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

Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] and Dell PowerSwitch N-Series are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Additionally, 90% of Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 66% of Dell PowerSwitch N-Series users who would recommend it.
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Read 3 Dell PowerSwitch N-Series reviews
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  • 285 Comparison Views
66% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] and Dell PowerSwitch N-Series based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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LAN Switching
August 2025
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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

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
8.2
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Average Rating
7.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.3
Number of Reviews
3
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (12th)
 

Featured Reviews

LarsEvans - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable and useful for network segmentation
The solution's most valuable feature stands up well. The tool is reliable, and it stands up well. The solution works fine and lasts a long time. I think if you speak about the features that have a flow and you can measure, it is hard to say. I don't spend a lot of my time with the tool, but I know that Dell APEX is the solution's cloud. I would say the VLAN features are important. The VLAN features are really useful because network segmentation is important. I would say the tool is easy to program. I don't know if the tool has any security features that I am aware of other than the fact that the solution is for networking. The VLAN and the ability to segment your networks are easy, which is its security feature.
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Al Vasek - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The functionality is very good."
"The security is the most valuable aspect of this solution. It also has good storage and resource handling."
"The product is reliable."
"The product is cheap."
"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 most valuable feature of this solution is simplicity."
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pros
"Port density and port speed performance are both suitable. It has some appealing intangibles."
"The automated configuration management tools of Dell PowerSwitch N-Series help improve network traffic management."
"For a customer, it is easy to configure and to add ports through the LAN the GUI."
 

Cons

"The product price is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"The product's infrastructure and connectivity features need improvement."
"The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved."
"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."
"What's lacking in Dell PowerConnect Switches is SD-WAN integration, and this is what needs to be improved in it. All enterprises now move towards SD-WAN infrastructure, and because Dell PowerConnect Switches don't currently support SD-WAN, the product would be replaced, considered a secondary switch, or linked up to a different switch. Integration or support for SD-WAN is what I'd like to see in the next version of Dell PowerConnect Switches."
"The one issue you face in the industry there is always some planned obsolescence in these switches."
"The solution could provide more integration to focus on targeting the network as a whole rather than a unified environment. It is meant for a built environment, so integration with other third-party vendors will likely be necessary."
"The pricing could always be a bit lower."
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] cons
"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

"I would rate the pricing as a seven or eight."
"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."
"The initial cost was high but since they have lasted for over ten or twenty years they are worth it."
"The solution is less expensive and more cost-efficient."
"If one is the cheapest price and ten is the most expensive, I rate the product price as an eight or nine. The tool is not cheap."
"Inexpensive"
"The product is cheaper than Cisco and licensing is yearly. We have to pay additional costs for support."
"Cheaper than its competitors"
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pricing and cost advice
"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."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Government
9%
University
7%
Computer Software Company
17%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Educational Organization
10%
University
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business21
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise6
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.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerConnect Switches?
The solution is cheaper than Cisco.
See all answers
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...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Dell-Force10 Campus LAN Switches?
We don't leverage the open networking standards of this Dell PowerSwitch N-Series capability. In the high availability direction, better clustering or stack functionality to connect all Dell switch...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Dell-Force10 Campus LAN Switches?
The main use case for this product is network switch for all network, including management network, network for the user, and network for the SAN.
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Dell-Force10 Campus LAN Switches?
We don't work with solutions such as Aruba or Cisco. There are routers in our infrastructure, but they are not our responsibility or accountability. We work with servers and storage, specifically s...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 88% of the time
Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 12% of the time
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Competitors
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series Logo
Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Compared 56% of the time
Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series Logo
Cisco Nexus vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Compared 27% of the time
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series Logo
Aruba Instant On Switches vs Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
Compared 17% of the time
More Dell PowerSwitch N-Series Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
September 2025
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reportDownload Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series
September 2025
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series reportDownload Dell PowerSwitch N-Series product report
 

Also Known As

PowerConnect Switches
No data available
 

Overview

PowerConnect Switches family offers a set of flexible, manageable and comprehensive switch solutions supporting up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and optimized Internet iSCSI (iSCSI) performance with Dell Storage solutions, ideal for enterprise and campus LAN environments alike.

Dell Technologies

Dell PowerSwitch N-Series bring users efficient connections to the network with highly functional access and aggregation switching. Products consist of: Dell EMC Networking N1100 Series, Dell Networking N1500 Switches, Dell Networking N2000 Series, Dell Networking N3000 Series and Dell Networking N4000 Series.

Dell Technologies
 

Sample Customers

Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University
Norwich University of the Arts, Shelby American, City and Islington College
Buyer's Guide
LAN Switching
August 2025
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