jun 2, 2022
Excellent support, good pricing, and easy setup
I expect it to be a zero-touch or a plug-and-play device. To some extent, it is, but we need to know the architecture, and we need to know what exactly we are doing. It is not so easy to implement. It depends on what exactly we are doing and it is still not a plug-and-play or zero-touch device. In the upcoming version, they can make it zero-touch, where we can just power it on and start using it. They can have some templates for different scenarios, such as when you are using it for the data center or adding it to your existing infrastructure.
Al Vasek - PeerSpot reviewer
Apr 28, 2022
Performs well, but the support and stability could be improved
There is a lack of support because there is a lack of adoption. Because Cisco switches are so widely used, anyone in the world can support them. It was two Cisco engineers who released Arista's code. In terms of programming functionality, they essentially duplicated the Cisco iOS, so all Cisco commands work on the Arista commands. You can do an Arista if you can do a Cisco. Aruba isn't all that different. It's a little different, but they have all of HPE's money and stuff behind it and things like that. I would say the same thing about Extreme or some of the other switches where it's penny-wise, pound-foolish. You save some money if you are a small shop with only one or two guys, it's understandable. Fortinet is now in the switch business, and they have their FortiSwitch devices, which are controlled by the FortiGate firewalls to do all of the programs. There is a lot to choose from. But, in my opinion, a lot of it is dependent on the use case and the customer type. Meraki is a nice little Cisco product for the right kind of business, but I wouldn't use it in an enterprise setting.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"PowerConnect Switches' stability is satisfactory."
"The technology is good and the interface is simple. We haven't had any bugs, disconnections or delays."
"The most valuable feature of Dell PowerConnect Switches for me is the throughput. I also like that the product has more compatibility with Dell infrastructure, especially with EMC and new generation Dell servers. Dell PowerConnect Switches can also easily integrate with Dell servers, and this is another pro."
"The solution’s technical support is good."
"The tool is very user-friendly, with features catering to beginners and advanced users. For beginners, there are models with interactive and easy-to-navigate GUIs that aid in initial deployment and updates. For advanced users, there is the option to use the CLI."
"It's easy to set up. We can put it in production in a couple of minutes."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is simplicity."
"The product is reliable."
"Port density and port speed performance are both suitable. It has some appealing intangibles."
"For a customer, it is easy to configure and to add ports through the LAN the GUI."
 

Cons

"The configuration should be improved."
"The one issue you face in the industry there is always some planned obsolescence in these switches."
"The solution's ROI for generic networking is not extraordinary."
"Because of the stackings you lose some boards and switches."
"The product price is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"There should be more port options in this switch. Currently, it has 24 or 48 ports. However, some of our customers require only 8 ports, but I have to put a switch with 24 ports. They should provide smaller solutions and complimentary access point for companies like ours with a low quantity of work. The main issue with this product is branding. They should improve their branding and promote their brand more in Mexico. Customers are more aware of brands like Cisco as compared to Dell."
"A big issue with this product is that when our customer migrated the data center, one cluster blocked the whole network and because we had a new approach, some commands were not compatible with the new version."
"Accessibility and management could be improved."
"Instead of competing at the enterprise level with that product, they should probably scale it. With all of the ports, they should develop a good mid-level business to truly scale it and gain adoption before attempting to go after the enterprise."
"Customers do not prefer this to connect to multiple cities."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Its price is okay. Sometimes, it is lower than a Cisco solution."
"The product is cheaper than Cisco and licensing is yearly. We have to pay additional costs for support."
"Inexpensive"
"PowerConnect Switches are priced well."
"This solution is much cheaper than comparable products by Cisco."
"On a scale of one to ten, if one means it is a cheap solution, and ten means it is a very expensive tool, I rate the product's price as seven. The tool is a bit pricey."
"In my opinion, it is a product that is priced somewhere in the middle, making it a well-priced solution in the middle. It is not a very cheap product."
"The solution is less expensive and more cost-efficient."
"You are selling it to larger customers and in larger environments, where it's a less expensive model than Cisco, which is attempting to use the same approach Arista did, but with a completely different programming language."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which LAN Switching solutions are best for your needs.
814,528 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
10%
Educational Organization
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Dell PowerConnect Switches?
Dell PowerConnect Switches have a VTL feature similar to Cisco's VSS. With VTL, using this technology, you can cluster two switches together to increase redundancy in the environment.
What needs improvement with Dell PowerConnect Switches?
Some proprietary commands available in Cisco are preferred by users accustomed to Cisco systems. These users might hesitate to switch because they want to continue using familiar commands and see t...
Ask a question
Earn 20 points
 

Also Known As

PowerConnect Switches
No data available
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University
Norwich University of the Arts, Shelby American, City and Islington College
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, HPE Aruba Networking, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and others in LAN Switching. Updated: October 2024.
814,528 professionals have used our research since 2012.