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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] comparison

Cisco and Dell Technologies are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Additionally, 94% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of Dell Technologies users who would recommend it.
Cisco Catalyst Switches
Read 172 Cisco Catalyst Switches reviews
  • 9,165 Views
  • 4,733 Comparison Views
94% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 4, 2022

We performed a comparison between Cisco Catalyst Switches and Dell PowerConnect Switches based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Cisco Catalysts Switches users say the setup can be very complex for the novice user; Cisco network experience or certification is advised. Dell PowerConnect users feel deployment is easy and straightforward.
  • Features: Cisco Catalyst Switches users like the spanning tree and redundancy features. The solution offers great PoE capabilities, load balancing, and DHCP functionalities. Some users feel that security and wireless functions could be improved, in addition to better compatibility with today’s software-defined technologies.

    Users say Dell PowerConnect Switches are very compatible and provide great throughput. They are very stable, easy to configure, and can easily multi-task. Many users tell us some newer versions are not compatible with older versions, which can cause latencies, network blockages, or even outages.
  • Pricing: Many users feel Cisco Catalyst Switches are a very expensive solution. Dell PowerConnect Switches users feel they are very moderately priced and very cost-effective.
  • Service and Support: Users of both solutions are happy with the level of service and support they have received.

Comparison Results: Users feel Cisco Catalyst Switches provide great stability, intuitive reliable analytics, seamless scalability, excellent PoE capabilities, and solid robust security. However, users are happier with the pricing of Dell PowerConnect Switches.

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LAN Switching
August 2024
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Helped 801,394 peers since 2012
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Average Rating
8.6
Number of Reviews
172
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (1st), Ethernet Switches (8th), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
Dell PowerConnect Switches ...
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

FeliksChertok - PeerSpot reviewer
May 18, 2023
Has a lot of security features, but it is expensive
We use a lot of security features available with Cisco Catalyst Switches. Cisco Catalyst Switches' output is not bad, and it has a lot of ports Cisco Catalyst Switches is an expensive solution and its price could be improved. The lifetime of the equipment is not enough because our customers face…
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Hamad Khan - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 29, 2023
A reliable and affordable tool that provides good features and technical support
The product has a low cost. The product is reliable The network features are not good. My organization has a partnership with Dell. The tool’s stability is good. I rate the stability a nine out of ten. We have multiple customers. Each customer has around 100 users. The technical support team…
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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 most valuable feature is the interface, it's easy to configure. The command line uses a switch that gives us security."
"I have found that the protocols that Cisco Catalyst Switches support are beneficial for my customers."
"The solution is stable."
"As there are many who are knowledgeable of this technology, this translates into extensive support for it."
"It uses many protocols to ease operations, such as CDP and the interoperability of other Cisco products."
"The installation process is very straightforward."
"The biggest advantage of having this solution is that it is easy to find engineers, and they are cheaper than hiring HP engineers."
"These switches are stable."
More Cisco Catalyst Switches pros
"The product is cheap."
"We have these switches installed in an environment with hardware from many other vendors, and so far, so good."
"PowerConnect Switches' stability is satisfactory."
"The solution’s technical support is good."
"The platform's most valuable features are network switch functionality and fiber switch capabilities."
"Dell PowerConnect Switches are very easy to configure with the GUI. Dell supports the solution even though it has been discontinued."
"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."
"The most valuable feature is stability."
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pros
 

Cons

"In terms of additional features or improvements, I would like to see more fiber ports, more security features, and perhaps the integration of wireless features into the switch."
"The newer models are not so stable. Other products like 6800, 3750, were stable but starting from 3850 it got worse. We have a lot of issues and a lot of bugs. It's a new product so it's understandable but it should be improved."
"The general price of the solution could be cheaper."
"The product’s pricing needs improvement."
"The product's high price is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"Cisco switches are expensive."
"We would like the solution to be more stable."
"There's a ban on my country and therefore I can't get Cisco support if I need it. It's not allowed."
More Cisco Catalyst Switches cons
"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 configuration should 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."
"The product price is an area of concern where improvements are required."
"The product's infrastructure and connectivity features need improvement."
"The network features are not good."
"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."
"Accessibility and management could be improved."
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Try to buy everything you need in bulk purchases and ask Cisco for volume discounts."
"We have a contract for service with this partner, meaning we don't purchase the license or equipment directly."
"We had to pay for the product’s licenses."
"These switches are expensive."
"We must pay a high price for the product."
"It's very pricey. Compared to competitors, it's a lot more expensive."
"Pricing is an issue I have been facing, in comparison with HPE or Juniper. The Nexus series is out of the question right now. Scalability is more an issue on the pricing side and less on the technology side."
"I would rate the features-to-pricing ratio at six out of 10. My advice about licensing is that you should have a perpetual license, not one that is subscription-based."
More Cisco Catalyst Switches pricing and cost advice
"Inexpensive"
"Pricing for Dell PowerConnect Switches is quite competitive compared to Cisco and HP pricing. Dell has cheaper pricing and the company is trying to push for sales for its switching infrastructure because right now, the current market is dominated by Cisco. In the US market, there's Cisco, HP, Juniper, and Arista which you can buy for data center switching meant for different kinds of enterprises and ISPs. Dell PowerConnect Switches, on the other hand, is a product for people who need smaller setups or individual switches, especially those looking for a cheaper product and basic switching, though you can also buy a complete suite packaged with the switches."
"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."
"Its price is okay. Sometimes, it is lower than a Cisco solution."
"Dell PowerConnect switches are cheaper than Cisco switches. Cisco's higher capacity switches (100 or 200 gigs) are super-expensive. With the higher capacity, the price of the switches and the price of the architecture go high. Dell is cheaper and modular. So, I don't need to invest 100% upfront. I can invest as I progress. That is an option because the chassis will not be populated with all the pluggables. I have a choice because it is modular. I can go for 25 gigs today, and after four months, I can go for 100 gigs, and after that, I can go for 200 gigs. I have a choice when it is not a fixed switch."
"The price of these switches is okay."
"The solution is less expensive and more cost-efficient."
"If you want to purchase a new Dell PowerConnect Switch, you will pay up to $1,600, but I bought them used. I bought the four Dell PowerConnect Switches that I used for $1,000."
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
58%
Computer Software Company
9%
Government
4%
Manufacturing Company
3%
Computer Software Company
18%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
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What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
The solution is cheap.
See all answers
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
 

Comparisons

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Compared 15% of the time
Cisco Nexus vs Cisco Catalyst Switches Logo
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Compared 13% of the time
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Compared 13% of the time
ExtremeSwitching vs Cisco Catalyst Switches Logo
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Compared 11% of the time
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Compared 12% of the time
NETGEAR Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
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Compared 10% of the time
HPE ProCurve vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
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Compared 9% of the time
Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 8% of the time
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Logo
Dell PowerSwitch N-Series vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
Compared 7% of the time
More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst Switches
September 2024
Cisco Catalyst Switches reportDownload Cisco Catalyst Switches product report
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]
September 2024
Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reportDownload Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
PowerConnect Switches
 

Learn More

Cisco
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Dell Technologies
 

Overview

Cisco Catalyst Switches are a reliable and scalable network switching and routing solution, focusing on VLANs and VLAN switching. They are used as access switches, distribution switches, and core switches in various environments, deployed on-premises, and used for long connections. The switches are easy to configure, install, and upgrade and offer good pricing. 

The most valuable features include warranty and firmware support, stability, security, good performance, flexibility, etc. The Cisco Catalyst Switches have provided a stable solution for the organizations and are widely used, trusted, and well-known in the networking industry.

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.

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University
Buyer's Guide
LAN Switching
August 2024
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